WHY BODY MODIFICATION?
“People often engage in body modification as a rite of passage,” says UO folklore professor Daniel Wojcik, author of Punk and Neo-Tribal Body Art. “Rites of passage are rituals that mark a major change in one’s life or overcoming a difficult situation or trauma.” “Tattoos can express affiliation, spirituality or commemoration,” or sometimes body modifications are simply done for “aesthetic reasons — to look good — or even for erotic reasons,” Wojcik says. Others enjoy the adrenaline rush that is an after-effect of the often intense pain. According to Wojcik, tattoos and piercing have become “more acceptable in the last decade, but there’s still a lot of stigma for women who get tattooed.” UO student Alicia Young agrees. She’s 24 and pretty with red hair and bright blue eyes. She has several large tattoos already but is waiting to get more until “I know what my future plans are.” Young favors old-style tattoos with muted colors. This older tattoo style has classic tattoo themes such as
