The Culture of Scarification (Body Arts: The History of Tattooing and Body Modification)

A long-established cultural practice with roots in Aboriginal Australia, Africa, and Papua New Guinea, scarification is gaining new adherents, as body modifications such as piercing become widely accepted. Scarification is the practice of making precise cuts to the body to create scars in a desired pattern. This captivating book explores the cultural history of scarification, ranging from initiation rituals to commemoration of the dead, and introduces readers to today's scarification trends and techniques. Vivid photographs and engrossing sidebars offer an in-depth look at practitioners of this unusual art form.