WHY HUMAN BEINGS PERSISTENTLY ALTER THEIR APPEARANCE (part two)

This is the concluding part of this topic in view, enjoy!

Credit

Credit

From the beginning of this discussion I stated when and how alteration of human appearance began - that is, how long it has been and the perception of societies.

Perspective

Why the persistence in altering and manipulating the natural appearance? From the perspective of the (so called) advanced or developed world the most likely or obvious reason is that such alterations of the body provides an invaluable means of self-expression. Individual persona wants to stand out from the crowd - to be different and unique.
For instance, the hair style, make-up, jewellery and other adornments, our choice of clothing, etc. offer a straight-forward means of accomplishing this.

Further more, our particular choice of appearance style serves to tell others about our personal values, beliefs and approach to life. That is, our presentation of self exploits, a complex communication code which, arguably, says more about us than words ever can - or, at least, unlike words, offers the means to broadcast "where we are coming from" to people we have not yet met.

In this way, our chosen appearance style functions as an advertisement for ourselves - the first crucial steps in our interactions with others. But even today in the modern world, that which appears to be done in the pursuit of individuality may actually serve to accomplish it's opposite, demonstrating our membership in some social group or tribe

Most Important Invention

The tribe is humankind's most important invention. An inter-generational system, it allowed our most distant ancestors to pass on and build upon discoveries made within one's lifetime. The tribe also imposes rules and regulations which make communal life efficient, productive and powerful. But our *tribe is only a vague mental construct until it is literally embodied in the form of our tribe's distinctive appearing style.
For example, if tribe "A" decrees that the body should be painted with red stripes while the neighbouring tribe "B" decrees that the body should be painted with blue dots, then immediately a clear line has been drawn between us and them. In this way the customised body - far from being frivolous - played and continues to play a crucial role in human development.

The difference in Contemporary World and the Traditional/peasant communities

Where our contemporary world differs from that of the Traditional and peasant communities is in the fact that we have a choice - in selecting which look or design of the body, and therefore which tribe we want to opt for. Added to choice and complexity, our world is also characterised by rapid change which has a profound impact upon the customised body.

New fashion

New fashions come and go with each season and, particular, styletribes gain or loose popularity. The result is a perpetual motion of different, constantly ways of altering the appearance of the human form. All of which is in marked contrast with situation in any traditional society where an appearance style may remain constant and unchanging through dozens of generations.

Different Marks for different Tribes

There are significant difference in marks and decorations between tribe's across the communities of our world.
Take a look at the following few examples:-
(A) Africa: (1) Sudan (Nubs people - men paint their bodies with white and black; women with either red or yellow bodies)

(2) New Guinea (Mount Hagen area, women paint identically with red, black and white.

(3) Nigeria - Yoruba tribal marks ;

Hausa/Fulani

USA: (New York's East village: there are vibrantly multiple coloured Punks.

London: (vampiric Goths :

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Conclusion

Having left behind the dictatorship of fashion, able to choose between dozens of different styletribes - or, increasingly, to simply go it alone as unique, extraordinary and attractive individuals - we stand at an unprecedented point in history
Never before have we had such choice and possibility in how to look or be. Never before had the customised body been so unfettered in its potential metamorphosis.
Do you know that a former president's wife of a leading African nation (then a sitting president)) lost his wife who was trying to alter her stomach size.
What a world of alteration of the course of nature in the name of decoration and beauty.

The big question is: are you engaged in it?
Selah.

Regards,
From the desk of Udu Ben