User talk:Stevenarntson/group spaces/2009springanalytical/group 2


 * Group 2,
 * This is looking good, and right now I like where it stands, except that I'd still like to see your source list at the end, formatted in MLA or footnotes style. Look at some of the other groups' pages (group 1 is a good example) to see how they're doing it. Make sure your readers know where your information is coming from at all times. Beyond that, start sifting through and looking for proofing errors in all the sections.
 * Best, Stevenarntson

Stuff To Do

 * 1) Get citations throughout via MLA of footnotes
 * 2) Solutions section
 * 3) week 10 - self assessment
 * 4) TMI


 * Hi, Group 2,
 * You'll be workshopping on week 6.
 * Best, Stevenarntson

Samantha’s Notes - Week 3

Some Types of Body Modifications:


 * Tattoos
 * Piercings
 * Transdermal/Subdermal Implants
 * Branding/Scarification
 * Suspension
 * Tightlacing
 * Bifurcation

Some Clarifications (I assume you know what most of these actually are, but some might not be familiar to everyone so I wanted to make some easy definitions):


 * Transdermal/Subdermal implants are used both medically and aesthetically. Transdermals are an object below and above the skin. In aesthetic cases, normally it’s a base object which goes under the skin, and a hole in the skin above it so the top part of the implant can be connected to the base and therefore the entire piece looks as though it protrudes out of the skin. Often you will see things like metal horns or spikes. The skin will grow around like it would near any piercing. Subdermal implants are under the skin only, like a piece with a specific shape that will make the skin above it bump out conforming to that shape.
 * Branding and scarification are basically like tattoos, only instead of ink, the desired image/pattern is either burned in or cut to leave a permanent scar in that shape. Note that aside from aesthetic and/or cultural purposes, branding was also used as a punishment over an oppressed or enslaved person, or branding a criminal for public humiliation. (my note: still uncertain if this happens much in modern times.)
 * Suspension is usually for performance art. Temporary piercings in which hooks can be placed to let a person be suspended in the air. As you can imagine, it would more often than not take a team of people to actually prepare one person for suspension, and have a great understanding for human anatomy, how much it would take to properly balance and lift the suspended person, how the skin will react, etc.. If this is done improperly, it can be extremely dangerous. Aside from performance art, many practitioners feel it aids spirituality and meditation.
 * Tightlacing is a very controversial type of body modification in which a person wears an extremely tight laced corset to achieve an extreme hourglass shaped figure. Sometimes the ribcage is altered. The main issue is not only about the unhealthy image of a woman’s body many feel it has, but health issues as well. The organs can shift around, serious pain can occur, and cause other health issues with the digestive system.
 * Tongue bifurcation is the splitting of the tongue, almost always surgically, to create a forked tongue. Over time both ends can be moved independently.

Perception from Various Viewpoints:


 * Some people view these kinds of body mods to be enhancements for aesthetic reasons, performance art… for others may be cultural/rites of passage, or even just for shock value.
 * Others view it as unattractive and even degenerate behavior… shock value, not for the purpose of just seeing a reaction but merely for attention seeking.
 * Some may also view it as a health risk/self harm or even disfigurement. This may be from a medical standpoint, moral, religious, etc..

Interesting Miscellany:


 * One man with extensive amounts of body mods is known as The Enigma, with full body jigsaw puzzle tattooing, horn type implants, many body piercings, and ear reshaping. He’s a performer, actor and musician. He’s from Seattle, too( though not here now)! His wife, also heavily tattooed is known as Katzen the Tiger Lady, and she worked on The Enigma’s tattoos before they were married. He played a sideshow freak called The Conundrum in the X-Files episode “Humbug.” (my note: “Humbug” is one of my absolute favorite X-Files episodes; very funny. If you haven’t seen it- you should!)

Ending bit I’d like to say… I find all of these very interesting; not all of which I’d personally practice, but are interesting none the less. Some I know more about than others, certainly. However, some of these I feel aren’t needed to go into on our actual piece. For example: tightlacing, suspension, and tongue bifurcation. For me I felt it was worth noting here in my initial research, even if just to shed a little light on them for the rest of you, but I think the others are probably better to go with for the actual piece. I don’t want to just bring to mind the image of a sideshow when I share these notes, but some fascinating things people will do with their bodies and what people think of it-- for, or against. I definitely want to keep tattoos and piercings, and also the trans/subdermal implants.

Opinions, comments, suggestions? Thanks group! SamanthaLarson


 * Samantha,
 * I think your concerns over "sideshow" stuff are good ones, worth considering as the group moves forward. As we discussed before, I think it'll be worthwhile to mix together examples weight consider extreme with things like pierced ears that we generally take for granted. Then the primary questions becomes, how does one decide which behaviors should be allowed or encouraged, and which prohibited or discouraged? Great ideas here!
 * Stevenarntson 13:48, 29 April 2009 (UTC)

PS-( Im not in your group, butThe Enigma shopped at Wal-Mart in Lynnwood and to see him up close was wild.)

71.231.138.82 http://itn.co.uk/news/69a994ad82dda01a8de4ba08d211561b.html


 * Group 2,
 * As per our conversation the other day: many things are relative, but perhaps not everything! Here's The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
 * -Steve

Male Circumcision

 * Hi, Group 2,
 * I just ran across an article online that is a great example of some of the things we've been discussing, particularly in the arena of developing a set of criteria by which one can judge the appropriateness of a surgical procedure. The article is here.
 * Best, Stevenarntson 15:31, 15 May 2009 (UTC)