Body Modification: Art or Disfigurement?

Regardless of where you travel to in society, the movies you watch, or the music you are listening to, you are more than likely to see someone that has decided to modify their body in some way. The most common form of body modification that has been accepted for decades is that of the simple ear piercing. Tattoos are another form of body modification that has become more common and accepted by many people in society. Despite piercings and tattoos becoming more common there are many people who still debate whether some of the extreme forms of these body modifications are art or disfigurement.

When debating on whether or not piercings and tattoos are art or disfigurement we must figure out what drives people to have these modifications done. Many people get permanent or semi-permanent changes done to their body as a means to enhance their appearance, for cultural reasons, or to identify themselves with a specific group in society. Many people believe that the display of tattoos on the body is an artistic expression that they can carry with them throughout their life. Others find tattoos that cover large portions of the body or extreme piercings of the face or ears, such as those that use body plugs, to be disfiguring in nature and not aesthetically pleasing.

Scarification is one form of body modification that many people do not understand, as it is not a precise art. This involves the permanent scarring of a person’s skin. Since the healing times can vary for each individual and the way in which skin heals also varies there is no guarantee that the  design that was initially intended for the skin will come out looking as it should have. Other’s feel that this is what makes scarification a unique form of art in the world of body modification.