I was thinking of the Dead Kennedys album of similar name to this title. The first images in my head were of all the blood and skin stretching. I am revulsed by this form of sado-masochistic ritual and the wholesale peddling that goes on in its name. The advertising makes it sound so easy and care-free, not like the major surgery that it is.
Then I started to wonder (my mind often wanders while my feet do) if tattooing, piercing and all of that neo-tribal stuff isn't the same thing. I, myself, have 2 tattoos. Am I as addicted to self-inflicted pain as these whack-jobs that go in for multiple overhauls?
I see tattoos as beautification, I'm talking about the sheer artistry of some of the work, but others see them as disfugurement of the already beautiful body. I even find scarification/branding an acceptable alternative to AMA approved butchery- uh-oh, I think I lost some folks with that last one.
I wouldn't necessarily care what some rich old bastard does in Beverly Hills but for the draw that the image industry has on young girls: those who see their only redemption as a set of implants. Then again, with counter-culture colliding with the mainstream, tattoos are now vogue.
I'm in a quandry (though I'd rather see ink from head to toe than the Joker)...Thoughts?
About Me
- by Rev.Raikes
- There's some great stuff on the net and I'm gonna make sure you get to see it. I'll also be posting clues on how to find it, make it and get it out there.
4 comments:
Oddly enough, I just switched on 'Maury' to stop myself from obsessive house cleaning (I hate Maury), and there was this young guy who had 37 plastic ops and spent $250,000. Looked like a total freakazoid. Tatooing is NOT the same obsession. The 'butchers' are promoting a superficial, OUTSIDE happiness that never works. Inking signs on our personages is an INNER statement - our signatures of who we are, that few take the time to see.
While I wouldnt do it, I've always thought of plastic surgery as somewhat of an art form. Being a sculpture major in college I can see how it would attract people. Matthew Barney, one of the greatest artists in our time studied to be a plastic surgeon (as his father is one) before he turned to sculpture and performance. He's been quoted in many interveiws saying that plastic surgery was one way for him to be an artist, but it was too much work (schooling, that is.) When you look at the art he does- try to think up what he'd do with REAL skin. oh la la!
Aside from that, a lesser example is our very own Michael Jackson. It's obviously out of control now, but inthe beginning in interveiws he always said it was an "art form".
Ok, so to the point:
plastic surgery for many is more "reconstructive" from accidents, burns, abuse, etc.
Plastic surgery can be used as an art form.
Plastic surgery can be used as an obsession (that "pain" you were talking about)
Plastic surgery can be used to be "cool". (like, big boobs are cool... right?)
All of those things can also be associated with tattooing. To cover scars, art, pain, and to fit in (uh, hello capitol hill.)
That's the way I look at it. Either way- tattoos or plastic surgery... kinda the same thing. AND, of course- there are nutballs everywhere.....
http://www.thelizardman.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jocelyne_Wildenstein
http://www.stalkingcat.net/
http://www.anomalies-unlimited.com/OddPics/Barbie.html
yowza.
1. nutballs are for x-mas
2. what's a capitol hill
3. tattoos are way cool, plastic surgery is for vain jerks; aside from possible legitimate work like burns, but then, hey, some people show their scars off as trophies or battle souveniers. That's what one of my tattoos represents: my war with life.
Capitol Hill is a area of Seattle. Commonly known to be packed full of gay boys, lesbians, beer punks and hipster kids. Where tattoos are known to be "way cool."
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