studium in usu corporis immutatione

Cherry, K.. “Archetypes (Jung’s Archetypes).” About.com Psychology. N.p.. Web. 4 Dec 2013. 

Sprague, Erik. “The Lizardman - Frequently Asked Questions.” The Lizardman - Frequently Asked Questions. The Lizardman, July 2013. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.

Michalak, Jodie. “Interview with a Zombie.” About.com Tattoos / Body Piercings. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.

"Accepted vs. Non-Accepted." Body Modification Through A Sociologist’s Eyes. Wordpress, 15 Nov. 2012. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.

Why have you transformed yourself via various body modification processes? My physical appearance is part of a transformation project I began as an undergraduate working in body based performance art.

What is the transformation project? While in college I hit upon the idea of using body modification procedures (initially tattooing) for a body based art piece that would explore the idea of what it means to be human from a linguistic standpoint. I was working with philosophy of language and it occurred to me that some of the principles put forth by Wittgenstein in his later works offered an interesting potential for exploration in relation to the transformation ideas I had been working with in art. Broken down it goes something like this: (1) Wittgenstein suggested that one way in which we are able to apply one term to many different objects is because they share a sort of "family resemblance" (2) Focusing on how this principle related to the use of terms like 'human being', 'person', etc in the sense that people identify others as humans more based on observation of surface physical characteristics and behaviors I decided to modify those aspects of myself in manner which would significantly differentiate me from other 'human beings' (3) In order to achieve this differentiation I chose to use permanent body modification procedures because I felt that a permanent commitment to the artistic statement was preferable if not necessary.

Who’s idea was the zombie transformation?

Well, the idea was either my grandmothers or the mailman's; the details of that bikini party are shady at best.

Was there ever a point where you have been scared of what you’ve done to yourself and your body?

Absolutely not! I worked very hard at achieving this goal for over a decade. Whether under the needle, knife, roof, the sun or the moon; this project has been my lifelong ticket to the big tent.

Do you feel more vulnerable or human wearing your inside on the outside?

In all honesty, I see it for what it is; Ink. As paint is to a brush on canvas. Should there be an irrational fear of artistic creation? Rather I feel developed and consequently more experienced than vulnerable.

What is the theme of your body art?

[Content Notice: pictures of scars] When I first discovered that there are people who think nothing of circumcising their infant sons for social reasons (i.e. "so that he looks like everyone else")...

This article shows a primary source's views on body modification- "I've gotten 14 different piercings as well as one tattoo..."- and also brings up a few terriffic points as to why people are for and against body modification.

scarring

danger of infection/complications

According to Wikipedia:

"Body modification (or body alteration, called body mutilation by detractors) is the deliberate altering of the human anatomy orphenotype.[1] It is often done for aesthetics, sexual enhancement, rites of passage, religious beliefs, to display group membership or affiliation, to create body art, for shock value, and as self-expression, among other reasons.[1][2] In its most broad definition it includes plastic surgery, socially acceptable decoration (e.g., common ear piercing in many societies), and religious rites of passage (e.g., circumcision in a number of cultures), as well as the modern primitive movement."

According to UrbanDictionary:

The point of this study is to figure that out. Generally, the thought seems to be that body modifications (such as tattoos and piercings) come from ‘inside’- all of the people I know with such features say that they got whatever it may have been done simply for themselves, not for anyone else, and not to ‘put on a face’ for others to see. But I decided to take it a step further- maybe average people get tattooed and pierced for themselves, but what about gang members, when tattoos are ritualized in their organizations? Are those tattoos true reflections of the people themselves, or do they serve to put up a tough front, to intimidate and scare off any opposition?