Estudiante

Life as we see it is a perception of reality that varies between standpoints of experience and observation; and, among these standpoints there are lenses that play the role of a cultural base. Ourpoint of view is determined not only by our physical body and sensorial perception but also by our cultural and social niche. We often perceive something as good or bad based on what we know or haveseen to be socially acceptable and traditional. Delaney offers insight on this when exposing the strong relationship between body image and body experience. She explores the cyclic idea of how thepersonal determines the social but at the same time the social rules the personal.

One of the variables that often marks cultural environment in the personal body is the physical adornment of the body.These include body art practices such as tattoos, piercings and some other non-permanent changes like clothing and make up. People use this practices in order to fulfill expectations of society interms of beauty or even as a mark that they belong to that social group. Examples of this in different contexts are when sports teams paint their faces to symbolize their union as a team and whenindigenous tribes paint their faces to form strong symbolic bond in their community. Both of these groups do this to preserve their group identity and differentiate themselves from other groups. Themarkings symbolize their relationship as well as their union in terms of a “team” or “tribe” that fights together.

With regards to face painting in particular, I find the history of the practice to be astrong determinant of micro cultures. It contrasts of what is natural and what is fabricated and plays on the dichotomy of what is good/pretty and bad/ugly. In nature, male individuals usually have amuch grandiose set of features like feathers and striking colours, which are mainly there for the sole purpose of mating and reproduction. Dances and rituals are elaborate constructions meant for...