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Intro chapter - Coggle Diagram
Intro chapter
Section 1 pages 6-19
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"These questions presume that there is a profound difference between what we might call the postmodern body arts of the present, and past practices embedded in customary settings and particular traditions" (8).
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What is body art?
The permanent or temporary aesthetic modification of the body for expressive or other purpose
Leads to a rubric that includes vast variety of practices including not only tattooing, body painting, decoration with ochres or feathers, but also practices such as fitness routines and sunbathing to fit the body to an ideal
Body art is not only decoration, but also performance
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"It is…the substance of human life, the container of personal and collective existence, the bearer of vitality, of particular social identity and of personality."
Self decoration is often erroneously equated to body art, but it is only a subset, as body art includes decoration of another
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Section 2 pages 20-33
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Methods & politics
Historically, travelers reported observing the highest leaders being the most adorned and women adorned for sexually attractiveness.
Paul Foelsche: the first Police Inspector assigned to Australia’s Northern Territory and became an amateur photographer/anthropologist and made several observations, inc re: scarification of women.
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“Anthropology of indigenous art gained importance in 60s and stronger, more sympathetic studies emerged.”
One of most important modern anthologies on body art worldwide: Marks of Civilization, Arnold Rubin
Had searching and more sensitive surveys, but specifically excluded Norwegians
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Main point:
Modern body art commonly borrows from cultural traditions around the world.
Designs are old, but "motivations are new."
This book:
Introduces a variety of historical traditions to help understand what is distinctive about the present
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