Ahoy-hoy, ModBloggers! Hope your Saturday is treating you well. I’m just in and out at the moment, but I wanted to quickly share this gorgeous portrait of Dave‘s. It’s not of anyone in particular, but, as he explains:
I, like so many of our community members, have been totally fascinated with tribal cultures and their ideas of body art and beauty. In all simplicity this tattoo is my way of paying homage and showing people what body modification means to me and showing where my roots in this industry lay.
From a technical standpoint, I’m very curious to see how the huge amount of white holds up in the long term. I’ve got high hopes, though—I really love the look of this piece.
Enjoy your day, folks, and go on, gimme some fresh new eyes.
(Tattoo by Daniel Jones at Asylum Studios in Salem, Virginia.)
See more in “Portrait Tattoos“ (Tattoos)
Comments
128 responses to “The Only Difference is the Distance”
This is just brilliant.
This is just brilliant.
stands on top of a hill in the uk and screams “giles, where are you?”
stands on top of a hill in the uk and screams “giles, where are you?”
p.s i love the expression the kid has on his face “whataya looking at pale skin”
p.s i love the expression the kid has on his face “whataya looking at pale skin”
I think one thing to keep in mind during this discussion is that a lot of people are referring to “tribes” and “tribal” modification practices as things that have happened in the past. People seem to be saying that these are the historical roots of body modification without recognizing that these cultures still exist. This kind of wording reinforces a racist, western, superiority by suggesting that our practices have surpassed these primitive historical roots.
I think one thing to keep in mind during this discussion is that a lot of people are referring to “tribes” and “tribal” modification practices as things that have happened in the past. People seem to be saying that these are the historical roots of body modification without recognizing that these cultures still exist. This kind of wording reinforces a racist, western, superiority by suggesting that our practices have surpassed these primitive historical roots.
Ew kill it!
Ew kill it!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/FiveXXXPoints/kid.jpg
here is the link to the original as promised.
and as far of promoting racism or whatever. Fail. stop being mellow dramatic
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/FiveXXXPoints/kid.jpg
here is the link to the original as promised.
and as far of promoting racism or whatever. Fail. stop being mellow dramatic
Wow!!! I just noticed that the description of this portrait says that, “It’s not of anyone in particular.” That is clearly false, since you just posted a photograph of the precise person that this is a portrait of. This is a real person with a real life, not “random tribal primitive X.” I think that the body modification community as a whole needs to think more carefully about the implications of their misappropriations of other people’s cultures. Paying homage to a particular aesthetic practice that you find inspiring is one thing. But taking a living person from a living culture and reducing them to a nameless symbol of something that you think looks rad is a problem.
Wow!!! I just noticed that the description of this portrait says that, “It’s not of anyone in particular.” That is clearly false, since you just posted a photograph of the precise person that this is a portrait of. This is a real person with a real life, not “random tribal primitive X.” I think that the body modification community as a whole needs to think more carefully about the implications of their misappropriations of other people’s cultures. Paying homage to a particular aesthetic practice that you find inspiring is one thing. But taking a living person from a living culture and reducing them to a nameless symbol of something that you think looks rad is a problem.
Max: I don’t see how the word “tribal” can be offensive or racist, seeing as how many difference races have lived in tribes over the years, it’s not just Africans. Celtic tattoos are often referred to as “tribal” tattoos, and they are from white people. Plus, if you don’t want people to use the word “tribal” to generally describe body modification practiced mainly by people who lived in tribes, then how would you live to refer to them? As primitives? Because that is definitely more offensive than the word tribal. When summing up the origins of body modification you’ve got to use some word to concisely do it, you can’t list the name of every culture and every single tribe that practiced body modification. Also just because I thought your one statement was sickening doesn’t mean that I am being even remotely emotional. I simply think you went right into bitching about someones tattoo and acting all Superior for very little reason.
Max: I don’t see how the word “tribal” can be offensive or racist, seeing as how many difference races have lived in tribes over the years, it’s not just Africans. Celtic tattoos are often referred to as “tribal” tattoos, and they are from white people. Plus, if you don’t want people to use the word “tribal” to generally describe body modification practiced mainly by people who lived in tribes, then how would you live to refer to them? As primitives? Because that is definitely more offensive than the word tribal. When summing up the origins of body modification you’ve got to use some word to concisely do it, you can’t list the name of every culture and every single tribe that practiced body modification. Also just because I thought your one statement was sickening doesn’t mean that I am being even remotely emotional. I simply think you went right into bitching about someones tattoo and acting all Superior for very little reason.
Jason: I do agree with you on what you just said. In certain cases I do see why someone could take that tattoo as offensive, like the reason you just stated. But the other reasons Max and other people are throwing out there just do not seem to make much sense, and seem to be coming from seriously overly sensitive people.
Jason: I do agree with you on what you just said. In certain cases I do see why someone could take that tattoo as offensive, like the reason you just stated. But the other reasons Max and other people are throwing out there just do not seem to make much sense, and seem to be coming from seriously overly sensitive people.
it’s not being mellow dramatic, it’s being realistic. any competent african studies (some of whom have roots in such ethnic groups) scholar or social scientist will tell you that such a term should never be used to portray such cultures.
read some academic journals on the topic and educate yourself. you will then realize the inherent racism you are attaching to such ethnic groups.
fail.
it’s not being mellow dramatic, it’s being realistic. any competent african studies (some of whom have roots in such ethnic groups) scholar or social scientist will tell you that such a term should never be used to portray such cultures.
read some academic journals on the topic and educate yourself. you will then realize the inherent racism you are attaching to such ethnic groups.
fail.
Jason, all the explanation and debate in the world won’t change BME and IAMers attitudes towards misappropriating other cultures. I tried for years, seriously, to change attitudes towards the theft of taa moko but only ever got shat on for it. Keep in mind that 99% of people are on BME for its “cool” factor and the fashion of it all, people with no real substance, so they’ll never really understand what the fuss is all about.
“But taking a living person from a living culture and reducing them to a nameless symbol of something that you think looks rad is a problem.”
Never a truer sentence typed here.
Jason, all the explanation and debate in the world won’t change BME and IAMers attitudes towards misappropriating other cultures. I tried for years, seriously, to change attitudes towards the theft of taa moko but only ever got shat on for it. Keep in mind that 99% of people are on BME for its “cool” factor and the fashion of it all, people with no real substance, so they’ll never really understand what the fuss is all about.
“But taking a living person from a living culture and reducing them to a nameless symbol of something that you think looks rad is a problem.”
Never a truer sentence typed here.
You don’t have to be an African Studies Scholar to recognize that reducing complex cultures to a single, sensationalized, image is problematic.
You don’t have to be an African Studies Scholar to recognize that reducing complex cultures to a single, sensationalized, image is problematic.
vomit:
read literature on the topic before discounting it. i highly doubt you have, because then you wouldn’t ask such silly questions. if you read properly i was not talking about how i disliked his tattoo. in fact, i said i liked it. i was focusing on terminology. i don’t know how many times i have to reinstate that for you to understand.
and you refer to such groups not as tribes but as ethnic groups (once again, read what i write). i have studied the languages of some of these cultures, including swahili, and the word you love to use to describe them, tribe, does not exist in their language.
vomit:
read literature on the topic before discounting it. i highly doubt you have, because then you wouldn’t ask such silly questions. if you read properly i was not talking about how i disliked his tattoo. in fact, i said i liked it. i was focusing on terminology. i don’t know how many times i have to reinstate that for you to understand.
and you refer to such groups not as tribes but as ethnic groups (once again, read what i write). i have studied the languages of some of these cultures, including swahili, and the word you love to use to describe them, tribe, does not exist in their language.
i completely agree with you guys (jason and jon p).
jason: “Paying homage to a particular aesthetic practice that you find inspiring is one thing. But taking a living person from a living culture and reducing them to a nameless symbol of something that you think looks rad is a problem.”
exactly why i initiated the discussion. but it seems many people on here don’t really understand this. it’s sad actually.
i completely agree with you guys (jason and jon p).
jason: “Paying homage to a particular aesthetic practice that you find inspiring is one thing. But taking a living person from a living culture and reducing them to a nameless symbol of something that you think looks rad is a problem.”
exactly why i initiated the discussion. but it seems many people on here don’t really understand this. it’s sad actually.
Not to distract from the discussion at hand, but…
John P:
I have had some similar experiences here. One of my really big pet peeves is the misuse of the “Borneo rose.”
Not to distract from the discussion at hand, but…
John P:
I have had some similar experiences here. One of my really big pet peeves is the misuse of the “Borneo rose.”
in my defense the only thing i said about this image was in the highlighted section. I wish i could meet this young man. I dont know who he is but hes certainly more then a nameless face.
max i didnt realize i was responsible for the entire worlds racism. i wish this modblog would be deleted cause you are ruining this tattoo for me. dick
in my defense the only thing i said about this image was in the highlighted section. I wish i could meet this young man. I dont know who he is but hes certainly more then a nameless face.
max i didnt realize i was responsible for the entire worlds racism. i wish this modblog would be deleted cause you are ruining this tattoo for me. dick
Look man, there is no reason that this conversation should ruin this tattoo for you. I think that we are just trying to have a critical discussion about some important issues that affect many participants in the body modification community.
Your tattoo is really well done. It is truly beautiful and I hope that you get a great deal of joy out of it.
However, I still think it is important for all of us to really carefully consider our relationships to our body modifications and to the political implications of our actions in general.
There is nothing inherently wrong with this tattoo. But I think we all need to check ourselves on the ways we talk and think about these kinds of body modifications and others that similarly walk a fine line between appropriate admiration and cultural appropriation.
It is important for all of us to be able to talk about where we think that line is because this is a really important issue.
Look man, there is no reason that this conversation should ruin this tattoo for you. I think that we are just trying to have a critical discussion about some important issues that affect many participants in the body modification community.
Your tattoo is really well done. It is truly beautiful and I hope that you get a great deal of joy out of it.
However, I still think it is important for all of us to really carefully consider our relationships to our body modifications and to the political implications of our actions in general.
There is nothing inherently wrong with this tattoo. But I think we all need to check ourselves on the ways we talk and think about these kinds of body modifications and others that similarly walk a fine line between appropriate admiration and cultural appropriation.
It is important for all of us to be able to talk about where we think that line is because this is a really important issue.
Stunning piece. I’d love to see it turn into a larger project with more images of people from different cultures.
Stunning piece. I’d love to see it turn into a larger project with more images of people from different cultures.
David-pay no attention to these philistines that want to hate on your tattoo.You know what it means to you right? You know your not a racist jerk right? That’s good enough for me
David-pay no attention to these philistines that want to hate on your tattoo.You know what it means to you right? You know your not a racist jerk right? That’s good enough for me
I love it when the issue of cultural appropriation is raised. Most people never give it another thought. The fact that people don’t even want to consider the fact that the way they talk belittles cultures they supposedly “admire” (without even knowing anything more than a textbook description of said culture) is evidence enough of the thoughtlessness of the herd.
I love it when the issue of cultural appropriation is raised. Most people never give it another thought. The fact that people don’t even want to consider the fact that the way they talk belittles cultures they supposedly “admire” (without even knowing anything more than a textbook description of said culture) is evidence enough of the thoughtlessness of the herd.
Listen Max, calling a person racist just because he used the world “tribal” is ridiculous and pathetic.
“Tribal” is a term that has been used in body modification for over a decade and became a part of the terminology (like “tribal tatoos”), so giving shit to a particular person for using it is just lame. Whenever you like it or not, a great deal of indigenous people practicing heavy body modification did live in tribes and that’s where the term came from. For me both “tribal” and “primitive” are highly positive terms, and in my opinion implying that “living in tribe” and “being primitive” is negative is racist. I find it funny that you’re showing off your academical knowledge by saying what i find an utterly racist statement:
“i can’t see how referring to what you are doing with your body as something tribal, or of tribal origin, is in any way beneficial. if anything it can promote a negative view the general population may have towards the modded community and will not serve very well to foster its growth and acceptance”
As for “stealing” tatoos as someone mentioned here: i find the idea that you can’t tatoo something if you don’t belong to that culture extremely opressive and conservative. If people feel free to tatoo something that they feel drawn to, find beautiful and inspiring doesn’t mean they “steal” it. Should we all stick to what only has been practiced in a “white” culture? For example, I don’t feel belonging to “white” culture neither. And what about dreadlocks or mohawks – are “white” people allowed to have them?
For many people, body modification has been a lot about respect, appreciation and admiration for cultures that are otherwise dismissed and neglected by our society.
However, having said all that, i do see that there is a problem of “objectification” of indigenous cultures, but really, targeting a particular person who used the term “tribal” which is like one of the most used terms in body modification even if you find it inadequate and calling him racist is being dramatic and mean.
Listen Max, calling a person racist just because he used the world “tribal” is ridiculous and pathetic.
“Tribal” is a term that has been used in body modification for over a decade and became a part of the terminology (like “tribal tatoos”), so giving shit to a particular person for using it is just lame. Whenever you like it or not, a great deal of indigenous people practicing heavy body modification did live in tribes and that’s where the term came from. For me both “tribal” and “primitive” are highly positive terms, and in my opinion implying that “living in tribe” and “being primitive” is negative is racist. I find it funny that you’re showing off your academical knowledge by saying what i find an utterly racist statement:
“i can’t see how referring to what you are doing with your body as something tribal, or of tribal origin, is in any way beneficial. if anything it can promote a negative view the general population may have towards the modded community and will not serve very well to foster its growth and acceptance”
As for “stealing” tatoos as someone mentioned here: i find the idea that you can’t tatoo something if you don’t belong to that culture extremely opressive and conservative. If people feel free to tatoo something that they feel drawn to, find beautiful and inspiring doesn’t mean they “steal” it. Should we all stick to what only has been practiced in a “white” culture? For example, I don’t feel belonging to “white” culture neither. And what about dreadlocks or mohawks – are “white” people allowed to have them?
For many people, body modification has been a lot about respect, appreciation and admiration for cultures that are otherwise dismissed and neglected by our society.
However, having said all that, i do see that there is a problem of “objectification” of indigenous cultures, but really, targeting a particular person who used the term “tribal” which is like one of the most used terms in body modification even if you find it inadequate and calling him racist is being dramatic and mean.
Hey now, it’s a legitimate qualm to have when calling a bod mod “tribal”. Sure, ‘neo-tribal’ is a style of tattooing, but anything other than that isn’t a ‘tribal’ mod. Just cos you stretch your septum and stick a spike in it, which might make you feel ‘tribal’, doesn’t make it ‘tribal’. Just because indigneous people lived in tribes, and some still do retain some form of tribal social structure such as Maori in Aotearoa/NZ, doesn’t make everything they did ‘tribal’.
It’s not racist, because there’s no such thing as ‘races’. Ethnicities, sure. So perhaps you’re exhibiting a form of ethnocentrism by calling other cultures ‘tribal’. But we’re all guilty of being ethnocentric.
Susan: Just because you might have some wispy hippy-esque ideas about what being ‘tribal’ and ‘primitive’ means and how those terms connote only positive things to you, you’re wildly off the mark if you think indigenous peoples enjoy being called ‘primitive’. In order to be ‘primitive’ you must be in contrast to some ‘advanced’ culture. And saying indigenous cultures are in any way less ‘advanced’ than Western cultures is pathetic. You might like the idea of a ‘return to Nature’ or whatever concept those two terms conjure in your mind, but that’s an antiquated and hurtful attitude to have. The Noble Savage is dead and we should all be glad and fight to keep it that way. I know Maori don’t enjoy having people look at them as some kind of ‘primitive’ culture that’s closer to Nature than anyone else. How do I know this? I’m Maori.
Hey now, it’s a legitimate qualm to have when calling a bod mod “tribal”. Sure, ‘neo-tribal’ is a style of tattooing, but anything other than that isn’t a ‘tribal’ mod. Just cos you stretch your septum and stick a spike in it, which might make you feel ‘tribal’, doesn’t make it ‘tribal’. Just because indigneous people lived in tribes, and some still do retain some form of tribal social structure such as Maori in Aotearoa/NZ, doesn’t make everything they did ‘tribal’.
It’s not racist, because there’s no such thing as ‘races’. Ethnicities, sure. So perhaps you’re exhibiting a form of ethnocentrism by calling other cultures ‘tribal’. But we’re all guilty of being ethnocentric.
Susan: Just because you might have some wispy hippy-esque ideas about what being ‘tribal’ and ‘primitive’ means and how those terms connote only positive things to you, you’re wildly off the mark if you think indigenous peoples enjoy being called ‘primitive’. In order to be ‘primitive’ you must be in contrast to some ‘advanced’ culture. And saying indigenous cultures are in any way less ‘advanced’ than Western cultures is pathetic. You might like the idea of a ‘return to Nature’ or whatever concept those two terms conjure in your mind, but that’s an antiquated and hurtful attitude to have. The Noble Savage is dead and we should all be glad and fight to keep it that way. I know Maori don’t enjoy having people look at them as some kind of ‘primitive’ culture that’s closer to Nature than anyone else. How do I know this? I’m Maori.
Obviously the “noble savage” is not dead (otherwise we wouldn’t be having this conversation). There is very clear evidence that this racist stereotype persists all over IAM.
Obviously the “noble savage” is not dead (otherwise we wouldn’t be having this conversation). There is very clear evidence that this racist stereotype persists all over IAM.
My mother was Native American. Born on a reservation.
In my case, am I being untrue to my own by not being offended when I see someone who doesn’t appear, physically, to represent the stereotypical “American Indian” wearing “tribal” jewelry in the style of the Navajo? Or someone who might be sporting a tattoo of a young Navajo tribesman?
It doesn’t bother me. I don’t know those people. Maybe they are fascinated by the culture. Or have a wife/husband who is Native American. Maybe they just think it’s cool. Or maybe they DO have an image in their minds of a “nobel savage” Why should I call them on it? Why should I whine about what random people who do not affect my life what-so-ever think?
So they think I knaw on a buffalo skin in my spare time.
Big deal.
I also tend to think of the word “tribal” as positive. Much as the word “family”. Of course that’s being over-simplistic…and um, positive.
I think the tattoo is beautiful.
My mother was Native American. Born on a reservation.
In my case, am I being untrue to my own by not being offended when I see someone who doesn’t appear, physically, to represent the stereotypical “American Indian” wearing “tribal” jewelry in the style of the Navajo? Or someone who might be sporting a tattoo of a young Navajo tribesman?
It doesn’t bother me. I don’t know those people. Maybe they are fascinated by the culture. Or have a wife/husband who is Native American. Maybe they just think it’s cool. Or maybe they DO have an image in their minds of a “nobel savage” Why should I call them on it? Why should I whine about what random people who do not affect my life what-so-ever think?
So they think I knaw on a buffalo skin in my spare time.
Big deal.
I also tend to think of the word “tribal” as positive. Much as the word “family”. Of course that’s being over-simplistic…and um, positive.
I think the tattoo is beautiful.
Don’t bitch.
I think he thought more about the idea behind this tattoo, then 80% of the other people in the world who getting a tattoo.
(Scrappy English, I’m just awake, get over it :’))
Don’t bitch.
I think he thought more about the idea behind this tattoo, then 80% of the other people in the world who getting a tattoo.
(Scrappy English, I’m just awake, get over it :’))