FMS507CreightonLBraveNewWorld: GUEST SPEAKER- KIERON LEVINE "TRIBAL BODY MODIFICATION." ...

Tribal Body modification...

Kieron is a costume designer, he main work ethic is reusing things he finds and using them within his work, like feathers for example. He also writes for a magazine called 'Another Africa.' He also considers Animal symbolism and masquerade to be his specialities.

Kieron also mentioned Ariana Page Russell. A woman who uses the human body as an experiment. She uses her own hypo sensitive flesh to show how we express ourselves. Her work on her website is really interesting especially the images under the sub-heading skin; http://www.arianapagerussell.com/work/skin/ .

Ariana Page Russell, (2006), Flora [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.arianapagerussell.com/work/skin/[Accessed 15 October 14].

Some of the images like the one pictured above is really pretty and detailed, it almost looks like a print seen on wallpaper. The contrast of her pale skin and light pink imprint makes the image more delicate and pleasing to look at rather than grotesque which I think some of her images look like.

Ariana Page Russell, (2005), !!!!! [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.arianapagerussell.com/work/skin/[Accessed 15 October 14].

For example, the shoulder/back imprint seen above looks much harsher and painful to look at. The sharp inflamed stripes on her skin look more painful than pretty and the much darker red/pink rash like effect that covers it only makes the imprints look more aggravated and unpleasant.

There's definitely a large contrast between each of her images that she purposely applies for different effect. Until being shown during lessons or looking at research during this project myself I never noticed how effective an experimental approach on the human body can be, especially the self indented ones.

Scarification in Africa...

Scarification on women shows they can bare pain.
Facial scarification represents identity (this can be specific to one culture or person or added to enhance beauty.)
It's been banned on the Ivory Coast.
Most scarification has meaning behind it or is a symbolism of something. For example, a certain body part could represent marriage or child birth.

Nuba women...

The Nuba women's scars represent important milestones in their lives.
They reflect their responsibilities and roles in society like motherhood.

Representations:

Front of torso- 10 years,

Motherhood- Back and legs

Breasts- Menstruation

Marec, (2011), Marec [ONLINE]. Available at: http://tuhtanje.blogspot.co.uk/2011_03_01_archive.html[Accessed 15 October 14].

Unknown, (2010), Unknown [ONLINE]. Available at:http://camillereads.tumblr.com/post/1292497886/scarification-on-a-nuba-woman-marking-the-weaning[Accessed 15 October 14].

Nuba men...

Unknown, (2008), Unknown [ONLINE]. Available at: http://weheartit.com/entry/group/47846558 [Accessed 15 October 14].

Shilluk People...

There unique style shows a strong sense of cultural identity.
They pull the skin outwards with a fish hook. Its named the 'Pearing' process.
Identification method is used to prevent kidnap or retrieve kidnapped children.

Unknown, (2014), Unknown [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/541346817682268731/[Accessed 15 October 14].

Cristina Etchegaray pinterest was quite interesting when researching African tribes:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/541346817682268731/

Boko people...

They are from the Democratic republic of Congo which no longer exists.

Unknown, (2014), Scarificazione molto complessa (che necessitava di più interventi nel tempo) su fronte e mento (Boko, Congo Belga) [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.pianetagaia.it/blog/post/1134/scarificazioni [Accessed 15 October 14].

This blog was also quite interesting showing examples of the different tribal prints inflicted on the skin within various tribes:

http://www.pianetagaia.it/blog/post/1134/scarificazioni

Loko people...

The Loko people are from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The pattern created takes a lot of time and concentration as it is so intricate.
The older they become the more information is added to them.
There bodies are treated as a book as other can read from it.

Unknown, (2013), by Meghan May 9, 2013 [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.cvltnation.com/tribal-scarification/ [Accessed 15 October 14]

This post by Meghan is also really interesting it shows a various number of different scarifications on women and children to. Most examples I've seen are mainly of men so it was interesting to see different sexes and ages. She describes that videos she has watched where children are being inflicted pain is difficult to watch as it doesn't seem right at there age, especially when she has a daughter of a similar ages so she couldn't bear seeing them hurt and bleed. She believes the outcome is beautiful though, the shapes and scarring represent a story and proof of the pain they endured:

http://www.cvltnation.com/tribal-scarification/

Tiffany Parbs - Tiffany interestingly print different words into the skin and does other deliberate skin indentations. People consider it both plastic surgery and art.

Tiffany Parbs, (2008), Peel [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1OPRA_enGB584GB585&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=tiffany+parbs [Accessed 15 October 14].