modify: the documentary.

after days of putting it off, i finally got around to watching the documentary modify. and i was blown away by what i saw.


first and foremost, i realized that i had never really put too much thought into what was actually considered modification. this documentary covers everything from body building to gender reassignment surgery: both things that i would never have put into the body modification category until i saw this film.


the film covers many aspects of modification and lets you really explore the world. it talks about religon, goverment, enlightment, and basically why people get things done to themselves.

everyone who has ever questioned, considered, or hated body modification in any shape or form should watch this documentary. it answers so many questions and splits open a world that not many people understand.


hell, i wouldn't even say i fully understood modification, and i still don't, but i understand it a lot better now after watching this documentary.


there are things shown on it that i would never get done to myself, but it helps me understand why people do.


body modification is all about being happy with the way that your body looks. it's about being comfortable in your skin. it's not about what makes other people happy. there are some people that that do modification for enlightment, religious beliefs, spiritual reasons, etc. this documentary explains it all and ends with one simple fact: it's all about what you're content with and not about what others have to say about it.

guest blogger rachel venard comments on her tattoos.

a good friend of mine, rachel venard, has a number of tattoos that i really like and that i really admire the stories behind, therefore, i asked her to write me a blog post explaining her tattoos. this is what she had to say:



I had always admired tattooed women when I was younger, so I knew that I would at least get a few of my own. When I was fourteen I took Indian ink and a needle to my hand creating a horrible looking heart on my left hand. When I was eighteen I decided that it was time to get more with meaning and the shitty heart covered up. I had the word "Love" inked on my left wrist and "Hate" on my right. After the first three an addiction started that led to "Daj mi Buzi" on my ankle catering to my Polish heritage. After time spent homeless "Beware Doll You're Bound to Fall" was placed upon my back. The lyrics from the Bob Dylan song became the most important tattoo I had gotten so far. A Buddha that was never finished was just above the Dylan lyrics so that became the next venture to finish. I ran into a tattoo artist who was willing to finish up my Buddha if I would allow him to add his to his portfolio. I couldn't miss the opportunity so I let him finish it up. I wouldn't be the same without all of my tattoos, I wouldn't have the opportunity to share my stories and reasons for getting them. The thrill of getting a new tattoo will hopefully always remain with me.

when piercings work against me.

this isn't much of an educated post, more of a personal one, but it does relate to the topic of this blog.


i'm going out tonight with a guy i met and for once, my piercings are making me insecure. i worry about the impression i give with holes in my ears and metal in my face.


i guess i never really thought about adverse reactions when i got my piercings done. they always gave me a little more self confidence and i always felt like they fit my overall look, but now i find myself wishing they weren't there.


but, i'm glad that they are. maybe, i'm just hoping to prove to myself that someone can actually want to spend time with someone who made changes to what they were given. now i feel like this is just a ramble, but i'm nervous and second guessing myself.


does this happen to anyone else?

just a few thoughts.

i have yet to watch the documentary "modify", but i will get around to it and post something describing it and my reactions and thoughts.


i've been thinking seriously lately about getting surface piercings on my hip.


now, i had never heard of this type of piercing until i was doing research for this blog and i don't know too much about them, besides that i really like the way they look. i'm going to be doing some more research on this topic, because i've heard that there are quite a few things that can go wrong with them, especially something called rejection.

does anyone have any surface piercings that can tell me what they're like and what the healing process is?


regardless, i'm going to look into it and post more about it when i have more information.

expect a movie review...

special thanks go out to eric who recommended i watch a documentary called modify. and so, this weekend, i'm gonna pop the movie in and check it out. i'll be sure to post an entry with my thoughts on the whole thing. so, stay tuned. (:

conventions.

while browsing the internet, i came across this and i think it's great.

i come from a pretty sheltered place in the middle of pennsylvania and never even heard of tattoo conventions. hell, if you even got a tattoo in that town, people thought you were some kind of freak.

i would love to go to one of these. it's a brilliant idea. i would love to just be able to talk to people about anything tattoo related. i could explore the art from other cultures, hear the stories behind artists. it'd be incredible.

has anyone ever been to one?
what's it like?

nostril piercings and all their glory.

the nostril piercing is the most common form of a nose piercing (others include the septum and the bridge). the nostril can hold various kinds of jewelry: rings, studs, screws, and pins.

the most common procedure for getting a nostril pierced is by using a surgical needle that is quickly pushed through the side of the nostril. the jewelry is then attached to the end of the needle and pulled into the nose. the piercer should use either a clamp or a recieving pole to control the needle.

a nostril piercing can take anywhere from a couple to six months to completely heal. it's very important to take care of the piercing during this time. it's VERY important that you do not play with the jewelry during this healing process. doing so can result in soreness and unsightly bumps called keloids. also, you should clean the piercing with saline solution or something recommended by the piercer.

by the way, make sure you do your research on the shop where you get this done. ask the piercer to show you the fresh needle as he takes it from the package and watch him clean the jewelry.

the art of scarring.

i was browsing BME when i came across something that i had never heard of before: scarification.

basically, this is an extreme form of tattooing, atleast from what i understand. in the basic form, it's etching into the skin to create a scar with a specific design.

from what i understood, there are several ways you can have scarification done:

-removing the skin.

-branding the design into the skin.

-cutting into the skin.

i don't understand why one would prefer to do this over tattooing.

even though, the outcome does look pretty cool.

i'd be really happy if someone could explain this to me.

i guess it's pretty much to each his own, you know?

but, this just seems a little extreme for me.

isn't it the same idea as a tattoo, just more painful?

photo credit.

Metamorph Tattoo Studios

• Metamorph Tattoo Studios is highly recommended by myself for anyone interested in a tattoo or piercing. It's located in Wicker Park, Chicago and it's fantastic.

• i've gotten one tatto and a lip piercing done here. the staff is friendly and helpful. and the place really lives up to standards. it's clean and safe.

• i can only speak personally for tattoo artist ian rust from the shop, because he's the one who did my tattoo. he was prompt in getting me a sketch and quick to set up a date to do the piece. i was very happy with the whole process and the result.

• as for the other tattoo artists, i've seen the work they've done and it's all exceptionally good.

• micah is the piercer at metamorph and he does great work. he's a really chill guy and very helpful when it comes to any help that you need prior to, during, and after getting your piercing.

• i suggest everyone checks out this shop.

jobs and body mod.

• this topic is of great concern to me at the present time. i've been trying, and failing, to get a job.

• i know that many of these failures have to do with my piercings.

• this doesn't make any sense to me. i can easily take my piercings out for work. and i have told employers this and i'm still unemployed.

• this doesn't seem to be a problem for me.

• with a growing number of people getting tattoos, piercings, and other modifications, employers seem to be resisting hiring us.

• for example this article, which covers only getting hired with tattoos, says that it's all about making a good impression. i'm sorry, but do my tattoos scream that i'm a bad person? i don't think so. i can do an equally good job, if not better, as someone who is not tattooed.

• i came to this city expecting people to be more open-minded. back in small town pennsylvania, i got hired regardless of my tattoos and piercings at multiple places. what's the deal?

ink as a tribute.

• many people that i talk to with ink tend to tell me that they have atleast one tattoo in tribute to someone. this is mine.

• my grandfather and i are very close. when i was still living at home, i spent a lot of time with him. we would listen to elvis and johnny cash and put together puzzle after puzzle. he's recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. this tattoo was a christmas present to him. when he's gone, even though the pieces won't be put together anymore, i'll always hold them for him.

• it's amazing how incredible a tribute tattoo can make you feel. it's emotional, beautiful, and bonding.

• i love to hear the stories behind tribute tattoos or any other tattoo.

the beauty.

"your body is a temple, but how long can you live in the same house before you redecorate?"

-anonymous

i can't really tell you why my body modifications mean so much to me. i have three piercings, stretched ears and one tattoo at this moment. and i really don't want to do away with them.

a lot of people will tell you it's a way to express yourself. i don't see what's being expressed. i simply find modifications (mainly tattoos and piercings) to be beautiful and in many cases, very sexy.

i've decided that i really want to explore the reasons behind why others decided to make changes to their bodies. you'll be able to find posts here often with stories behind people's metal, ink, and other modifications.

photo credit.