SKIN: A Selected Bibliography on the Forms of Body Augmentation

Body Augmentation  is the current  trend of body branding, piercing,  sculpting, tattooing, and scarification. These forms of body expression are seen by  mainstream western society as mutilation.  However, every human culture considers body adornment, decoration,  marking, dressing, scarring, tattooing, central to cultural and social  identification. This new practice of  radical body permanency by artists and individuals goes beyond cosmetic limitations. Practitioners use body modification as a social form of self expression in post industrial culture.  Body Augmentation encompasses a new  perception of beauty and body image. This perception is self determined based upon individual views of self  and  physical appearance.

The purpose of this selected bibliography is to assist Ohio State University Libraries' patrons in finding resources on  Body Augmentation. This bibliography is organized into four sections: Body Augmentation : a bibliographic introduction to body modification; Body Art : list materials on Henna and other forms of body painting; Body Piercing : provides  resources on piercing and similar forms of body augmentation and; Tattoo : presents an information menu on tattoos and other forms of skin decoration.

      Body Augmentation       Body Art       Body Piercing      Tattoo

This is not an exhaustive bibliography. For additional material and/or assistance in using any of the resources, consult a reference librarian. A majority of the Body Augmentation resources are located in the Education, Human Ecology, Psychology, Social Work Library (EHS). An explanation of the Location Codes is provided at the end of each section.