I’ve always been split on exactly where various forms of “tooth art” fall on the “is it body modification” question. Clearly wearing temporary caps on ones teeth is not (and if is is, so is wearing a hat or a mask), but permanent caps? I think one could make the argument that they’re beginning to move into the same realm as an implant? But then what about dreads?
Is tooth filing the same as cutting fingernails? What about gluing gems onto ones teeth? What if they’re set into a drilled hole first? In any case, I was looking at dental fangs made by iam:DistortedSmiles in NYC (who’s at myspace.com/distortedsmiles), and the thing I was most thrilled about were his unique “orc” or troll style teeth… As a big fan of warthogs, this is a sort of fang that I’ve been hoping someone would figure out for a long time. There are more pictures of them after the break, and for BME members there are lots of pictures of how he makes them out of acrylic in the next update (which I may end up posting early; later tonight).
Comments
102 responses to “Is it body modification?”
I would like to offer something to consider with people asking why hair and nails might not be body mods.. maybe the line could be drawn because hair and nails are not living? The bits you cut or dye or paint aren’t alive to begin with.. just… attached.
I would like to offer something to consider with people asking why hair and nails might not be body mods.. maybe the line could be drawn because hair and nails are not living? The bits you cut or dye or paint aren’t alive to begin with.. just… attached.
HA HA well I’ll put my two pennies in but before I do I wanna say, they are made from dental acrylic and are removable, I just think contact lenses for your mouth. That’s what happens when an “artist” gets his hands on some dental acrylic.
Now for on, is it body modification, well I ask you this.. Your out with friends and you meet a female with green eyes, long straight hair, thin, big perky boobs, great skin and straight pearly whites. You get to her place after making out and such you spend the night and wake up to a frizzy haired chubby pimply girl with not so perky boobs, a bustier at the edge of the bed, she has one green eye and one brown and her teeth aren’t straight at all she just took out her not so very “Distorted” DistortedSmiles tooth corrections. She might be my type but would you feel she has mods?
There’s a difference between permanent and none permanent mods as well as those that conceal and those that you can’t hide. Like wearing a bra for years or wearing rings around your neck, Ear stretching passed a certain point is a more permanent mod then some 8g’s but they are both mods, I consider MAC a non permanent mod that conceals and gives a different appearance to the wearer even though it’s just make up.
HA HA well I’ll put my two pennies in but before I do I wanna say, they are made from dental acrylic and are removable, I just think contact lenses for your mouth. That’s what happens when an “artist” gets his hands on some dental acrylic.
Now for on, is it body modification, well I ask you this.. Your out with friends and you meet a female with green eyes, long straight hair, thin, big perky boobs, great skin and straight pearly whites. You get to her place after making out and such you spend the night and wake up to a frizzy haired chubby pimply girl with not so perky boobs, a bustier at the edge of the bed, she has one green eye and one brown and her teeth aren’t straight at all she just took out her not so very “Distorted” DistortedSmiles tooth corrections. She might be my type but would you feel she has mods?
There’s a difference between permanent and none permanent mods as well as those that conceal and those that you can’t hide. Like wearing a bra for years or wearing rings around your neck, Ear stretching passed a certain point is a more permanent mod then some 8g’s but they are both mods, I consider MAC a non permanent mod that conceals and gives a different appearance to the wearer even though it’s just make up.
… well … what is a modification but something that has been modified from it’s original condition?
some are perm and some are temp … but all are mods …
… well … what is a modification but something that has been modified from it’s original condition?
some are perm and some are temp … but all are mods …
i was thinking about dreads relating to modification earlier actually. they involve a new way of thinking about your body, and learning new things about it that you wouldn’t ever know otherwise – not unlike a piercing, tattoo, suspension, implant, whathaveyou.
there are tons of reasons why people are drawn towards modification. i think that what you consider a ‘mod’ is related to what made the individual want to do it. and does permanence determine anything? is a dermal anchor more of a mod than a p.a.? is a ‘mod’ something that changes function? i mean hey, this guy with the teeth has changed his body more in a physiological sense than i’ve ever seen anyone do with a tattoo.
i guess i just prefer ‘cultivation’. or hell, just expression.
but that’s just where i come from.
i was thinking about dreads relating to modification earlier actually. they involve a new way of thinking about your body, and learning new things about it that you wouldn’t ever know otherwise – not unlike a piercing, tattoo, suspension, implant, whathaveyou.
there are tons of reasons why people are drawn towards modification. i think that what you consider a ‘mod’ is related to what made the individual want to do it. and does permanence determine anything? is a dermal anchor more of a mod than a p.a.? is a ‘mod’ something that changes function? i mean hey, this guy with the teeth has changed his body more in a physiological sense than i’ve ever seen anyone do with a tattoo.
i guess i just prefer ‘cultivation’. or hell, just expression.
but that’s just where i come from.
I’m with #19 on this one
including want to play warcraft ^^
I’m with #19 on this one
including want to play warcraft ^^
i think people are delving too deep for the meanig of bodymodification since it has the meanng i itself, modyfiyng the body, no one said that there were rules like it has to be permenent or it can only be living tissue, piercings or tattoos, i thik if you later your body any way even anything such as getting your pancreas removed for surgery your body has become modified, its on a wider scale then most people tend to think
i think people are delving too deep for the meanig of bodymodification since it has the meanng i itself, modyfiyng the body, no one said that there were rules like it has to be permenent or it can only be living tissue, piercings or tattoos, i thik if you later your body any way even anything such as getting your pancreas removed for surgery your body has become modified, its on a wider scale then most people tend to think
MMM Starcraft.. and Starcraft 2 I wanna play THAT.
MMM Starcraft.. and Starcraft 2 I wanna play THAT.
plastic surgery counts!! I had my ears pointed by a body modification artist but it is still plastic surgery, it is still very permanent!
plastic surgery counts!! I had my ears pointed by a body modification artist but it is still plastic surgery, it is still very permanent!
haha, uber Lulz, when i read Shannon’s comment, it made my night even more funny, ohh and yeah the teeth are pretty phat.
haha, uber Lulz, when i read Shannon’s comment, it made my night even more funny, ohh and yeah the teeth are pretty phat.
My view on what is Bodmod would be to alter your appearance and of course even your body in a way that is spiritual or aestethic and not purely for function (that would be bracers for instance).
To the pics themself.
Aka’Magosh Mok’Nathal
I’m such a nerd ^^
I LOVE these teeth,they look awesome.
You should without doubt get some green paint and go to the next BlizzCon and win all the prices!
My view on what is Bodmod would be to alter your appearance and of course even your body in a way that is spiritual or aestethic and not purely for function (that would be bracers for instance).
To the pics themself.
Aka’Magosh Mok’Nathal
I’m such a nerd ^^
I LOVE these teeth,they look awesome.
You should without doubt get some green paint and go to the next BlizzCon and win all the prices!
Reminds me opf the Orcs from World of Warcraft, which can only be a good thing. Awesome idea.
Reminds me opf the Orcs from World of Warcraft, which can only be a good thing. Awesome idea.
my personal opinion: if it is permanent/leaves a permanent marking it is a modification.
my personal opinion: if it is permanent/leaves a permanent marking it is a modification.
#9. From the looks of things, his natural teeth are beautifully cared for, it’s only the acrylic ‘orcteeth’ that are yellowed. Seems to me that the color on the acrylic is intentionally done.
#9. From the looks of things, his natural teeth are beautifully cared for, it’s only the acrylic ‘orcteeth’ that are yellowed. Seems to me that the color on the acrylic is intentionally done.
reading through these comments i feel compelled to say
changing your body in anyway is, in essence, a body modification. hair dye, tooth caps, nail polish, tattoo, piercings and plastic surgery… it is all body mods, because you are modifying your body to the way you want it 🙂
reading through these comments i feel compelled to say
changing your body in anyway is, in essence, a body modification. hair dye, tooth caps, nail polish, tattoo, piercings and plastic surgery… it is all body mods, because you are modifying your body to the way you want it 🙂
Also, #9, remember the photos have been shopped a bit; the first one especially you can see the colour correction and the desaturation. I assume the guy who took them or Shannon altered the yellowybits to make them more yellow. I imagine in real light they look more naturally discoloured, because teeth aren’t snow white.
I think body modification can only be understood in it’s broadest and most general form. Sure, we’re all socialized to view certain mods as “normal”, and certain mods as “radical”. But why is a woman getting implants [or even a reduction!] “normal”, while a transman getting his chest reconstructed “radical”? Why is piercing little girl’s ears with cheap gold studs at the mall “normal”, and a teenager getting 12g capture bead rings at a piercing shop “radical”? A person in their 40′s is normal if they dye their hair to hide the grey, but a person in their 20′s is immature/”pushing it” if they decide they want seafoam green hair.
As people who are “into” radical-looking body modifications, we understand that society only accepts so much, and we’re snubbed for not being “normal”, or we’ve seen others snubbed for it. We subconsciously recognize “normal” body modification, and discount it as modification because it’s more regularly accepted in western culture. When you come to a site that’s devoted to body modification, people are more apt to share less culturally approved things, because there’s space allowed for it. So by seeing more extreme radical modifications, we’ve desensitized ourself to “regular” radical modifications, especially those that mimic normalized, culturally accepted modifications [hair dye, fake teeth], to a point where we have people saying that, ‘oh sure, that’s modification, but it’s not “really” modification!’
basically, yes, it’s body modification, but we might not see it that way because it’s procedurally close to modification that’s culturally accepted [in the West, at least].
Anyway, I like the guy’s teeth. It’s kinda cute how they poke out, even though he’s got a frown/seriousface on.
I’ve been thinking of getting the more cliche, “vampire” teeth. My fangs aren’t as long as my brother’s, and it makes me jealous. hah.
Also, #9, remember the photos have been shopped a bit; the first one especially you can see the colour correction and the desaturation. I assume the guy who took them or Shannon altered the yellowybits to make them more yellow. I imagine in real light they look more naturally discoloured, because teeth aren’t snow white.
I think body modification can only be understood in it’s broadest and most general form. Sure, we’re all socialized to view certain mods as “normal”, and certain mods as “radical”. But why is a woman getting implants [or even a reduction!] “normal”, while a transman getting his chest reconstructed “radical”? Why is piercing little girl’s ears with cheap gold studs at the mall “normal”, and a teenager getting 12g capture bead rings at a piercing shop “radical”? A person in their 40′s is normal if they dye their hair to hide the grey, but a person in their 20′s is immature/”pushing it” if they decide they want seafoam green hair.
As people who are “into” radical-looking body modifications, we understand that society only accepts so much, and we’re snubbed for not being “normal”, or we’ve seen others snubbed for it. We subconsciously recognize “normal” body modification, and discount it as modification because it’s more regularly accepted in western culture. When you come to a site that’s devoted to body modification, people are more apt to share less culturally approved things, because there’s space allowed for it. So by seeing more extreme radical modifications, we’ve desensitized ourself to “regular” radical modifications, especially those that mimic normalized, culturally accepted modifications [hair dye, fake teeth], to a point where we have people saying that, ‘oh sure, that’s modification, but it’s not “really” modification!’
basically, yes, it’s body modification, but we might not see it that way because it’s procedurally close to modification that’s culturally accepted [in the West, at least].
Anyway, I like the guy’s teeth. It’s kinda cute how they poke out, even though he’s got a frown/seriousface on.
I’ve been thinking of getting the more cliche, “vampire” teeth. My fangs aren’t as long as my brother’s, and it makes me jealous. hah.
Modify [verb]: make partial or minor (!) changes to something, typically so as to improve it or make it less extreme (haha!).
[biology] transform (a structure) from its original anatomical form during development or evolution.
Modify [verb]: make partial or minor (!) changes to something, typically so as to improve it or make it less extreme (haha!).
[biology] transform (a structure) from its original anatomical form during development or evolution.
i fucking love that. thats all i really gotta say. im jealous
i fucking love that. thats all i really gotta say. im jealous
I’d love to see a photo of him grinning. It would look amazing.
I’d love to see a photo of him grinning. It would look amazing.
i have vampire caps, and would consider those being permanent, except that depending on the solution used. they would crack if treated improperly. i hope those dont crack as easily.
i personally wouldnt do it, but more power to you, they look wicked. 🙂
i have vampire caps, and would consider those being permanent, except that depending on the solution used. they would crack if treated improperly. i hope those dont crack as easily.
i personally wouldnt do it, but more power to you, they look wicked. 🙂
Permanently glued caps, filed teeth are definately bod mods… unlike filing nails or cutting hair, which regrows, and isn’t permanent…
That’s my view.
Permanently glued caps, filed teeth are definately bod mods… unlike filing nails or cutting hair, which regrows, and isn’t permanent…
That’s my view.
hm, it doesn’t look so comfortable.
well i consider it a body mod… and i think temporary caps, cutting your fingernails, hair dying, etc are also a kind of body modification, even though the results are not permanent. i mean.. you can take out your piercings if you want to, you can take out your implants, you can (at least try to) remove your tattoos… and it doesn’t mean they’re not body modifications..
hm, it doesn’t look so comfortable.
well i consider it a body mod… and i think temporary caps, cutting your fingernails, hair dying, etc are also a kind of body modification, even though the results are not permanent. i mean.. you can take out your piercings if you want to, you can take out your implants, you can (at least try to) remove your tattoos… and it doesn’t mean they’re not body modifications..
wigs, hair dye, dreads and nail polish body mods?
O_O
I think that idea is completely ridiculous. If I put on a t-shirt or get a new hair cut, who in their right mind would consider that a body modification? To me that’s no different than putting on a wig, dying your hair, dreads, nail polish or whatever else.
Hair is not a body part. What some of you people are referring to is actually fashion or style.
Body modification is something you can feel. Something that gets in your skin and can or will stay there. I would call tooth modification a body modification, the same way removing a bone is modifying your body.
wigs, hair dye, dreads and nail polish body mods?
O_O
I think that idea is completely ridiculous. If I put on a t-shirt or get a new hair cut, who in their right mind would consider that a body modification? To me that’s no different than putting on a wig, dying your hair, dreads, nail polish or whatever else.
Hair is not a body part. What some of you people are referring to is actually fashion or style.
Body modification is something you can feel. Something that gets in your skin and can or will stay there. I would call tooth modification a body modification, the same way removing a bone is modifying your body.
Oh, those are spiffy. =D I wonder what they feel like as well. And how eating is, or drooling. I seem to drool enough as it is with my natural teeth. ._.”
I have two ideas of “body modification.” One is what we see here on ModBlog, of tattoos and piercings and implants, etc., and the other is all encompassing and not really set in stone. So if you wanted to talk about how clothing is body modification, sure, I’m down. I don’t usually think of it like that, but it does change our appearance. I guess it’s sort of like also thinking of how phones and cars make us cyborgs. Not everyone agrees, but it’s an interesting way to look at things and as least discuss them.
Body building, cosmetic surgery, dental work, medical changes to the body are definitely body modification to me though.
Oh, those are spiffy. =D I wonder what they feel like as well. And how eating is, or drooling. I seem to drool enough as it is with my natural teeth. ._.”
I have two ideas of “body modification.” One is what we see here on ModBlog, of tattoos and piercings and implants, etc., and the other is all encompassing and not really set in stone. So if you wanted to talk about how clothing is body modification, sure, I’m down. I don’t usually think of it like that, but it does change our appearance. I guess it’s sort of like also thinking of how phones and cars make us cyborgs. Not everyone agrees, but it’s an interesting way to look at things and as least discuss them.
Body building, cosmetic surgery, dental work, medical changes to the body are definitely body modification to me though.
those are perminent right? where could i get them ive allways wanted a pair, but tops not bottems. how much did those cost you? and was there a recovery time?
those are perminent right? where could i get them ive allways wanted a pair, but tops not bottems. how much did those cost you? and was there a recovery time?
you look like a douche
you look like a douche