Scarification

For decades, body modification has grown in popularity. Millions of people around the world, have been accustomed to the rise of body modifications. Countless people have come to realize the symbolism of body modifications. “Body modifications give a rite to passage, aesthetic reasons, and religious reasons to help show self-expression” (“The history of body modification” 3). Tattoos are body modifications, which are made by inserting ink into the epidermis layer of the skin. “When…

During his voyage to Tahiti, Captain James Cook encountered heavily tattooed men and women. The word ‘tatu’ meaning to mark something and the tattoos the captain and his crew got cemented our use of the word. The term derived from the specific method of inscription where sharp needle-like instruments were tapped onto the skin to penetrate the dye under the surface skin layers. However Tahiti is not the only evidence of ancient tattooing tradition. The history of tattooing can be dated back at…

These days, it seems that in every crowd of people you can find someone sporting at least one tattoo. Once the “mark” of criminals and sailors, body art today has become increasingly more accepted in mainstream society. However, the very act of getting a tattoo separates one from others who have eschewed permanently marking their bodies. The reasons for getting a tattoo are varied, with the common underlying urge for self-expression and individuality as the main impetus. There are approximately…

History Tattooing has been practiced for centuries in many cultures and spread throughout the world The Ainu, an indigenous people of Japan, traditionally had facial tattoos, as did theAustroasians. Today, one can find Atayal, Seediq, Truku, and Saisiyat of Taiwan, Berbers of Tamazgha (North Africa), Yoruba, Fulani and Hausa people of Nigeria, and Māori of New Zealand with facial tattoos. Tattooing was popular among certain ethnic groups in southern China, Polynesia, Africa, Borneo, Cambodia,…

They are usually the things you see on family, friends, and the people we see walking down the street on a sunny day. People’s perspective on tattoos has changed over the years. Tattoos are permanent ink colored or non color images on one’s skin. People who tattoo themselves create a personal and cultural expression with tattoos. Many individuals utilize their bodies as an artistic medium to create visible expressions of their interior emotions. The meanings of tattoos can symbolize different…

Tool for seeking the self Tattoos have been around for years, however, Millennials are getting more body ink than any generation. Known for being the trophy generation who are notoriously criticized for forging their distinctive lifestyle and having commitment issues, Millennials are swiftly redefining are norms. Most young people have struggled at some point with figuring out who they might be but millennials who “lack loyalty” are committing to tattoos not only to express their identity…

I have read your article “Pumped, Pierced, Painted and Pagan” and I must say that I agree with some points you make and disagree with some points you make. It seems as if you believe the world is black and white. That there is only good and bad, with no gray in between. That any body modification, be it tattoos, piercings, implants, or anything done to the body permanently is bad and leaving the body alone and not changing it is good. However, it’s not all black and white for me. There are many…

*For many years, facial scarification has held many different symbolic meanings unique to individuals. The face is a very prominent and important symbolic feature that is often used in many cultures to symbolize important areas of that culture. Many groups alter or add features to the face and or to their body to symbolize either different characteristics of that individual and in some cases to identify that person within their group or cultures. Some ways of doing this is through the practice…

traditional, decorative and tribal scarification or marks were common in the ancient world too. In some regions every ethnic or tribal group have their unique marks. Sometimes the marks can tell you who a person is or where they come from or belong. Some marks are accompanied with religious rituals that may involve animal sacrifice. In some communities their leaders, chiefs and kings are inaugurated in high level religious…

associated with the four types of self-reported abuse… For males, having “other” piercings and scarifications on the lower arm was associated with all four types of self-reported abuse” (p. 24-26). This evidence proves that people get tattoos for many different reasons. According to Liu and Lester (2012) “This study indicates that statistically significant relationships exist between piercings, tattoos, and scarifications and self-reports of emotional abandonment and physical, sexual, and mental…