Society and Culture
Rituals, subcultures and the wider story of self-expression through the body.
Start here · Essential guide
How rites of passage around the world have used tattoos, scars, piercings and other marks to signal a change in who a person is within their community.
A narrative tour of tattoos and metal jewelry through time, from ancient preserved skin to sailors, machines and modern studios, and what each era added.
Why visible tattoos and piercings became more common as personal expression: changing attitudes, better safety, media, money and a stronger focus on individuality.
How people decide what body art to show and what to keep private, the idea of a veil between public and personal self, and why both choices are valid.
How outward changes like tattoos and piercings relate to our inner sense of self over time, why the link runs both ways, and why the evidence is mixed.
How particular scenes such as punks, bikers, sailors, metal fans and modern primitives developed their own looks and norms around tattoos, piercings and jewelry.
Related topics