A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Just like Nazareth sang….

….Love Hurts.

It hurts even more when it is proclaimed with cigarette  burns.

fzya-love-hurts-literally-copy

On Modblog we feature some of the most amazing artistic scarification in the world. Yet, we often overlook the rarely updated ritual cutting and ritual branding galleries when looking for pictures to feature. In these galleries the scarification is rarely about the finished result and usually about the process.

For a picture of the process of this scar, keep on keeping on.

lovehurtsburn

Comments

270 responses to “Just like Nazareth sang….”

  1. jibberdin Avatar
    jibberdin

    oooh….angst!

  2. jibberdin Avatar
    jibberdin

    oooh….angst!

  3. Bird Avatar
    Bird

    ModBlog comes out with another disappointment from left field again, how the hell does self harm qualify as “ritual” anything. Not going to bash the person that sent these pics in, I know its tough dealing with reality sometimes but fuck man, just be glad that in a few years these will fade and wont be as noticeable.

  4. Bird Avatar
    Bird

    ModBlog comes out with another disappointment from left field again, how the hell does self harm qualify as “ritual” anything. Not going to bash the person that sent these pics in, I know its tough dealing with reality sometimes but fuck man, just be glad that in a few years these will fade and wont be as noticeable.

  5. DeeDee Avatar
    DeeDee

    This reminds me of when I carved “everyone that burns has to learn from the pain” into my leg with a safety pin in high school. lulz.

  6. DeeDee Avatar
    DeeDee

    This reminds me of when I carved “everyone that burns has to learn from the pain” into my leg with a safety pin in high school. lulz.

  7. antipinkpunk Avatar
    antipinkpunk

    I used to burn and cut myself, but it was self-mutilation, not art. I know for me this would be wrong, because the message clearly isn’t positive, but maybe for him its just something he wanted on his arms. I don’t know him so I can’t judge.

    But ignoring all of that… dude… it is really unattractive…

  8. antipinkpunk Avatar
    antipinkpunk

    I used to burn and cut myself, but it was self-mutilation, not art. I know for me this would be wrong, because the message clearly isn’t positive, but maybe for him its just something he wanted on his arms. I don’t know him so I can’t judge.

    But ignoring all of that… dude… it is really unattractive…

  9. MissMeg Avatar

    I’m with Havve here. None of us have right to pass judgment on what this person views as ritual. Shame on all of you for not being more open minded.

    If he had had John Joyce cut LOVE HURTS on his forearms, y’all would be so stoked.. but this was a process for this person, and a big part of the spirit of this site is DIY modification and ritual.

  10. MissMeg Avatar

    I’m with Havve here. None of us have right to pass judgment on what this person views as ritual. Shame on all of you for not being more open minded.

    If he had had John Joyce cut LOVE HURTS on his forearms, y’all would be so stoked.. but this was a process for this person, and a big part of the spirit of this site is DIY modification and ritual.

  11. acetemenophin Avatar
    acetemenophin

    Look, no matter what reason he had for doing this, it still looks really awful.

  12. acetemenophin Avatar
    acetemenophin

    Look, no matter what reason he had for doing this, it still looks really awful.

  13. jasn Avatar
    jasn

    since when does a “ritual” need to be done by a “professional”? i dont believe in paying someone top dollar to do a “ritual”. helping out with any costs is one thing…

    what if he knew that the scars would only last a few years or so? is it still a dumb idea?

    some people dont feel the need to be “attractive”…

    i love “quotations” haha…

    i love how this is so boring, but you have to comment on it….

  14. jasn Avatar
    jasn

    since when does a “ritual” need to be done by a “professional”? i dont believe in paying someone top dollar to do a “ritual”. helping out with any costs is one thing…

    what if he knew that the scars would only last a few years or so? is it still a dumb idea?

    some people dont feel the need to be “attractive”…

    i love “quotations” haha…

    i love how this is so boring, but you have to comment on it….

  15. oppositronic Avatar
    oppositronic

    i don’t think that just because a modification is motivated by a negative emotion like hate or fear or self-loathing, i don’t think that that makes it any less valid than if you get a butterfly on ur shit. recognize the real

  16. oppositronic Avatar
    oppositronic

    i don’t think that just because a modification is motivated by a negative emotion like hate or fear or self-loathing, i don’t think that that makes it any less valid than if you get a butterfly on ur shit. recognize the real

  17. angie Avatar

    it really does look like psoriasis or something, but hey for real whatever you’re into more power to ya

  18. angie Avatar

    it really does look like psoriasis or something, but hey for real whatever you’re into more power to ya

  19. Lars Avatar
    Lars

    I figured there might be a little more respectable discourse from BME readers. The body modification culture notoriously blurs the line between acceptable modification and self harm. Some may question this person’s motives but as others have said, it’s not our place to judge. None of us know the person, the situation, the circumstances behind these pictures. Perhaps it’s supposed to like hacked and and unprofessional, who knows. I certainly hope this was done for a positive reason, but I won’t claim that it’s self harm when we can’t be sure.

    Also, I lol every time BME readers talk about someone regretting a mod. How many times do you get sick of other people telling you you’re going to regret your tattoos or piercings? Honestly.

  20. Lars Avatar
    Lars

    I figured there might be a little more respectable discourse from BME readers. The body modification culture notoriously blurs the line between acceptable modification and self harm. Some may question this person’s motives but as others have said, it’s not our place to judge. None of us know the person, the situation, the circumstances behind these pictures. Perhaps it’s supposed to like hacked and and unprofessional, who knows. I certainly hope this was done for a positive reason, but I won’t claim that it’s self harm when we can’t be sure.

    Also, I lol every time BME readers talk about someone regretting a mod. How many times do you get sick of other people telling you you’re going to regret your tattoos or piercings? Honestly.

  21. rodrigo Avatar
    rodrigo

    asshole

  22. rodrigo Avatar
    rodrigo

    asshole

  23. Liz Avatar
    Liz

    Only on Modblog will you ever find someone saying “boring self-mutilation,” re Kate #25.

  24. Liz Avatar
    Liz

    Only on Modblog will you ever find someone saying “boring self-mutilation,” re Kate #25.

  25. MeanieMuna Avatar

    I think that the problem here is what is the difference between body modification and self-mutilation. The line is extremely thin, but its still there. I’m not sure how to explain it right now, but there’s a difference and its one that should be noticed.

  26. MeanieMuna Avatar

    I think that the problem here is what is the difference between body modification and self-mutilation. The line is extremely thin, but its still there. I’m not sure how to explain it right now, but there’s a difference and its one that should be noticed.

  27. Mandic Avatar

    In many ways the line is intent more than anything. I know personally, I started as a bit of a self-mutliator. I branded, cut, and play pierced as a release for how I felt. I have since come to terms with shit and now I modify my body in “healthier” ways.

    I look at this and it just reminds me of myself years ago. Kids sitting around watching makes me feel like everyone was saying “man he is so hardcore” the whole time. Does that take away from the “ritual” aspect of it? To me it does. But to each their own. We will never know what really is the story here unless this person chimes in.

    I am willing to pre-judge and say it I don’t like it, that is my choice. Accept my choice or don’t, I could care less.

  28. Mandic Avatar

    In many ways the line is intent more than anything. I know personally, I started as a bit of a self-mutliator. I branded, cut, and play pierced as a release for how I felt. I have since come to terms with shit and now I modify my body in “healthier” ways.

    I look at this and it just reminds me of myself years ago. Kids sitting around watching makes me feel like everyone was saying “man he is so hardcore” the whole time. Does that take away from the “ritual” aspect of it? To me it does. But to each their own. We will never know what really is the story here unless this person chimes in.

    I am willing to pre-judge and say it I don’t like it, that is my choice. Accept my choice or don’t, I could care less.

  29. Brooks Avatar
    Brooks

    Oh yeah this is Special alright, Special like this dude needs a helmet!

  30. Brooks Avatar
    Brooks

    Oh yeah this is Special alright, Special like this dude needs a helmet!

  31. De Avatar
    De

    I’m incredibly saddened by some of these comments. Self-injury is a serious issue.. it doesn’t mean you’re “emo” (though I am annoyed with these kids that cut themselves solely FOR attention.. but hey, they’re getting what they want).. self injury isn’t about wanting to die, or being *angsty*.. it’s about wanting to find a different pain than you’re already feeling.. or even that *high* you get from the endorphin rush. It may not be as pretty as some other body mods.. but when you’re in that state of mind.. you don’t care what it looks like 10 years down the road, the only thing you care about is trading one kind of pain for another. (Speaking of course, AS a former cutter..)
    And really.. we don’t know the real reason the person in the picture is doing this for anyway.. so who are we to judge? Everybody has their own personal reasons for whatever it is they do.. whether its “professional cuttings” or DIY cutting/branding/etc.. (along with tats, suspensions.. hell, cutting off your dick or sticking poles through your body…) This is MODBLOG. Since when do we judge someone just because it’s something you don’t do, or personally understand? (*jumps off my soapbox now*)

  32. De Avatar
    De

    I’m incredibly saddened by some of these comments. Self-injury is a serious issue.. it doesn’t mean you’re “emo” (though I am annoyed with these kids that cut themselves solely FOR attention.. but hey, they’re getting what they want).. self injury isn’t about wanting to die, or being *angsty*.. it’s about wanting to find a different pain than you’re already feeling.. or even that *high* you get from the endorphin rush. It may not be as pretty as some other body mods.. but when you’re in that state of mind.. you don’t care what it looks like 10 years down the road, the only thing you care about is trading one kind of pain for another. (Speaking of course, AS a former cutter..)
    And really.. we don’t know the real reason the person in the picture is doing this for anyway.. so who are we to judge? Everybody has their own personal reasons for whatever it is they do.. whether its “professional cuttings” or DIY cutting/branding/etc.. (along with tats, suspensions.. hell, cutting off your dick or sticking poles through your body…) This is MODBLOG. Since when do we judge someone just because it’s something you don’t do, or personally understand? (*jumps off my soapbox now*)

  33. anthony Avatar

    i’m not going to pass judgment on the validity of this as a ritual, but the method of its execution leaves me slightly concerned. and rather than just submit the obvious “to each his own,” i feel like a ritual should absolutely achieve some form of mental clarity, but i believe the methods ought not be needlessly detrimental to the body. at the end of the day though, i hope he got what he needed to out of this, and even if it wasn’t about the result, i hope he’s okay with it.

  34. anthony Avatar

    i’m not going to pass judgment on the validity of this as a ritual, but the method of its execution leaves me slightly concerned. and rather than just submit the obvious “to each his own,” i feel like a ritual should absolutely achieve some form of mental clarity, but i believe the methods ought not be needlessly detrimental to the body. at the end of the day though, i hope he got what he needed to out of this, and even if it wasn’t about the result, i hope he’s okay with it.

  35. Badeda Avatar
    Badeda

    cigarettes suck haha

  36. Badeda Avatar
    Badeda

    cigarettes suck haha

  37. DTM Avatar
    DTM

    you know Im not going to make a point about mutilation or trading one pain for another or the validity of this ritual.. all Im going to say is
    Damn gingers!

  38. DTM Avatar
    DTM

    you know Im not going to make a point about mutilation or trading one pain for another or the validity of this ritual.. all Im going to say is
    Damn gingers!

  39. DTM Avatar
    DTM

    actually meant silly gingers…lol.. silly me

  40. DTM Avatar
    DTM

    actually meant silly gingers…lol.. silly me

  41. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    I think it’s pretty cheeky for you guy’s to pass judgement on this person saying they’re stupid for doing this. They’re modifying their body. BME to me is documenting these incidences not saying it’s ok for people to do these things. I don’t understand when people come onto this website and critisize people for doing things, even if it’s dangerous to themselves. Every piercing is possibly dangerous to the person having so I find it kind of hypocritical when people come here complaining about “self harm” when theirselves have piercings as they risk their health by doing so.

  42. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    I think it’s pretty cheeky for you guy’s to pass judgement on this person saying they’re stupid for doing this. They’re modifying their body. BME to me is documenting these incidences not saying it’s ok for people to do these things. I don’t understand when people come onto this website and critisize people for doing things, even if it’s dangerous to themselves. Every piercing is possibly dangerous to the person having so I find it kind of hypocritical when people come here complaining about “self harm” when theirselves have piercings as they risk their health by doing so.

  43. Viruliferous Avatar
    Viruliferous

    So because the burns are self done, somehow his message of “love hurts” turns into something angsty/whiny? I’ve seen a lot of people with the same words “love hurts” tattooed.

  44. Viruliferous Avatar
    Viruliferous

    So because the burns are self done, somehow his message of “love hurts” turns into something angsty/whiny? I’ve seen a lot of people with the same words “love hurts” tattooed.

  45. anon Avatar
    anon

    yeah, like four of the past five posts with clickthroughs have said “keep on keepin’ on”. way to seriously wear out a saying, guy.

  46. anon Avatar
    anon

    yeah, like four of the past five posts with clickthroughs have said “keep on keepin’ on”. way to seriously wear out a saying, guy.

  47. jezebel Avatar

    Havve & MissMeg have hit the nail on the head…
    Regardless of whether or not one of you would use the same methods to acquire these scars, it is not for you to judge! So, burning yourself with a couple packs of cigarettes isn’t for you, then shut your trap and move on…
    The cathartic nature of self-inflicted pain is often what many are looking for in the release of these activities, not attention, as many would have it (although, sadly it has come more and more to this). I used to cut and burn and pierce myself for the sensation, not the attention, and the scars are long since faded, but never forgotten!

  48. jezebel Avatar

    Havve & MissMeg have hit the nail on the head…
    Regardless of whether or not one of you would use the same methods to acquire these scars, it is not for you to judge! So, burning yourself with a couple packs of cigarettes isn’t for you, then shut your trap and move on…
    The cathartic nature of self-inflicted pain is often what many are looking for in the release of these activities, not attention, as many would have it (although, sadly it has come more and more to this). I used to cut and burn and pierce myself for the sensation, not the attention, and the scars are long since faded, but never forgotten!

  49. just-hours-away Avatar
    just-hours-away

    It couldntve been very clean and cant heal very well, oh sad times when tshirt weather comes along or he has kids who want to know why daddy was such a redneck, I’ve self branded, didn’t turn out well, but my methods were better in their own way using metal and stoves and gloves and it was still a mess

  50. just-hours-away Avatar
    just-hours-away

    It couldntve been very clean and cant heal very well, oh sad times when tshirt weather comes along or he has kids who want to know why daddy was such a redneck, I’ve self branded, didn’t turn out well, but my methods were better in their own way using metal and stoves and gloves and it was still a mess

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