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Body Modifcation

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Submitted By hshalander
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Harmony Shalander
English 102
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Body Modification

There are various characteristics through which people identify themselves. Styles of dress, language, music, and dance are some of the ways that describes one’s own unique lifestyles. Others turn to modifying their bodies to symbolize their rank in society. How far is too far when it comes to body modifications, such as tattooing and body piercing. To respond to why people tattoo, one would have to look back to how the early civilization made a living and their opinions on the world around them. The people of Prehistoric times would have been the first to modify the human body for practical purposes. Thousands of years ago, mineral tinctures were used to preserve the bodies of humans and animal skins. "Human Skin, bones, teeth, and hair were the first canvases or artistic expression," wrote by Paul G. Bahn, an archaeologist and prehistoric art scholar. (Body Marks 17). For many centuries, henna has been a popular temporary alternative compared to permanent tattoo ink. Henna is a shrub mashed to form a staining ink when set on human skin. It grows in India, Pakistan, Iran, and North America. Henna tattoos have practiced all around the world.
In recent years tattooing and body piercing have become increasingly habitual in popular culture. Body modification is no longer considered just a social representation used by criminals and gang member, showing their role in society. These practices are used by many of teenagers and young adults today. Many of these practices have been a constructive trend in American culture, giving juveniles a way of expressing and stating themselves. Although studies have revealed an encouraging correlation between risky behaviors, such as drug and alcohol and participation in body modification, yet there is a shortage of available research. A current study

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