Body Piercing and Tattoos in America
Daylinda Smith
Dr. Mc Williams
Exp. Writing 3200
October 28, 2009 Body Piercings and Tattoos in America For many people, body piercings and tattoos are on the fringe of society. People do this as an act of rebellion against the social standards. In many cultures, these body modifications have negative or positive acceptance, but in American’s society, body modification, for many decades, has received a very negative response. Nevertheless, body piercings and tattoos have become more mainstream. In many movies, advertisements, music videos, and television programs, people have flaunted their body piercings and tattoos. When did body modification become more acceptable in America’s society, and is it a passing trend in society? The answer is no. It was not until the middle 1990’s that body piercing came into style because of musicians and celebrities. Body modification appeared in the mid to late 1990’s and started gaining acceptance with performers like Brittany Spears and Christine Aguilera showing off their body piercings in music videos. The Craft, Fairuza Balk plays a character that has a nose piercing. This movie was produced in1996 and is one of the first movies where a main actress has a visible body piercing. This actress portrayed a teenage girl in high school who would reach out to the younger generation of the mid 1990’s who needed a new way to distinguish themselves. However, this movie is one of the first media genres that would have body piercings and tattoos on a visible part of the body. In television show Charmed from the television season from 1998 to 2007 casted Holly Combs, Rose McGowan, and Alyssa Milano, all three of which had visible tattoos. Alyssa Milano did not only have tattoos but also a nose piercing on the television show. This television show ran for eight seasons beginning with the main characters all having some type of body modification in plain sight of the audience.
Dr. Mc Williams
Exp. Writing 3200
October 28, 2009 Body Piercings and Tattoos in America For many people, body piercings and tattoos are on the fringe of society. People do this as an act of rebellion against the social standards. In many cultures, these body modifications have negative or positive acceptance, but in American’s society, body modification, for many decades, has received a very negative response. Nevertheless, body piercings and tattoos have become more mainstream. In many movies, advertisements, music videos, and television programs, people have flaunted their body piercings and tattoos. When did body modification become more acceptable in America’s society, and is it a passing trend in society? The answer is no. It was not until the middle 1990’s that body piercing came into style because of musicians and celebrities. Body modification appeared in the mid to late 1990’s and started gaining acceptance with performers like Brittany Spears and Christine Aguilera showing off their body piercings in music videos. The Craft, Fairuza Balk plays a character that has a nose piercing. This movie was produced in1996 and is one of the first movies where a main actress has a visible body piercing. This actress portrayed a teenage girl in high school who would reach out to the younger generation of the mid 1990’s who needed a new way to distinguish themselves. However, this movie is one of the first media genres that would have body piercings and tattoos on a visible part of the body. In television show Charmed from the television season from 1998 to 2007 casted Holly Combs, Rose McGowan, and Alyssa Milano, all three of which had visible tattoos. Alyssa Milano did not only have tattoos but also a nose piercing on the television show. This television show ran for eight seasons beginning with the main characters all having some type of body modification in plain sight of the audience.