When looking at any form of body modification there will always be a group of people who view it as normal, while others see it as something radical. In class we have been looking at modifications that, to society ‘the norm’, seem radical. But when the roles are reversed, this so called ‘radical’ crowd of modifiers is the norm, and those who partake in modification such as being young, thin and fit are those being radical. As we saw in the first unit, it’s all a matter of perspective.
In today’s society people will take extreme measures to obtain these characteristics of a normative body. Over the past decade we have seen a boom in the cosmetic industry. Everything from plastic surgery, cosmetics and beauty shows on television such as The Swan etc… We see girls as young as 10 years old worrying about their weight and struggling with eating disorders and self esteem issues. Teenagers and adults will spend hours upon hours at the gym trying to maintain a fit figure.
All of these acts that people partake in to fit the normative body standard could seem just as radical to those who cover themselves in tattoos and piercings. Just as we have trouble understanding why someone would want to abuse their bodies in this way, they may be asking society the same exact question. Why do people go through all of this? What is it for? But because popular culture has made young, thin, and fit the standard for today’s society, this is what the normal community strives for.
1 comment:
I agree with you on the point that what constitutes "normal" and "radical" body modifications is subjective. The view depends on who you ask. I also think that there is an element of moderation involved as well. People who go to the extreme in either "normal" or "radical" modifications will be seen as non-normative in most circles. If you have moderate, easily hidden tattoos, for example, it is easy to hide your "abnormalcy" from non-tattooed society. You can easily fit in with both tattooed people and non-tattooed people. But if you look at a person who is tattooed head to foot, they will obviously be more political and radical than the first person.
The same idea works for normative body modifiers. If you merely shave your legs or have a single ear-piercing, you still fit within the boundaries of "normal." However, if you have a long series of plastic surgeries and multiple hair colors, etc, like some famous celebrities have, their modifications become overwhelming for those who do not engage in such acts. In this case, they would be seen as non-normative in their practices.
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