Overview

A photographic exploration of the modern revival of piercing, tattooing, scarification, and body painting that reveals its origins in tribal culture and practices. Since earliest times, tribal cultures around the world have used body marks and modifications to indicate membership and rank within the group, identify with spiritual totems, express sacrifice and loss, and enhance physical attraction and sexual enjoyment. Today we are witnessing a renaissance of interest in body adornment that many interpret as a return to our tribal beginnings--a way to identify who we are in an urban world that has lost its sense of community. Return of the Tribal takes a non-judgmental look at a great variety of practices of body adornment and modification--from prehistoric and aboriginal to those of modern urban tribals in cities such as London, New York, Tokyo, and Amsterdam. From the beautiful to the bizarre, the author shows the many beautiful and bizarre ways people choose to alter their appearance.

Full Product Details

9780892816101

Table of Contents

Reviews

By juxtaposing photos of 'modern urban tribals' against images of indigenous people, Camphausen effectively places this oh-so '90s practice firmly within a historical and global context. The results are fascinating. --Publishers Weekly This book brings dignity and respect to the contemporary practice of body adornment in all its forms. By alternating stunning images from tribal and urban cultures, Camphausen makes his point convincingly.--Magical Blend, David Merritt A veritable travelogue through the geography of human imagination. Camphausen proves convincingly that today's body modification trend is more like a revival than a fad. --Curio First tattoos, then piercings and now--metal mohawks? Modern primitives are taking body modification to the extremes with scalp implants. --Newsweek

A veritable travelogue through the geography of human imagination. Camphausen proves convincingly that today's body modification trend is more like a revival than a fad. --Curio

By juxtaposing photos of 'modern urban tribals' against images of indigenous people, Camphausen effectively places this oh-so '90s practice firmly within a historical and global context. The results are fascinating.

A veritable travelogue through the geography of human imagination. Camphausen proves convincingly that today's body modification trend is more like a revival than a fad. -- Curio

Author Information

Rufus C. Camphausen is the author of The Yoni, The Encyclopedia of Erotic Wisdom and The Divine Library as well as numerous articles and essays on religious history, mythology, and sacred sexuality. He was first tattooed in 1974, and was first pierced in 1983. He lives in the Netherlands.

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