Neo-primitives Radical body modification FLESH JOURNEYS (Atkinson & Young, 2001)

Body Modification An intentionally designed “body project” that helps symbolically construct a person’s self and social identity. The body is always in a process of becoming because of its size, shape, and appearance are subject to reconstruction on an ongoing basis, often in deviant ways. Private search for a new self, a new identity

Origins Developed in late 1970’s in LA, San Francisco, New York, & Toronto Tribal styles of the New Zealand Maori, the Dyak of Borneo, & Haida of the Pacific Northwest Desire to return to the primitive meanings behind body mod. Express personal dissatisfaction with modern life.

Forms of Body Mod Tattooing- characteristically done in black & red ink with large designs that resonate with tribal markings whose shapes follows the body’s natural contours Piercing-stainless steel, wood, or “bone” rings placed in the face, ears, and nipples Branding or burning-typically done in small patterns located on the limbs or upper back Scarification-the least common form of body mod, involving a small but generally ornate cutting of the flesh.

Method Semi-structured interviews of 20 body mod artists and their 35 clients Observed body mod work conducted at studios and rituals. Attended body mod ceremonies

Sub-cultural membership & Resistance Oppose, transform or undermine the dominant order. Collectivized body modification celebrates tribal styles that help members cohere through a sense of problem sharing and solving. Their physically marked bodies are literally designed to be socially disruptive markers of discontent. Sense of community-member of the tribe, one of the pack Serves the fundamental purpose of designating membership both to insiders and outsiders.

Personal Status Passage (“my 2 nd birthday!”) Marking the skin becomes a text to chronicle the passage form one point in a person’s life to another. Body mod is both an inward and outward symbol that the person has made a conscious life choice that binds himself or herself to desire to move beyond a former identity or experience.

Creativity and Individuality (this is about me and nobody else ) Neoprimitives are searching for a method of injecting individuality into mainstream culture. Tattoos, brandings, & piercings are typically designed for and sometimes by the individual, taking into consideration the idiosyncratic biography of the person, the contours and shape of his or her body, and artist-client negotiated ideas of the aesthetic appearance of the prospective work. Even though markings are unique to the individual, the general pattern of the neoprimitive style is generic enough that members of the group are able to recognize, read and decode the symbols.

Physical Endurance and Pain Thresholds (it hurts but it’s sweet ) Share the orientation toward body pain as cultural rite of passage. Desire to experience and embrace physical pain as a means of personal transformation. Self-mutilation is viewed as a means of constructing physically stronger bodies and emotionally empowered selves. Pain is a positive experience that they actively seek out. Suspension Suspension

Beauty and Art Body mod provides an alternative definition of beauty and art and resists oppressive cultural notions of beauty and art. Tattoos are seen as art and beautiful. Their practices of body mod challenges gender codes regarding appropriate femininities and masculinities. They point out that women have participated equally with men in all forms of body mod around the world.

Spirituality Neoprimitives reshape iconography from other cultures in order to signify new spirituality in the West built on a respect for the past and for other cultures. They articulate this respect by conducting voyages of spiritual, personal, and social discovery through their body markings.

Neoprimitive explore the skin as a means of personal growth and as a political canvas upon which resistance to certain aspects of mainstream culture can be etched.