BME: Body Modification Ezine

A tattooed person suspends from hooks, laying flat, one leg higher than the other. Their head is back, and they seem to be smiling, dark hair dangling like an anime character.

Celebrating body modification culture since 1994.

Author: Rob

  • A night on the town

    Written by

    Rob

    When getting ready to head out for an evening of fun with some friends, there are a few things a person needs to do to get ready.  Shower, pick out clothes, possibly put on makeup, get a corset piercing, make sure your accessories match, etc.  While some people may not include one or two of these examples, it seems these ladies have made sure to include “get a corset” on their list of things to do.

    corsets

    For some reason, when I see this picture, all I can think about is what the reactions of my classmates would have been if my date showed up for prom with a corset.  Granted back then, a lot of people would have had no clue what they were looking at.  The same could be said for a lot of the newer styles of modifications.  So while back then this would have been shocking, today it may only turn some heads.  Does this mean that the mainstream world is becoming more accepting?

    IAM:Candace posed this question on her blog today, “Do you think heavier mods (implants, removals, scarification, etc) will ever be accepted among society? Why?”  If history is any indicator, there may come a day when what we consider heavy today, becomes something as normal as a stretched septum or lobe.  What are your thoughts on this?  Are we headed down the road towards the mainstream, or will the modified community continue to skirt the fringes of “normalcy”.

    A big thank you to BME user ajulietgrey for sharing this picture with us.  There are several more images of these corseted ladies up in the corset piercing gallery.

  • Why wouldn’t dogs play poker?

    Written by

    Rob

    The “Dogs Playing Poker” series of images were originally a series of oil paintings designed to sell cigars.  Somehow these images transcended their initial meaning and have turned into a staple of American kitsch.  Pool halls and rec rooms all over North America have at least one of these famous paintings, or ones that have been inspired by them.

    At the same time C. M. Coolidge sat down to paint these images, another American legacy was being formed in the tattoo studios of New York City.  Fast forward almost 100 years later and the two have finally come together in this back piece by Jeff Houston from Under the Needle Tattoo in Seattle, WA.

    poker dogs

    A larger version of the picture can be found in the cartoon tattoo gallery, where you can see these dogs in all their poker playing glory.

    For those curious, the actual title of this particular painting is “A friend in need”, referring to the ace being passed under the table.  Now I’m not sure, but I think the English bulldog is passing a card to a pug.  Which goes to show, pugs can the the sneakiest dogs around.  So take care the next time you’re playing poker with a bunch of dogs, the ones with the crazy eyes tend to be the cheats.

  • Why is a raven like a writing desk?

    Written by

    Rob

    In today’s final post, we’re going to look at one more piece done by Chriz from Boxe_Voll? Tattooz in Germany.  This image, along with the rest of today’s images, and many more by Chriz can be found in the new skool tattoo gallery.

    white rabbit

    When Lewis Carroll first penned his tale of Alice and her adventures in Wonderland, I wonder if he knew he would be creating so many memorable characters.  Since 1865 “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” has been delighting children and adults alike.  With countless editions available, multiple film and television adaptations, and an innumerable amount of pop culture references littered across every medium, it’s no wonder that so many people are familiar with Alice.

    Now of course, Alice is hardly the only character in the story, as it is these characters that breathe life into the story.  The Mad Hatter, The Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat, and the Caterpillar are just some of the characters that make up the landscape that is Wonderland.  There is one character in particular that is the catalyst for the adventures, that being the White Rabbit.  Going down the rabbit hole and chasing that rabbit was Carroll’s way of taking the reader into a world beyond their imagination.

    When Carroll first published the book, he commissioned artist John Tenniel to provide the illustrations.  It was these illustrations of the characters that eventually led them to became the cultural icons that they are today.  So this white rabbit that Chriz brilliantly transferred to tattoo form (on a foot no less!), is now just one more example of just how much impact these books have had on people from all over the world.

    Now the big question, which is better, the book or any one of the many films made about Alice?  OK, that’s not fair, obviously it’s the book, but is there any adaptation or reference that sticks out in your mind whenever you think of the book?  Oh, and why is a raven like a writing desk?

  • A 3000 degree abstraction

    Written by

    Rob

    Now forgive me if I screw anything up here, as I never really studied art.  As far as I can tell this shoulder piece done by Chriz (Buxe_Voll? Tattooz, Germany), is a nice example of abstract art.  Me being uneducated as I am when it comes to modern art, I can’t tell you what any of it means, although I do see elements of avant-garde in it, but what I do know is that it looks really good.

    3000

    This brings up the thought, does a lack of the intellectual knowledge of art mean that one is unable to appreciate it on the same level as a scholar?  Or does just appreciating the aesthetics on a personal level mean more?  Basically, is art considered “art” because of the thought put into it, or because people admire it?  If you want to take a closer look at the details, you can get a better look in the new skool tattoo gallery.

    If you can’t see the image in the gallery, make sure that you’re logged into your BME account.  If you don’t have one, you can get your free subscription right here.

  • The type of girl you bring home to mom

    Written by

    Rob

    Relationships are always a tricky thing.  Especially in the beginning.  When you’re still feeling each other out (and up), getting to know each other on some kind of deeper level.  For most people there will come a time when you want to take the relationship a step further, and bring the significant other home to meet the family.  Of course in doing so you open yourself up to the possibility that your family won’t approve, or that your loved one despises your family.  Of course there is the traditional Hollywood trope of the perfect girl that you can take home to mother, and you know she’ll be met with approval.

    Chriz, aka Ta2head from Buxe_Voll? Tattoz in Germany sent in this image of what could be the perfect girl to bring home to your mom.  A bigger version of the image can be found in the new skool tattoo gallery.

    gimme a kiss

    Now granted she might not be what you’re looking for in a girl, but hey, she’s got great teeth, luscious lips, and some good child birthing hips.  Isn’t that what all moms look for?  Someone their child can make grandkids with.  Sure she may be a little malnourished, and her clothes probably could use some stitching, but what’s not to love?

    So, have you ever been in the situation when you brought your partner home to meet the family and things went horribly wrong, or really well?  What about when you went to meet their folks?  Did your modifications raise some questions?

  • Tetris!!!

    Written by

    Rob

    First, some theme music for the post..

    Now, I’m fairly certain that at some point every single ModBlog reader has either played Tetris, or at least is familiar enough with the game to know how it works.  A long time ago, back when Nintendo wasn’t even available in North America, and the cold war was still raging on, a Russian game designer named Alexey Pajitnov invented a game that would revolutionize gaming as we knew it.

    You see, this simple block dropping game ended up becoming one of the most popular games of all time.  So it was only natural that something so popular would end up as a tattoo.

    tetris

    This image from the New Skool gallery was sent in by Chriz, also known as Ta2head from Buxe Voll? Tattooz in Germany.  I couldn’t find out a lot about Chriz, but from what I understand he works out of Rostock and Neubrandenburg, as well as doing guest spots.  According to his description, this piece was done also freehand.

    This is going to be the first of a series of posts on Chriz as he recently uploaded a number of exceptional pieces to the galleries.

  • He’s a free man

    Written by

    Rob

    Back in July you may remember seeing the face of ModBlog regular IAM:Jessestar appearing in news all over the world.  Well this past Friday Jesse popped up in the news again, with word that the charges against him have been dismissed.

    Jessestar

    TULSA, OKLAHOMA – A charge of assault with a dangerous weapon against 28-year-old Jesse Thornhill of Tulsa has been dismissed.

    A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Friday. An entry in the court docket says the charge has been dismissed.

    The charge stemmed from an incident on July 13, 2010, when Thornhill allegedly tried to run over his landlord with his car.

    –Source: NewsOn6.com

    As Sean put it so nicely, “Is this the smile of a homicidal maniac?”  Now we know the answer, no, it isn’t the smile of a homicidal maniac, it’s the smile of a man with some fantastic modifications that happens to be part of the BME community.

  • “Some people don’t know when to stop”

    Written by

    Rob

    The headline of this post is the exact same message that is featured in a number of ads put forth by breathe.sg.  I’d like you to first watch both videos, as they’re the focus of the rest of the post.

    Keep on reading to find out where these ads came from and why they were made.  I’ve broken the post up because it is a long one, and I know how much you guys hate massive stories on the front page.

    The last time I posted an ad that featured a heavily modified person there was a healthy debate over the implications from the ad.  This time though, the implications are pretty clear.  These two people, who have great stories to tell about their modifications and the meanings behind them, should be looked at negatively as they’re on the same level as a binge drinker.

    It took a little digging, but I discovered that the breathe.sg campaign began in 2008 as an initiative put forth by the Singapore government’s Heath Promotion Board (HPB).  In a press release dated Oct 9th, 2008, the HPB announced the creation of the Breathe campaign.

    NHLC 2008: “Breathe”
    2      The theme for this year’s campaign is “Breathe”. It seeks to encourage youth to choose (breathe in) life, truth and self-expression and not succumb to (breathe out) insecurity, pessimism, pressure and judgement. “Breathe” will also brand health as exciting, vibrant and an asset youth should treasure to help them achieve their fullest potential and ambitions in life.

    3      “Breathe” is targeted at youth aged 12 to 23 and will be launched by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Padang on 7 November 2008.

    “Breathe – Game for Life” – Launch Event
    4      The campaign’s launch event, “Breathe – Game for Life”, aims to showcase non-conventional, youth-centric activities to encourage the young to cultivate healthy habits for lifelong health. These include Human Bowling, Human Table Soccer and remote control speed racing. Conventional games such as Captain’s Ball will also be given a new twist to demonstrate how these activities can be made more exciting to engage our young in an active lifestyle.

    5      Strong elements of music – a universal language among youth – will feature prominently at the launch event. In line with this, the event will feature an exhilarating new dance fitness routine, a hip-hop competition with a healthy lifestyle theme and a dance party under the stars. All these will encourage youth to keep active while grooving to their lively beats.

    Launch of “Breathe” Portal
    6      A new “Breathe” portal (www.breathe.sg) will be launched to engage youth on various health issues and provide them with information on events and activities held in conjunction with NHLC 2008.

    In December of that year, todayonline.com wrote an article describing the efforts of the campaign, as well as it’s initial goals.  The article has since been removed, but there there is a cached version of it available on a blog located here.

    HE GOT drunk at a friend’s house and ended up taking off all his clothes in the bathroom. “The next thing I knew,” said :student Mervyn Lee, 19, “I woke up in my friend’s bed wearing a fresh pair of shorts.”  Tales like this may raise a titter, but the dangers of excessive drinking are all too real. That is why the Health Promotion Board (HPB) will embark on its first nationwide campaign against binge drinkingnext year, aimed at 18- to 25-year-olds.   Binge drinking — consuming five drinks or more for males, or four drinks or more for females, within two hours — is an “emerging issue in Singapore”, said HPB in a tender document posted on the GeBIZ website.

    The HPB intends to create awareness through student-led projects and educational material targeted at tertiary students, among other things.

    – Alicia Wong and Sufian Suderman, todayonline.com

    Finally, as part of the 2008/2009 annual report, the chairman of the HPB, Lucas Chow, goes on to describe just how positive the campaign is meant to be.  The entire report can be found here but it is a large .pdf file, so just be aware of that if you want to give it a read.

    The annual National Healthy Lifestyle Campaign (NHLC) took on a youth focus for the first time, with the theme, “Breathe”. It encouraged young people to appreciate health as an asset for them to achieve their fullest potential and ambitions in life through an array of activities and events.

    Now with the mandate of the campaign being intended to bring a positive outlook on their health and lifestyle, I find it interesting that their initial ad campaigns were so negative.  To be fair, in addition to the ads, the Breathe campaign does sponsor a number of youth oriented events such as a hip-hop dance competition, as well as other youth themed events.  But the question still remains, if the purpose of the campaign is “ to choose (breathe in) life, truth and self-expression and not succumb to not succumb to (breathe out) insecurity, pessimism, pressure and judgement”, aren’t these ads completely disingenuous?  When I see the people in the videos I see two people who have chosen truth and self-expression, and aren’t showing any form of insecurity at all.  The ads themselves even run counter to the notion of preventing pessimism, pressure, and especially judgement.  If anything these commercials are huge examples of judgments being passed on young people in order to put them down and discourage them.

    While the 2009 programs seem to be targeted towards reducing the number of teen smokers, the binge drinking campaign is still being promoted on the site’s YouTube channel.

    Looking back at the ads, the question arises if the individuals in the ads knew exactly what the campaign was about.  I find it hard to believe that two people with such high self-esteem would allow themselves to be used as a metaphor for an unhealthy activity.  What I also find interesting is that the 2009 campaign against smoking had a fashion show event where you can obtain temporary tattoos that you’re encouraged to show off, as well as receive discounts at stores for wearing the tattoo.  So while in 2008 having a lot of tattoos is equivelant to binge drinking, in 2009 suddenly it’s cool to show off a tattoo, even if it is temporary.

    If the comments for the videos on YouTube are any indication, I’m not the only one who finds these ads offensive in they way they portray heavily modified people.  It’s a shame that they took this approach because they may not receive the results they intended.

    So ModBlog readers, what are your thoughts on this campaign?  Is there a big enough cultural difference between how we see these ads, and the target audience would, that our perception of it is skewed?  Or did the HPB completely miss the mark, and put out a campaign that will infuriate more people than it could help?

  • There will be blood

    Written by

    Rob

    Oh yes, there will be blood when your ear is cut like the image below.

    ear!

    Now, if you’re like me and only took a quick glance at the image, you’re probably thinking right now “holy crap he cut his ear off!”.  Well, that isn’t the case today.  DorianVilify uploaded this image of a large gauge helix piercing he performed recently.  From the angle of the image I can’t tell if he used a punch or scalpel  to cut it out, but in either case, there was definitely a lot of blood involved.  You can get a better look at it from the side in the cartilage gallery.

    It’s interesting to think of how the image of blood affects different people.  For the squeamish, this image probably creeped them out, to others this is just an average picture and nothing to be concerned with, and yet for some, this is a huge turn on.  What are your thoughts about the image itself?  Does the blood make the image stand out?  Or is it just a distraction from the ear?

  • ModBlog News of the Week: Sept 16th, 2010

    Written by

    Rob

    It’s been a little while since there has been a newsfeed post, but never fear, your news from the world has returned.

    The big story this week is obviously the ruling from the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.  Now I’m not fully versed on U.S. legalities, but from what I understand, the 9th Circuit is one of the highest courts underneath the Supreme Court.  If you haven’t heard, the city of Hermosa Beach in California was brought to the court because they refused to allow the opening of a tattoo studio in city limits.  The challenge brought to the court that tattoos are a form of free speech, and the city cannot ban the opening of the studio.  The L.A. Times recently published this article summing up the ruling.

    In a majority opinion that sometimes reads like a paean to the art of the tattoo, Judge Jay S. Bybee concluded that tattoos — and by extension the tattoo business — are a “purely expressive activity” covered by the 1st Amendment. Tattoos, the judge wrote, “can express a countless variety of messages and serve a wide variety of functions.” Indeed, the medium of skin can also be the message. Bybee said that by “permanently engrafting a phrase or image onto his skin, the bearer of that tattoo suggests that the phrase or image is so important to him that he has chosen to display the phrase or image every day for the remainder of his life.”

    Whatever one thinks of tattoos, it’s impossible to disagree with Bybee’s conclusion that “a form of speech does not lose 1st Amendment protection based on the kind of surface it is applied to.”

    As for what this ruling means to people in the U.S., ModBlog will be doing a full article on it from a guest writer, discussing exactly what the ruling entails and how it will affect the industry.  So keep an eye out for that in the coming weeks.

    In other news, a teacher in Madison, WA, has found a way to use tattoos to get kids to understand math.

    kids20math20tattoos20photo-21

    Madison Middle School 6th grade math teacher, and entrepreneur, Kathy Myers, wants students across America to have a piece of the “pi.” The North Admiral District mother of two began a part time “temporary tattoo” business, Academic Tattoos, with math equations and slogans for students to affix to their hands, arms, cheeks, and even foreheads to remind them of equations and to increase their interest in math. Some stickers contain pi puns such as the “Vam-pi-re” design, the pumpkin with pi symbol over it. Get it? “Pumpkin pi?” And for the brainy high school senior, how about the quadratic formula on your shoulder, or the golden ratio, a design that evokes architect Frank Lloyd Wright-meets-seashell.

    Ok so maybe they’re not real tattoos, but it is a fun idea that may help kids to learn, and from where I stand as a former teacher, I don’t see anything wrong with that.  I’m sure though that a debate will arise in which some parents may see this as a gateway tattoo which will eventually lead their children down the dark and scary road to a real tattoo.  But nobody would overreact like that would they?

    There’s still more news ahead, keep on reading to see some examples of modifications and faith interlinked. Also, the celebrity news is back with a vengeance!

    So when it comes to faith and body modifications, one name comes to mind immediately, The Church of Body Modification.  It’s been a while since I’ve seen anything about them in the mainstream news, but recently in North Carolina a teenager was suspended from school for sporting a single nostril piercing.  When ordered to remove it, Ariana Iocono refused on the grounds that her and her mother are members of the Church.  WLFI has the rest of the story.

    A North Carolina school is disputing a student’s claim that body piercings are next to godliness.  Church minister Richard Ivey says its members believe that changes to the body can bring about inner harmony.  School officials declined to discuss the case.  The Iaconos say they’ve contacted the American Civil Liberties Union for help.

    The article also includes the TV report that goes along with the text.  In the video it is revealed that while the school does have a no piercing policy, exceptions must be allowed if there is a reasonable religious reason to have the piercing.  In the case of the school principal, he has decided not to recognize the church and will keep Ariana suspended until she removes the piercing.

    Now on the other side of the U.S. a small California church recently celebrated it’s first year of operation by having several members get tattooed.

    City Church of Anaheim is celebrating its first year in operation and the goal of reaching a 200-member flock with a radical commitment to the congregation and community: Tattoos of the red-heart church logo.

    Pastor Kyle Steven Bonenberger told worshippers that God “tattooed your name on his heart” and it was time for an everlasting commitment to Him and the church.

    Just over a dozen members got the church’s logo tattooed on their chests, and as the congregation grows, they predict more members will get the tattoo.  What intrigues me is how differing the reactions to faith and modifications are across the country.  On one hand you have someone who is a member of a church dedicated to modifications being punished for her beliefs, while on the other you have a pastor celebrating his Christian faith through a tattoo.  I wonder what the western world would be like if centuries ago it was mandated by the church that tattoos and piercings are a reflection of your spirituality and should be encouraged.

    The mainstream news has always had a love-hate relationship with modifications.  They love to post stories about them, but only if they can generate some form of reaction.  Of course the easiest reaction to evoke from someone viewing the news is fear, followed by anger.  Anyone who watches Fox “news” can tell you that.  So while perceptions are finally changing, the vast majority of stories that I read have a negative slant towards anyone with a tattoo, piercing, or anything else.

    Thankfully there are changes happening in the press, which show that it isn’t the modifications that should instill fear in someone, but their actions.  Beyond that, you have stories like this one from The Daily Aztec, which shows just forward thinking some news outlets can be.

    Tattooing is an ancient cultural tradition dating back thousands of years, but western tattoo culture is largely influenced by American sailors who traveled abroad to exotic countries and returned home with ink. Norman Keith Collins, better known as Sailor Jerry, developed the traditional American tattoo design style in the 1930s.

    “The Sailor Jerry stuff — the tattoos with imagery of roses, swallows, skulls, daggers, hearts — the real simple, heavy, black shading with bold lines, is making a comeback,” Chris Primm, a tattoo artist at Sleeping Giant Tattoo in Hillcrest, said.

    Fast-forward 80 years to present-day and tattoo culture is no longer seen as an indicator of socioeconomic factors, but more so of a generational trend. Tattooing has always been popular within specific societal subcultures, but throughout recent years, tattooing has exploded into mainstream America.

    The article goes on to discuss trends that have come and gone in the industry, and how the days of the grungy back alley shops are giving way to the clean studios with art hanging on the walls.  Of course there are still stereotypes associated with visibly modified people, and they will probably still linger for a couple more decades as the older generations give way to the younger ones.  By the time generation Y hits middle age, they’ll have grown up in a world where tattoos and piercings are the norm, and the stereotypes will have hopefully faded away.

    Although with some kinds of tattoos, the stigma of criminal behavior may take longer to get rid of.  Specifically gang related tattoos.  Recently Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles was given a $1.3 million contract to expand their services to serve as a re-entry program for people wishing to get a new start in life.

    LA 161022.ME.0914.homeboy.3.jpg

    Los Angeles County supervisors Tuesday awarded Homeboy Industries a $1.3-million contract, providing critically needed funding for the gang intervention program founded two decades ago by Father Gregory Boyle.  The struggling gang intervention program will be able to hire 20 job trainees and provide employment counseling, tattoo removal, mental health, legal and other services for 665 people.

    The tattoo removal portion of the program can be seen as a major stepping stone in an individual’s life, as they’re able to shed a symbol that not only links them to their former gang, but also links them to the life they are leaving behind in order to move forward.

    Before we get to the celebrity news, there is one thing that was submitted by IAM: Quinnnchick.  It seems that everywhere you look there is some form of Sailor Jerry/Ed Hardy design printed on something.  Well, if you’re the type who enjoys having these images on items around them, then you’ll be pleased to know that you can now get paper towels that can match your clothing.

    traditional-tattoo-kitchen-roll-3255-p1

    Personally, I don’t think I’ll be getting them, but I do think they’d look good hanging on the wall in a studio somewhere.  Although with the dyes in them, I probably wouldn’t want my artist using them to wipe down anything.

    Finally, it’s the moment I know you’ve been waiting for, it’s the celebrity news.  Yay?

    Well not really a celebrity on the world stage, the new Prime Minister of Australia has a family member that’s been generating some news.  It seems the step daughter of the PM has posed for some risqué photos showing off not only her love of Australia, but also her mohawk and tattoos.

    Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s wild child ‘stepdaughter’ has appeared in a raunchy photoshoot wearing only a bikini and the Australian flag.  The tattooed New York-based stylist Staci Child, 31, who is the daughter of Gillard’s partner Tim Mathieson, posed for Zoo Weekly magazine and says her ‘first man’ father loved the photos.  ’I think Julia will think it’s a very Australian thing to do,’ she added.

    However, not everyone is thrilled with the photo shoot.  RSL State President David McLachlan said the Australian flag should be respected.  Australians for Constitutional Monarchy spokesman Prof David Flint also expressed reservations.  ’It may be somewhat undignified and not what you would have done but then again you’ve got to allow young people a certain degree of liberty in these sort of things,’

    Of course all of this screams publicity, as I’m sure Staci has no problems cashing in on her stepmother’s name in order to drum up business.  I am wondering why none of the Bush daughters did something like this though, weren’t they supposed to be on the rebellious side?

    In celebrity DIY news, it seems that Canadian born Ryan Gosling has given himself a tattoo.

    “I like when they look bad, but no one will do bad tattoos. So I did one myself. That’s why it’s bad. I’m waiting to get old — I think old guys with tattoos look good.”

    To each their own I suppose.  On a completely unrelated note, my ex used to hold hands and walk to school with Ryan every day.  Does that make me one step closer to Kevin Bacon?

    And finally, just when you thought Jesse James, Kat Von D, and Bombshell McGee were gone from the news, think again.  First there are reports that Michelle was booted from a party for showing off her white power tattoos.  Now it seems the highly esteemed journalists at TMZ have uncovered shocking evidence of a link between Kat and Sandra Bullock, that isn’t Jesse James.

    0913-sandra-tattoo-ex-credit1

    Back in 2001, Kat Von D — a famous celebrity tattoo artist — was asked to ink a permanent image of Sandra’s face onto the chest of one of her male clients who happened to be a huge fan of “Speed.”  So there you have it — Kat Von D is now dating the ex-husband of a person she once tattooed on a total stranger.  How’s that for full circle?

    Well how about that.  It’s like they’re sisters or something.

    So, that’s it for this week’s news.  Remember if you ever come across a story that you think should be included in the News of the Week, just use this link to submit them.

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