Body modifications are anything you do to change the natural appearance of your body. Bodybuilding, hair dye, and plastic surgery are all body modifications. However, according to Whitney (2020) ' punk' alternatives are:
· Tattoos and piercings
· Scarification
· Implants
· Tongue splitting
· Amputations
· Corset waist training
· Ear cropping
· Elf ears
Inking skin by tattooing is a way to change a person's appearance. According to Dorr (2021), tattoos have been part of various cultures for the last 6000 years. Tattooing has steadily gained popularity, with stigmas waning and social acceptance increasing, and has become the subject of mainstream pop culture.
Many adults are dissatisfied with their bodies and decorating them with tattoos; according to Karim (2013), the reasons may be artistic freedom, rebellion, reminders of spiritual/cultural traditions, self-expression, a personal narrative, sexual motivation, addiction, identification with the group, or as drunken impulsiveness. Youn (2013) claims tattoos are the tip of the iceberg as people are seeking more dramatic forms of body art to express individuality, modifying their bodies in bizarre ways. The following YouTube video shows ten extreme body modifications
Formal qualifications are not needed for tattoos and body piercers (Pegg, 2017). However, local authorities require a license to be obtained for piercing and tattooing, but there are no laws about extreme body art. Youn (2013) claims extreme body modifications are performed without the benefit of modern anaesthetics and are rarely performed by actual physicians. It's not clear yet if they are breaking the law, and if the practice of body art is found unlawful, it is likely to be driven underground. You may well ask why do people get extreme body modifications? What is now considered normal behaviour was once regarded as self-mutilating and perhaps a sign of underlying psychiatric issues (Youn, 2013)
researching the ifs, what's, when's, and why's behind tattoos and body modifications will provide a good insight into how the design process will influence the look to be created. Primary research will give an insight into the opinions and views of different age groups and interviewing a tattoo artist will help with current tattoo trends. Further secondary research will help collaborate between the henna tattooist and the makeup artist, who has agreed to either create a design to transfer onto tattoo paper or freehand the design onto the model's arm using a temporary tattoo pen. The model has agreed to this, and as this look is being created for an editorial photoshoot, this works well. However, this would not be appropriate for film and television due to continuity, and the time it would take to apply; therefore, a tattoo transfer would be preferred.
Popularity in tattoos and how they are regularly depicted in film and television will aid with the character design.
According to Conterio (2015), tattoos are often associated with body horror and using body modification, scarification, and tattooing sometimes gives characters a unique look or is more plot-driven. Often portraying men who have served time in prison, like Ryan Gosling in' The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) (figure 2). Also, body modifications, religious tattoos, and scarification in Apocalypto (2006) created a look that is complex and visually striking (Conterio, 2015). Video 1 is behind-the-scenes footage of the making of Apocalypto with a very insightful section on the makeup for the main characters and the 700 extras used in the film by the makeup designer Aldo Signoretti and makeup artist Victorio Sodano.
Therefore, adding tattoos is a simple way to establish an individual's identity and establish a character type. The following website byTVtropes provides common tricks to give a specific flavour to a character's appearance with tattoos according to type, size, and location.
The reverse of creating tattoos is to cover up inking's on actors, which, according to Harrington (2022), is due to copyright laws, as they cannot be shown in productions. Occasionally real tattoos will be covered, then fake ones applied. In the show "How I met your father", two of Hilary Duff's real tattoos were approved on the show as consent had been given from the original artist.
Christien Tinsley from Eponymous Studios started a wave in the industry by creating tattoos, recreating cuts and wounds that were waterproof and looked realistic, and could even appear to age on an actor's skin. This has become popular amongst other makeup artists by printing their work on laser printers, creating better continuity and less time in the makeup chair. Designing the tattoo is one aspect but fitting the design on the body is the biggest obstacle. (Sasso, 2018).
Women have also changed popular culture's understanding of tattoos on-screen, such as Lisbeth Salander in "girl with the dragon tattoo" (2011)(Figure 3), Harley Quinn in suicide squad (2016) (Figure 4)and Jamie Alexander in Blindspot (2015) (Figure 5).
The makeup artist wants to create a look that is a fashion statement and not associated with crime, prison, or horror. Figures 5 and 6 Depict a high-fashion, feminine look and include ear stretching, a full tattoo arm sleeve, head, and facial tattoos that depict current fashion trends relatable in film and television. The digital sketch in figure 7 was one of the initial ideas for the look
Applying a bald cap and using a previously ventilated hairpiece will be applied to create a high-fashion hairstyle. (Figure 8).Tattoos to be applied to the head will be done via tattoo transfer paper. Trial and error will confirm that it will be successful on a bald cap.
To create the effect of ear stretching, casts were taken of the model ears and using ear stretchers to sculpt around, prosthetic silicone pieces will be made and applied to the models’ ears to complete the extreme look.
Reference list
Contario, M (2015) 10 Movies Featuring Body Modification and Tattoos [Online]. Available at https://scene360.com/art/78201/body-modification-tattoo-movies/. (Accessed 16 January 2022).
Dorr. J (2021). Are tattoos going out of style? 31 July [blog]. Available at: https://www.jobydorr.com/blog/2021/7/31/are-tattoos-going-out-of-style. (Accessed 15 December 2021).
Harrington, J (2022) The Truth Behind How Movie Tattoos Are Made [Online]. Available at https://news.yahoo.com/truth-behind-movie-tattoos-made-223850192.html. (Accessed 16 December 2021).
Karim, R (2013) Tattoo psychology: Art or Self-destruction? Modern day social branding [Online]. Available at https://www.huffpost.com/entry/psychology-of-tattoos_b_2017530#:~:text=People%20get%20tattoos%20for%20many,tattoo%20parlors%20are%20open%20late). (Accessed 15 December 2021).
Pegg, S (2017) Is extreme body modification even legal? [Online]. Available at https://theconversation.com/is-extreme-body-modification-even-legal-73242. (Accessed 15 January 2022).
Sasso, S (2018) Exactly How Your Favourite Actor Get Those Fake Tattoos On Screen [Online]. Available at https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2018/08/207744/movie-tattoo-designer-interview. (Accessed 16 January 2022).
Tvtropes (n.d) Tattoo as Character Type [online]. Available at https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TattooAsCharacterType. (Accessed 16 December 2021).
Whitney (2020) Types of Body Modification [online]. Available at https://tatring.com/piercing-types/Types-of-Body-Modification. (Accessed 15 December 2021).
Youn, A (2013) Body modification- - or mutilation? [Online]. Available at https://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/07/health/youn-body-modification/. (Accessed 16 December 2021).
Figures reference list
Figure 1- Cox, C (n.d). 20 heart tattoos for expressive men. [Online]. Available at: https://www.thetrendspotter.net/heart-tattoos-for-men/. (Accessed 19 December 2021).
Figure 2-Reddit (2013). A new The Place Beyond the Pines still shows a very tatted up Ryan Gosling [Online]. Available at https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1cgjb7/a_new_the_place_beyond_the_pines_still_shows_a/. (Accessed 25 January 2022).
Figure 3-Stern, M (2017). Lisbeth Salander in' Girl with The Dragon Tattoo', and Best Movie Tattoo's (photos) [Online]. Available at https://www.thedailybeast.com/lisbeth-salander-in-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-and-best-movie-tattoos-photos. (Accessed 25 January 2022).
Figure 4-Hypebeast (2021). JND Studios Crafts a Hyperreal' Suicide Squad' Harley Quinn Statue [Online]. Available at https://hypebeast.com/2021/7/jnd-studios-hyperreal-harley-quinn-statue. (Accessed 25 January 2022).
Figure 5-Hibberd, J (2015)' blind spot': seven things about Jamie Alexander's insane tattoo process [Online]. Available at https://ew.com/comic-con/2015/07/11/blindspot-tattoos/. (Accessed 25 January 2022).
Figure 6- World Tattoo Gallery (n.d). Inked girls. [Online]. Available at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/472174342193215088/. (Accessed 25 October 2021).
Figure 667- Maistrenko, E (2021). 26 cool faux hawk inspired hairstyles for Women. [Online]. Available at: https://lovehairstyles.com/faux-hawk-women/. (Accessed 25 October 2021).
Figure 8-Thorp, N (2021) Digital sketch of ideas. York College, York.
Figure 9-Thorp, N (2021) Previously ventilated hairpiece. York College, York.
Videos reference list
Apocalypto-making of (By Mel Gibson-2006) (2018) YouTube video, added by 353 studios [Online]. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCBmf_JhVV8 (Accessed 25 January 2022).
Top 10 Most Extreme Body Modifications (2015) YouTube video, added by Most Amazing Top 10 [Online]. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C3oxGY0CSM. (Accessed 25 January 2022).cyy