Body Modifications: Tattoos and Body Piercings

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How far is too far when it comes to body modifications, such as tattooing and body piercing. Until those who tattoo and pierce to excess, realize the stigma they are placing on the art, the United States government should regulate where and to what degree tattoo artists can legally tattoo or pierce.

To answer the question of why people tattoo, one would have to look back to how the early civilization made a living and their opinions on the world around them. Prehistoric people may have been the first to mark the human body for practical purposes. Tens of thousands of years ago mineral pigments were used to preserve the bodies of humans and animal skins, while also neutralizing the odor of decay. Paul G. Bahn, an archaeologist and prehistoric art scholar writes that "Human Skin, bones, teeth, and hair were the first canvases or artistic expression" (Body Marks 17). For many decades even centuries, people have used henna. Henna is a small shrub known as Lawsonia Inermis. It grows in India, Pakistan, Iran, and North America. Henna tattoos are practiced all around the world. The earliest reference is on a Syrian tablet from 2100 B.C. The Mehndi people are the ones that usually deal with the true henna tattooing.. They draw an intricate design with henna paste, leave it on for several hours, then peel or scrape off the past to reveal a reddish or brownish-orange design. The Mehndi culture to henna tattoos in large portions for many occasions, a wedding is a perfect example.

Tattooing became popular with the "high society" people in the lat 1800s, including women and royalty in England and the United States. It started out being very popular in England and then its appeal "jumped the pond" to the United States. Martin H...

... middle of paper ...

...se individuals to get a more meaningful tattoo or piercing than trying to be trendy and stylish.

Works Cited

DeMasters, Karen. "'Body Art' Inspires Framers of Regulation." New York Times.(1997) Web. 3 March 2011.

Gay, Kathlyn and Christine Whittington. Body Marks: Tattooing, Piercing, and Scarification. Brookfield: Twenty-First Century, 2002, Print.

Gardyn, Rebecca and David Whelan. "Ink Me,Stud." Amercian Demographics 23(2001):12. Web. 3 March 2011.

Hedly, Bernadine. "The Dangerous Art of the Tattoo." News & World Report 145(2008):13. Academic Source Premier. Web. 3 March 2011.

Reybold, Laura. Everything You Need to Know About: The Dangers of Tattooing and Body Piercings. New York City: Rosen, 2011. Print.

Rush, John A. Spiritual Tattoo: A Cultural History of Tattooing, Piercing, Scarification, Branding, and Implants. Berkeley: Frog, Ltd, 2005. Print.

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