The human body is the last artistic territory. Many individuals utilizing their own bodies as the artistic medium create visible bodily expressions of their inner selves. Bod-mod is the growing revival of highly visual, primitive body modification practices such as branding, scarification, multiple piercing, and tattooing. Body modification can be implemented to signify various stages of life. John Moore, a 25-year-old computer scientist, was tattooed after he received his Bachelors of Science degree from Texas A&M University. This tattoo symbolized his personal achievement and marked a turning point in his life. In Jeffrey Ressners article Brand New Bodies, Keith Alexander who works out of a New York City bod-mod shop is quoted as saying, People need memorable symbols when they pass from one stage of life to another. Some get a brand at the end of a divorce, others on their birthday. Adolescents may use bod-mod as a means of rebellion to prove the control they have over their own bodies. Bod-mod may also express an affiliation with a group or society. According to Ressner, Keith Alexander stated that half of his clients, are fraternity members, including African-American frats that have used branding for years, sometimes choosing slave designs to connect with their ancestors. Donovan Hickles, a 33-year-old graphic designer, is a member of a fraternal order. He, like many of his fraternity brothers, is branded with the Greek letters on the inside of his upper arm. Additionally, Charles Marks, a 38-year-old electrical engineer, had his Sigma Chi fraternal letters branded on his upper arm. Decoration and attention are additional reasons for body modification. There are people that use bod-mod simply for its decorative properties. Sabrina Raines, a 29-year-old college student, has multiple silver earrings that line my outer earlobe. She also has a tattooed anklet on her right leg. She appreciates the way that she looks wit...
