One does not need to be particularly perceptive or a follower of Prof. Levi-Strauss to notice that human culture is organized around binary opposites. We define ourselves and the way we perceive the world by means of the oppositions. "Good" and "bad", "truth" and "lie", "black" and "white", "nerd" and "prep", "attractive" and "ugly", "cool" and "lame". This is only theory, however, and sooner or later we also notice that the world, this real one, is definitely more than about "black" and "white" only. We may define ourselves by means of oppositions, describe ourselves by means of many different words and strive to belong � fully and righteously � to one group or another but we also realize, sooner or later, that there are aspects of our lives in which we do not belong fully either to one or another side and that there is/ are social space(s) where our status may be described not in terms of "member" or "outsider" but rather someone who is "suspended in-between" two sides of an issue in question.
At A Glance Author Ania Contact [email protected] IAM deadly pale When N/A Location Poland The idea of binary opposites is also valid on the body modification ground and can be defined on a few levels. First of all, one can be either a modifier or modified; a member of the industry or a customer; piercer/tattooer or a piercee/ tattooed. As far as body modification goes, one can also be knowledgeable on the subject or a layman; someone interested in or repulsed by it. When it comes to "body mods", one can be either "(heavily) modified" or a "plainskin". Yet simplification it seems to be, doesn't it? These are only two ends of a spectrum which space in-between is occupied by those whose status is "unclear", whose position is not defined by "black-and-white" point of view. Right in-between the "(heavily) modified" and the "plainskins" are located those of us who are neither one nor another.
We know, thanks to our everyday life experiences, that it is not easy a place to be in-between people, arguments, affairs or whatever else. The saying about being between rock and a hard place pretty well sums this position up. When it comes to body modification, it is not easy a position, either. People from the industry can, and pretty often, look at us as those whose knowledge is not sufficient, as wannabes who do the things we do just for the "scene points'" sake, as those who do not really belong here. People who are either skeptical about or against body modification perceive us as "weirdos", those who do what they do without much thinking about possible consequences and risks, those who are not like other "normal" people anymore.
Does being "in-between" have always a negative status? Do we have to feel uneasy while going back and forth between these two worlds, the one where body modifications are a symbol of status (to some degree) and the one where the changes we decided to undergo are rather a symbol of rebellion and looked down upon? We know, and pretty often get to experience ourselves, the downsides of our in-between status but are there any upsides in our position? I do believe there are; all we need to do is to look closely at this question and be aware of our own position.
For once, we should make sure to educate ourselves as much as possible both on the subject of body modification and how and why society may and actually does react to anything that is outside the norm in any way as this way we will be able to at least try to understand both sides between we are, voluntarily or not, placed. To some degree our growing knowledge and realizing how vast and complex are both body modification with its growing industry and the ways the society may perceive both those who are a part of the industry and those to whom the body mod industry is addressed may allow us to get both an insider and outsider status and thus to at least try to understand both sides in the equation. Our advancing to the insider/outsider status may also mean a better control over our own decisions in regard to both our possible body modifications and the way they would/ could be perceived by those who do not know what body modification means to us. Our goal here would be, a.o., openmindness both towards people from the industry (who sometimes come across as wannabe rock stars and make us, un/ willingly, feel inferior to them) and the people out there who have no time or interest to pay any attention to body art. Even though we would still be in-between, not a member of the industry or a (heavily) modified person (yet) and not an ordinary member of the society (anymore) , our openmindness and willingness to listen to and watch carefully both sides would give us a very interesting observation point and enable us to participate better in both worlds.
The in-between status, no matter how inconvenient and awkward at first it seems to be, has also another advantage. Majority of people from the industry and those who perceive themselves as "heavily modified" are just that � heavily modified! This means that, even though they decided to take over the control on their outward appearance, they also lost this control to some degree. Being heavily modified is not only about deciding what we want to look like ourselves but also about losing the ability to manipulate the way we are perceived by others. Sometimes cosmetic and clothing tricks are not enough to disguise their choices in certain contexts. Being in-between people with looks perceived as a norm and the people who decided to look the way they think or feel is right gives us an ability to play our modifications and our lack of thereof the way we want to, not the way others think is right.
If we are to believe the scholars, our living space and the world in general are divided into two spheres, sacred and profane. The sacred one is about unusual, changing (hopefully for better), transgressing, anything divine (although it does not have to be anything profound; anything that frees us from everyday life and makes our life a little more exciting is enough); the profane part is about the mundane, everyday routine, everything that is known and predictable. One does not need to be religious to feel this simple and yet important division in their lives. On the level concerned with body modification the profane is mainly about waiting, planning, expecting, envisioning, hoping; the sacred is about feeling excited, entering the shop, changing the way we looked, transforming no matter to what degree, riding on the adrenaline "high". During our body modification-focused trips we are not only on the real, "material" road but we also travel between two worlds, we are about to change and transform although it is up to us ourselves how deep and valid to us this transformation will be. Now, with our in-between status we are, indeed, travelers in-between two worlds while those who are in charge of our bodily transformations are dwellers of the world that for us is "sacred" and they perceive this world in different light than we do; and those who are not interested in the body art are not able to understand our feelings and, for us, are still bound to the profane sphere only (we should keep in mind, however, that such people probably have their own "sacred" sphere that may or may not be accessible to us � this depends on one's own interests, passions and ability to "transform" the everyday life into something exciting and unusual). The upside of our status here is, a.o., that we are able to feel deeper and more fully both worlds � since the body modification world is not accessible to us on everyday basis we experience it with more intensity and since we need to heal our mods we are able to keep the touch and feel of the "sacred" on us at least for some short time afterwards and thus change the profane everyday sphere to some degree. Living only in the "sacred" or only in the "profane" world would be demanding and lead to mental fatigue and boredom; thanks to going back and forth between them they both can hold their own status and offer us to notice and enjoy the best parts of them.
Being suspended in-between or feeling insecure about our status may be frustrating and it is a human thing to strive to belong and feel a part of something bigger than only ourselves. However, being in-between has also some advantages and we should not try � at all costs � to prove others and ourselves that we are someone we are not really convinced (yet) we are. We should not validate our "rebellious" or "modified" status over and over again but rather try to enjoy being suspended in-between two very interesting worlds and watch both of them closely. There is no need to feel worse or inferior. With growing knowledge and awareness of who we really are or can be ourselves we can learn from both worlds and take from them the best they have to offer.