Body modification (or body alteration) is the deliberate altering of the

human anatomy Human anatomy (gr. ἀνατομία, "dissection", from ἀνά, "up", and τέμνειν, "cut") is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the human body. Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy. Gross ...

human physical appearance Human physical appearance is the outward phenotype or look of human beings. There are functionally infinite variations in human phenotypes, though society reduces the variability to distinct categories. The physical appearance of humans, in parti ...

. In its broadest

definition A definition is a statement of the meaning of a term (a word, phrase, or other set of symbols). Definitions can be classified into two large categories: intensional definitions (which try to give the sense of a term), and extensional definitio ...

it includes skin

tattoo A tattoo is a form of body modification made by inserting tattoo ink, dyes, or pigments, either indelible or temporary, into the dermis layer of the skin to form a design. Tattoo artists create these designs using several tattooing processes ...

ing, socially acceptable decoration (''e.g.'', common ear piercing in many societies), and religious

rites of passage A rite of passage is a ceremony or ritual of the passage which occurs when an individual leaves one group to enter another. It involves a significant change of status in society. In cultural anthropology the term is the Anglicisation of ''rite ...

(e.g.,

circumcision Circumcision is a procedure that removes the foreskin from the human penis. In the most common form of the operation, the foreskin is extended with forceps, then a circumcision device may be placed, after which the foreskin is excised. T ...

in a number of cultures), as well as the

modern primitive Modern primitives or urban primitives are adherents of an Alternative lifestyle, alternative subculture in Developed country, developed, Western world, Western countries who engage in body modification rituals and practices inspired by the cere ...

movement. Body modification is performed for a large variety of reasons, including

aesthetic Aesthetics (also spelled esthetics) is the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of beauty and taste, which in a broad sense incorporates the philosophy of art.Slater, B. H.Aesthetics ''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy,'' , acces ...

s, sexual enhancement, rites of passage,

religious beliefs A belief is a subjective attitude that something is true or a state of affairs is the case. A subjective attitude is a mental state of having some stance, take, or opinion about something. In epistemology, philosophers use the term "belief" to ...

, to display group membership or affiliation, in remembrance of lived experience, traditional symbolism such as

axis mundi In astronomy, is the Latin term for the axis of Earth between the celestial poles. In a geocentric coordinate system, this is the axis of rotation of the celestial sphere. Consequently, in ancient Greco-Roman astronomy, the is the axis of ...

and

mythology Myth is a genre of folklore consisting primarily of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society. For scholars, this is very different from the vernacular usage of the term "myth" that refers to a belief that is not true. Instead, the ...

, to create

body art Body art is art in which the artist uses their human body as the primary medium.Oxford Dictionary of Modern and Contemporary Art, Oxford University, p. 88 Emerging from the context of Conceptual Art during the 1970s, Body art may include performanc ...

, for

shock value Shock value (or shock factor) is the potential of an image, text, action, or other form of communication, such as a public execution, to provoke a reaction of sharp disgust, shock, anger, fear, or similar negative emotions. In advertising Sho ...

, and as self-expression, among other reasons.

Background

What counts as "body modification" varies in cultures. In western cultures, the cutting or removal of one's hair is not usually considered body modification. Body modification can be contrasted with body adornment by defining body modification as "the physical alteration of the physical body ..can be temporary or permanent, although most are permanent and modify the body forever".

Biohacking

Biohacking, also referred to as "bodyhacking," represents a subculture of individuals experimenting with the integration of technology and biology to enhance human capabilities. This movement, pioneered by figures like Kevin Warwick, involves practices ranging from inserting magnetic implants for sensory augmentation to developing DIY bionic prosthetics. While some advances, such as brain-connected prosthetic limbs and sensory vests for the deaf, push the boundaries of art and medicine, biohacking remains a controversial field due to ethical concerns and health risks. Advocates believe it could revolutionize human potential, yet its adoption is limited by the challenges of commercial viability and mainstream acceptance.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Body Modification Cultural trends Underground culture

Background

Biohacking

See also

References