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Body modification (or body alteration) is the deliberate altering of the human anatomy or human physical appearance. In its broadest definition it includes skin tattooing, socially acceptable decoration (e.g., common ear piercing in many societies), and religious rites of passage (e.g., circumcision in a number of cultures), as well as the modern primitive movement.

Body modification is performed for a large variety of reasons, including aesthetics, sexual enhancement, rites of passage, religious beliefs, to display group membership or affiliation, in remembrance of lived experience, traditional symbolism such as axis mundi and mythology, to create body art, for shock value, and as self-expression, among other reasons.

Background

What counts as "body modification" varies in cultures. In western cultures, the cutting or removal of one's hair is not usually considered body modification. Body modification can be contrasted with body adornment by defining body modification as "the physical alteration of the physical body can be temporary or permanent, although most are permanent and modify the body forever".

See also

• Adornment
• Bioethics
• Blood ritual
• Bodyhacking
• Church of Body Modification
• Deformity
• Eyeborg
• First haircut
• Genital modification and mutilation
• Genital tattooing
• Human enhancement
• Leblouh
• List of body modifications
• List of people known for extensive body modification
• Makeup
• Microchip implant
• Modern primitive
• Morphological freedom
• Transhumanism

References

1. ^ Thompson, Tim; Black, Sue (2010). Forensic Human Identification: An Introduction. CRC Press. pp. 379–398. ISBN 978-1420005714. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
2. "What Is Body Modification?". Essortment. 16 May 1986. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
3. DeMello, Margo (2007). Encyclopedia of Body Adornment. United States of America: Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0313336959.

• Body modification
• Cultural trends
• Underground culture