The two links to National Geographic and Marketplace were very different in their approach to body modifications especially tattoos. National Geographic took a cultural approach to these things. The link I looked at consisted of several photographs of different people in different cultures with tattoos and various other body modifications. The body modifications themselves were the main focal point of the photographs for the most part. National Geographic then tied these modifications into a cultural context. The different people pictured were from all sorts of different cultures from Brazil to Samoa. National Geographic then explained the meanings the people in the picture and the culture or country they were located in gave to these modifications. These different meanings varied from senses of pride to modern primitivism to mafia involvement. The process by which the people had been tattooed was different in these pictures as well. National Geographic made available pictures of body modifications in different cultures and tied the meanings of those tattoos into the cultural context.
The Marketplace approach was much different towards body modificaitons taht National Geographic. National Geographic pictured these people in a manner that suggested they were outside of the norm that Americans such as myself are accustomed to. It was attempting to show and describe things unfamiliar to people such as myself. Marketplace on the other hand attempts to describe how these modifications are becoming a normal part of everyday American life. Marketplace interviews a mortgage broker who is by his own means successful today in the business world. He also has many tattoos all over his body that people are aware of. The argument that Marketplace attempts to make with this is that most people believe that tattoos are becoming more and more common in the business place and eventually will not be such a factor in the inability to acquire jobs or make business deals. The belief here is that the people who are becoming less and less judged by their body modifications today will eventually hold some of the positions that place the judgement. Basically, it's becoming more and more normal to see body modifications on people every day and with that the norms of moderation are shifting.
I don't believe that body modifications are still something exotic. Living in Austin I see a new type of body modification once a week it seems like. I have a tattoo and I view myself as quite normal. I don't see anything about myself as exotic. I agree completely with the view of the guy interviewed in the Marketplace about how body modifications are becoming less strange. I believe this pattern will continue to occur until tattoos aren't involved in considering something exotic.
1 comment:
It's true how living in Austin can result in interactions with very interesting people, most of whom have some sort of body modification. There are probably two dozen tattoo parlors in a five block radius downtown. It's very obvious that tattoos and various other body modifications are becoming more frequent in today's world. I work at WalMart and there are many associates who have visible tattoos and or piercings. It doesn't even seem to phase any other associates or customers. All types of body modifications will probably eventually be considered normal. I totally agree when you say that body modifications aren't strange or exotic. They're just a part of society today.
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