DE JESUS, FRANCES JEANALLEN H.

BSAC 1-9 (CODE 1696)

AUGUST 28, 2020 F

Art involves the concepts of imagination, creativity

and beauty. Each culture has their standards of what
beauty is. Watch the video “African Body
Modification”

a. What art assumptions are expressed in the different body modifications in Africa?
The most prominent art assumptions that are expressed in the different body
modifications in Africa are Art is not nature and Art is cultural. All of the body
modifications were deliberately inflicted by man. None of the body
modifications were “natural” or by “accident”, hence Art is not nature. The
assumption that Art is cultural can also be noted since the body modifications
were done for a sense of belonging in the community. Some of it were
considered coming-of-age rituals and some of it were indicative of one’s social
status, therefore I can say that art, in this context, is cultural.
b. What makes these body modifications beautiful?
While I agree that some of these body modifications are beautiful, I must
mention that I strongly disagree with the Female Genitalia Mutilation as it is a
blatant violation of human rights. I hope that the tribes will be properly educated
about this. The Female Genitalia Mutilation, for me, is not an art, and will be
excluded in the subsequent discussion.
The first time I saw these body modifications was in the movie “Black Panther”
and even though those were probably just props, my eyes cannot help but stare
at them because they were very new to me. The fact that these body
modifications are intriguing makes them beautiful. The aesthetics themselves are
beautiful already and just by looking at them, you’ll know that there are deeper
meanings. The uniqueness of these body modifications also adds to their beauty.
It’s special and rare in a way because only a few is keen to undergo such
discomfort. Furthermore, the fact that a group of people are bonded through this
art also makes it beautiful. I may not understand the connection those who had
body modifications have to each other but being human calls us to relate better
to someone who has undergone the same experience or pain and art as the
medium for people to associate with each other is something beautiful.

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