Body Ornamentation Essay

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Body art and Ornamentation represent social values that are not only apart of today’s society, but has been around for thousands of years. Body art and ornaments are markings, such as tattoos and piercing that have been purposely placed on the body to represent or express a meaning. Numerous studies have found that piercing and tattooing the body is an increasingly prevalent trend in modern popular culture; however, this is not only a modern practice. (Carmen, Guitar, Dillon, 2012) My goal in this paper, is to discuss several aspects of how body art and ornamentations have been used in the past; how it is used in today’s popular culture and what it represents. To do this, I will discuss the difference in cross cultures and in the United States as it pertains to ornamentation and body art. By ornamenting one’s own body either temporarily (clothing), permanently (tattooing), or somewhere in between (piercing), that individual is using an extension of her or his genes (via behavior) to increase that person’s ability to stand out in a sea of possible mates. (Carmen, Guitar, Dillon, 2012) Tattooing and piercing are referred to by anthropologist as “scarification. “ These scarifications have existed in the diversity and the unity of cultures all around the world. The representation of each unique belief, and custom give meaning to a specific identity. First, I will begin my discussion with the Samoan culture of the Pacific. In Samoa, the word tattoo is referred to as ’Tatau’, and it is usually applied by hand. Tatau symbolizes rank and title in among notable families in the Samoan tradition. For instance, the tatau ceremony of puberty take place with boys (young chief) as a rite of passage, it lays claim of ascendance for him to have a future leadership role. The markings or tataus are permanent, and is a life long celebration and dedication to

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