Tranter, Bruce, and Ruby Grant. 2018. “A Class Act? Social Background And Body Modifications In Australia”. Journal Of Sociology 54 (3): 412-428. doi:10.1177/1440783318755017.

Brief Description

The article demonstrates the prevalent body modification among the youth, working-class, and the less educated. With the increase of tattooing and body piercing, the paper argues whether body modification is socially accepted across western culture.

Weiler, Selina M., Bjarn-Ove Tetzlaff, Philipp Yorck Herzberg, and Thomas Jacobsen. 2021. “When Personality Gets Under The Skin: Need For Uniqueness And Body Modifications”. PLOS ONE 16 (3): e0245158. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0245158.

Brief Description

With the increase of body modification in western countries, the main focus is on the driving force to body modification. The article recognizes the majority of people practicing body modification. It also analyzes the reasons behind the increasing body modification.                   The Accomplishment of the Authors

Currently, body modifications of all kinds are not an infrequent phenomenon anymore. There has been a surge in the number of modifications across western countries over the past decades. Some people have gone the extra mile of performing extreme modifications like splitting the tongue and inducing skull deformity. With the continued increase in body modification, the authors seek to bring out information on body modification and its reason. They seek to find out the motives fuelling individuals to opt for piercings and tattoos. As depicted from the articles, the primary reason for modification is self-expression, uniqueness, and a sense of belonging to a particular group. In addition, the modification is only prevalent among a specific group of people in society. It is evident that the youth, less educated, working-class, and the non-conservatives, form the majority of victims of body modification. The authors want to bring out the growing culture of body modification to people’s attention. It is a widely spread culture in the western nation which information should be provided to both the affected and non-affected people. Therefore, as an increasingly growing culture in western countries, the authors seek to educate the public on body modification among a particular group of individuals in society.

The Common Theme in Each Article

According to the articles, it is evident that both authors are trying to explore the reasons behind body modifications. Currently, most people are driven by the need for uniqueness in the community. Based on the article, the primary reason for body modification is the need for uniqueness (NFU) (Weiler et al. 2021, 2). The need for individuality is characterized by an individual’s desire to become similar or not similar to others. Individuals with high NFU have a higher probability of having their bodies modified than those with low NFU. The desire to beautify one’s body and generate symbols showing group connections also causes body piercing and tattoos. On the other research, the practice is an expression of taste associated with various social classes and lifestyles (Tranter and Grant 2018, 412-428). Therefore, it is clear that both authors seek to comprehend better the reason and motives behind body modification. To better understand a concept and action, it is advisable to understand first the motives of the action. Hence, to better understand body modification and the reasons behind the surge of the practice, it is essential first to understand its rationale. The two articles provide a deeper analysis of the reasons prompting body modifications.

Personal Reaction

In the wake of the twenty-first century, tattoos and piercing are widespread across Western societies. In my opinion, the article is essential in today’s dynamic society characterized by rampant body piercing since it does not necessarily criticize body modification.  The readings clearly illustrate the reasons why some people opt for body modification. People live in different communities with various people who practice different cultures. Humans need to understand different people to live harmoniously with each other. Therefore, through the readings, one gets a more profound understanding of why some people go for body modification hence understanding their intentions better. Due to the widespread practice, body modification is becoming an acceptable social norm in the community. The article profoundly provides people the essential information on matters affecting them directly and indirectly. In addition, it provides adequate background information to people who might want to go for tattoos and piercing and those with body modifications already. Our current society is highly affected by increasing body modification; hence, it provides the needed information to adapt to the changes. Therefore, the readings are vital since they provide profound information and education on observable dynamic changes in society.