Modify

A couple of nights ago, I watched a doc on Netflix called Modify. It's about body modification in its entire spectrum, from piercing and tattoos to plastic surgery. It's extraordinarily graphic, showing all kinds of procedures, from plastic surgery, to basic piercing and tattooing, tongue splitting, genital piercing, scarring, cutting, branding, subdermal implants, skin suspensions, etc. If that stuff makes you queasy, don't see it.

As a piercing enthusiast, I did think it was interesting though, as it did have a good bit of history. For example, the modern use of receiving tubes for the needle was largely born out of the need to more accurately and safely perform Prince Albert piercings (that's from under the penis out through the urethra). Funny how that seems so obvious, but wasn't thought of before that.

There were quite a few discussions about why people do it, and one guy suggested the motivation boils down to around four reasons: the aesthetic, sexual enhancement, self expression and some spiritual reason (or some combination thereof). I'll buy that. I know for me it's always been a combination of aesthetic and spiritual reasons. I mean, in the chaos of the world, how many things can you truly own and control?

One of the things that did stick with me is the suggestion that everyone already participates in body modification, but it's a huge spectrum. Arguably, cutting or coloring your hair is a body mod, as is wearing makeup or shaving. What comes into play in our society is that people have different tolerances for what's "normal," which is kind of unfortunate. I remember about ten years ago, Stephanie was working her way through grad school at a computer store, where she was a manager, and some woman actually said she wouldn't be able to answer a question because of her pierced nose. How crazy is that? Nevermind that it's something borrowed from other cultures that have done it for hundreds of years (like that "small" country called India). People can be real bastards.

Tattoos and piercings seem to have a reached a level of higher acceptance in some places, fortunately. I think that's progress. It's an interesting film, if you're curious. It might entirely disgust you otherwise. :)