Body Modification

I have seen many talk shows where the topic of the show is 'body modification'. These usually show case the more extreme cases of body modification such as the man who is in the process of turning himself into a smurf, or people who have horns implanted under their skin. However, body modification also refers to cosmetic procedures such as breast implants, or religous practices such as circumsision.

It is defined as- "the permanent or semi-permanent deliberate altering of the human body for non-medical reasons".

I know i will probably get criticised for saying so, but in my opinion, people who opt to modify their bodies to the extreme do so out of a desire to be noticed. Think about it- have you ever seen a stunningly beautiful woman walk past with horns in her head and a split tongue? No. Because she doesnt need to do so in order to get attention.

For some reason it really annoys me when people claim they modify themeselves out of some profound meaning, and that they are expressing themselves. What they express to me is desperation.

People who have plastic surgery for non-medical reasons, do so in order to feel better about themselves, and i believe it is the same case with body modification.

One famous case is a lady known as ''The Bride of Wilderstein''. A woman who decided to modify herself using wild cats as her inspiration. The reason she did this was that she believed her cat-loving husband would find her more attractive were she more feline looking. She later found him in bed with a 19 year old Russian model.

Click to view the transformation of Jocelyn Wilderstein; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=516768

Part of the aim of our blogs is to delve into the reasons people behave a certain way, and if there is anything to be said for it. Whilst people who modify themselves to the extreme claim a load of rubbish about it being spiritual, I do think it is out of a desire not to blend in, to go from being plain to somebody who is noticed. They certainly get themselves noticed, but for the right reasons i would suggest not.