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Modern primitives or urban primitives are adherents of an alternative
Modern primitives or urban primitives are adherents of an alternative subculture
A subculture is a group of people within a culture, cultural society that differentiates itself from the values of the conservative, standard or dominant culture to which it belongs, often maintaining some of its founding principles. Subcultures ...
in developed, Western countries
The Western world, also known as the West, primarily refers to various nations and states in Western Europe, Northern America, and Australasia; with some debate as to whether those in Eastern Europe and Latin America also constitute the West. ...
who engage in body modification
Body modification (or body alteration) is the deliberate altering of the human anatomy or human physical appearance. In its broadest definition it includes skin tattooing, socially acceptable decoration (''e.g.'', common earring, ear piercing in ...
rituals and practices inspired by the ceremonies, 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 ...
, or bodily ornamentation in what they consider "traditional", non-Western cultures. These practices may include body piercing, tattooing
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 Human skin, skin to form a design. Tattoo artists create these designs using several Process of ...
, play piercing, flesh hook suspension, corset training, scarification
Scarification involves scratching, etching, burning/ branding, or superficially cutting designs, pictures, or words into the skin as a permanent body modification or body art. The body modification can take roughly 6–12 months to heal. In t ...
, branding, and cutting
Cutting is the separation or opening of a physical object, into two or more portions, through the application of an acutely directed force.
Implements commonly used for wikt:cut, cutting are the knife and saw, or in medicine and science the sca ...
.
Origins
Roland Loomis, also known by his chosen nameFakir Musafar
Roland Loomis (August 10, 1930 – August 1, 2018), known professionally as Fakir Musafar, was an American performance artist considered to be one of the founders of the modern primitive movement.
Life
Born Roland Loomis, he claimed at age 4 ...
, was one of the founders of the modern primitive movement. The 1989 RE/Search
RE/Search Publications is an American magazine and book publisher, based in San Francisco, founded by its editor V. Vale in 1980. In several issues, Andrea Juno was also credited as an editor. It was the successor to Vale's earlier punk rock fa ...
book '' Modern Primitives'' is considered as one of the first studies on of the concept of modern primitivism.
Modern primitives identify with a connection between what they see as "the primitive" and authenticity; "in opposition to the corruptions of mainstream society".
Modern primitives may have a loose set of beliefs about their way of life, including
* Modification of the body in order to sculpt their self-image.
* Activities which reject society at large. Exploring the self is a personal statement, which society rejects.
* Resisting what they see as colonialism, and identification with anti-colonial struggles.
Criticisms
Urban primitivism has been suggested ascultural appropriation
Cultural appropriation is the adoption of an element or elements of one culture or cultural identity, identity by members of another culture or identity in a manner perceived as inappropriate or unacknowledged. Such a controversy typically ari ...
and misrepresenting or "bundling" cultures together in a "primitive" setting. These have been debated, with adherents believing that these criticisms are based largely on the views of Roland Loomis rather than the culture as a whole.
See also
*Noble savage
In Western anthropology, Western philosophy, philosophy, and European literature, literature, the Myth of the Noble savage refers to a stock character who is uncorrupted by civilization. As such, the "noble" savage symbolizes the innate goodness a ...
* Paleolithic diet
References
Further reading
* *External links
Cultural appropriation Body piercing Tattooing Sexuality and gender identity-based cultures Lifestyles {{Bodymodification-stub