Items related to Mutilating the Body: Identity in Blood and Ink

Mutilating the Body: Identity in Blood and Ink - Softcover

Hewitt, Kim

 
9780879727109: Mutilating the Body: Identity in Blood and Ink
Softcover
ISBN 10: 0879727101 ISBN 13: 9780879727109
Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press, 2005

Synopsis

Kim Hewitt explores self-mutilation through history and across cultural divisions, finding these acts "positive expressions of social custom, individualism and resourcefulness . . . symptomatic of crises of identity, religious faith, or modern social structures." In modern contexts, such ancient rituals continue to function as an avenue of symbolic death and rebirth. In her analysis of the origins and motivations of body modification, the author draws upon psychological, medical, and cultural theories on self-inflicted pain-tattooing and scarification as well as fasting, bulimia, and some performance art. She finds such contemporary acts of self-mutilation may "express a change in how society perceives marginalization."

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Synopsis

This title concerns the different ways in which people use their bodies for self-expression: tattooing, piercing, self-mutilation, which serve both individual and cultural needs.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
University of Wisconsin Press
Publication date
2005
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0879727101
ISBN 13 
9780879727109
Binding
Paperback
Number of pages
161