Body as Culture. Tattoed Bodies and Globalization Processes

Abstract

The article deals with the anthropological analysis of tattooed bodies as one of the manifestation of intangible cultural heritage, Proceeding from his own research expedition among some ethnic groups in Equatorial Guinea, in Central Africa 2006, the author investigates such forms of traditional body modification as tattoos and scarifications, and determines the reasons that caused these practices of body ornamentation to disappear in the 20th century. In spite of traditional the present practice of body modification is related with identity matters -not group identity as was in the case in former times but individual one, as well as with aesthetic stereotypes, and constitues a clear example for globalization processes.