Читать книгу Introducing Anthropology - Laura Pountney - Страница 145

Bodies are socially constructed in different ways across different cultures. Human bodies transmit complex information about themselves even within a single cultural context, and the message of the body is subject to change over time. The body is a form of communication, whether permanent – through tattoos, scarification, piercing or plastic surgery – or temporary – via make-up, clothing or hairstyles. All these body modifications convey information about a person’s identity. Many forms of body modification are associated with initiation or marriage, marking the transition from one status to another. There are many ways in which humans attempt to control and modify the body. These are universal, but they are also diverse. The body therefore is a symbol of culture in that it ‘performs’ or represents the culture of an individual. The ways that humans are able to place value on the body or control it are becoming ever more complex through technological advances.