Tattoos were believed to have originated as early as 10,000 years ago. The oldest known tattoo belongs to Otzi the Iceman c.3300 B.C. throughout history the modifications that seem extreme or outlandish to us have often been the norm for others, they have come in and out of fashion, but have never truly died.
Corsetry
From the late middle ages, even till now, women have used corsets to shape their bodies into that perfect figure that they all desire. Corsets began as tightly laced bodices stiffened with paste, and evolved into whalebone stays. The “whalebone” is actually not bone, but baleen, a material like teeth that the whale uses to filter krill. The baleen was inserted into the lining of garments to create a conical V shape of a woman’s body. The word corset was not used until the early 1800s. Whalebone was replaced by steel, which was cheaper, in the beginning of the 20th century. In the 20s and 30s girdles were popular, and until the 60s some form of corsetry was worn by women. Now corsetry is generally part of the smaller subcultures
From the late middle ages, even till now, women have used corsets to shape their bodies into that perfect figure that they all desire. Corsets began as tightly laced bodices stiffened with paste, and evolved into whalebone stays. The “whalebone” is actually not bone, but baleen, a material like teeth that the whale uses to filter krill. The baleen was inserted into the lining of garments to create a conical V shape of a woman’s body. The word corset was not used until the early 1800s. Whalebone was replaced by steel, which was cheaper, in the beginning of the 20th century. In the 20s and 30s girdles were popular, and until the 60s some form of corsetry was worn by women. Now corsetry is generally part of the smaller subcultures
Tribal
The majority of extreme modifications popular today started with tribal tradition. For example, the Mursi tribes of Ethiopia stretch their ears and lips, inserting plates into their elongated lips as a sign of maturity, endurance, strength, and beauty in their tribal community. The men of the Rikbaktsa tribe of the amazon stretch their ears after piercing them at around 15, when they come of age for their tribe, and the ear piercing and stretching is a sign of marriage eligibility and adulthood. Women of the Apanti tribe in India were considered so beautiful that they had to make themselves unattractive so not to be stolen by invaders, so they pierced their noses and stretched them with plugs. The Kayan tribe previously of Myanmar, now of Thailand use brass coils to push their torso away from the neck, as to create an appearance of a long neck, this is a symbol of beauty and culture identity. Women in many south Asian tribes undergo the painful modification of teeth sharpening, where their teeth are chipped away at by a stick and some wood. It is considered the ultimate symbol of beauty among these people
The majority of extreme modifications popular today started with tribal tradition. For example, the Mursi tribes of Ethiopia stretch their ears and lips, inserting plates into their elongated lips as a sign of maturity, endurance, strength, and beauty in their tribal community. The men of the Rikbaktsa tribe of the amazon stretch their ears after piercing them at around 15, when they come of age for their tribe, and the ear piercing and stretching is a sign of marriage eligibility and adulthood. Women of the Apanti tribe in India were considered so beautiful that they had to make themselves unattractive so not to be stolen by invaders, so they pierced their noses and stretched them with plugs. The Kayan tribe previously of Myanmar, now of Thailand use brass coils to push their torso away from the neck, as to create an appearance of a long neck, this is a symbol of beauty and culture identity. Women in many south Asian tribes undergo the painful modification of teeth sharpening, where their teeth are chipped away at by a stick and some wood. It is considered the ultimate symbol of beauty among these people
Ear Stretching
The common ear-piercing that is performed dozens of times a day in malls across the country can become a more extreme modification that results in large stretched out lobes. Both begin with a small hole made in the ear lobe, then adorned with jewelry, called insertions, plugs, eyelets or earrings. Gauge instead refers to the actual size of the insertion, the smaller the gauge number and the larger the insertion. The most standard size at which to begin is a 16-or 14-gauge plug -- about .051-inch (1.29 mm) or .064-inch (1.63 mm). Others may start out smaller, at a 20- or 18-gauge. It is important to note that many piercers will not simply punch a hole out of the ear; this makes it nearly impossible to reverse the damage. However, if the process is done correctly, and the ears aren't stretched beyond repair or rushed, resulting in torn or blown-out lobes massaging with Vitamin E can result in their shrinking back down some after a time, once the jewelry has been removed. Once the hole is totally healed, the stretcher will increase the size of the insertion, allow that to heal, and then increase again. The general waiting period is a few months each time. Attempting to rush the process by not waiting for the piercing to heal between stretches can result in torn lobes, or a blow-out, which is when the ear lobe rips in two. Synthetics, such as acrylic, can cause infections, which can lead to some disgusting situations and permanent damage. Attempting to stretch with porous materials, such as stone or wood, is also a no-no, as bacteria can seep into the porous surface, causing infections and sometimes bonding the tissue to the plug.
The common ear-piercing that is performed dozens of times a day in malls across the country can become a more extreme modification that results in large stretched out lobes. Both begin with a small hole made in the ear lobe, then adorned with jewelry, called insertions, plugs, eyelets or earrings. Gauge instead refers to the actual size of the insertion, the smaller the gauge number and the larger the insertion. The most standard size at which to begin is a 16-or 14-gauge plug -- about .051-inch (1.29 mm) or .064-inch (1.63 mm). Others may start out smaller, at a 20- or 18-gauge. It is important to note that many piercers will not simply punch a hole out of the ear; this makes it nearly impossible to reverse the damage. However, if the process is done correctly, and the ears aren't stretched beyond repair or rushed, resulting in torn or blown-out lobes massaging with Vitamin E can result in their shrinking back down some after a time, once the jewelry has been removed. Once the hole is totally healed, the stretcher will increase the size of the insertion, allow that to heal, and then increase again. The general waiting period is a few months each time. Attempting to rush the process by not waiting for the piercing to heal between stretches can result in torn lobes, or a blow-out, which is when the ear lobe rips in two. Synthetics, such as acrylic, can cause infections, which can lead to some disgusting situations and permanent damage. Attempting to stretch with porous materials, such as stone or wood, is also a no-no, as bacteria can seep into the porous surface, causing infections and sometimes bonding the tissue to the plug.
Piercings
People have been piercing almost as long as they have been getting tattooed. Egyptian pharaohs pierced their navels, Roman soldiers pierced their nipples as a sign of masculinity, Mayans pierced their tongues in a ritualistic manor.
In England in the middle ages it was believed that demons could enter the body through the left ear so men wore earrings to keep demons away.
People have been piercing almost as long as they have been getting tattooed. Egyptian pharaohs pierced their navels, Roman soldiers pierced their nipples as a sign of masculinity, Mayans pierced their tongues in a ritualistic manor.
In England in the middle ages it was believed that demons could enter the body through the left ear so men wore earrings to keep demons away.
Foot binding
In China in the seventh century, women began binding their feet. The process of foot binding was used to reduce the size of a woman’s foot to about three inches long. It was thought to be erotic and beautiful, symbolizing status, and chastity. The tiny “lotus feet” were created at a young age, anywhere from two to five years old, by soaking a young girl’s foot in a mixture of herbs and animal blood to soften the skin. Then the toes and arch of the foot were broken and the entire foot was wrapped tightly in bandages to form a triangle shape. Many girls lost toenails, toes, and got foot infections from this process. The women who had this done could not put much weight on their feet and had to walk on their heels; this gave them a tottering walk that was considered highly attractive at the time. The toenails often pierced the skin because it was hard to trim them, and it was extremely hard to clean the foot properly, so most women left their shoes on, due to infections of the foot. Because of all the physical detriment this caused, the majority of poorer families only bound the feet of their eldest daughter, in hopes that she could marry a man of a higher social status. In the mid-1600s the first calls of reform came, but it was not until 1912 that the process was banned outright. Though it was banned some women continued to bind their feet in secret, and were charged fines. It was not permanently stopped until the 1950s when the government pushed a series of anti-foot binding campaigns. There are still women alive in China today with “Lotus feet”.
In China in the seventh century, women began binding their feet. The process of foot binding was used to reduce the size of a woman’s foot to about three inches long. It was thought to be erotic and beautiful, symbolizing status, and chastity. The tiny “lotus feet” were created at a young age, anywhere from two to five years old, by soaking a young girl’s foot in a mixture of herbs and animal blood to soften the skin. Then the toes and arch of the foot were broken and the entire foot was wrapped tightly in bandages to form a triangle shape. Many girls lost toenails, toes, and got foot infections from this process. The women who had this done could not put much weight on their feet and had to walk on their heels; this gave them a tottering walk that was considered highly attractive at the time. The toenails often pierced the skin because it was hard to trim them, and it was extremely hard to clean the foot properly, so most women left their shoes on, due to infections of the foot. Because of all the physical detriment this caused, the majority of poorer families only bound the feet of their eldest daughter, in hopes that she could marry a man of a higher social status. In the mid-1600s the first calls of reform came, but it was not until 1912 that the process was banned outright. Though it was banned some women continued to bind their feet in secret, and were charged fines. It was not permanently stopped until the 1950s when the government pushed a series of anti-foot binding campaigns. There are still women alive in China today with “Lotus feet”.
Criminalization and taboo
As Christianity began to spread and become a large religion, body modification was left to the people on the bottom of society, criminals, sailors, and other people who were considered unsavory. In Ancient Rome, Constantine, the first Christian emperor banned tattoos, giving them only to criminals for identification purposes. During WWII the Nazis tattooed numbers onto concentration camp victim's arms.
As Christianity began to spread and become a large religion, body modification was left to the people on the bottom of society, criminals, sailors, and other people who were considered unsavory. In Ancient Rome, Constantine, the first Christian emperor banned tattoos, giving them only to criminals for identification purposes. During WWII the Nazis tattooed numbers onto concentration camp victim's arms.
Modern Modification
Today modern modification ranges from braces to the more famous extreme modifiers like Rick Genest a.k.a Zombie Boy a Canadian artist and model began getting his full body skeletal tattoos after he survived invasive surgery to remove a brain tumor, Maria Jose Christerna a.k.a Vampire Woman who began modifying her body after an abusive marriage, Stalking Cat (Dennis Avner) a former Navy sonar technician held the world record for the most body modifications until he died at 54 in 2012. He was being modified to get closer to his totem animal (the tiger).
Erik Spraugue (the lizard man) is a freak show/sideshow performer best known for his extensive body modifications that make him resemble a reptile. Before he began his transformation he was a Ph.D candidate at the University of Albany, and has a Bachelors in Philosophy from Hartwick College in Oneonta New York.
Today modern modification ranges from braces to the more famous extreme modifiers like Rick Genest a.k.a Zombie Boy a Canadian artist and model began getting his full body skeletal tattoos after he survived invasive surgery to remove a brain tumor, Maria Jose Christerna a.k.a Vampire Woman who began modifying her body after an abusive marriage, Stalking Cat (Dennis Avner) a former Navy sonar technician held the world record for the most body modifications until he died at 54 in 2012. He was being modified to get closer to his totem animal (the tiger).
Erik Spraugue (the lizard man) is a freak show/sideshow performer best known for his extensive body modifications that make him resemble a reptile. Before he began his transformation he was a Ph.D candidate at the University of Albany, and has a Bachelors in Philosophy from Hartwick College in Oneonta New York.