Leisurely Mutilating Adolescents' Faces

Trying to find different wordings (to help better my search outcomes) I typed in "body adornment" into encylopedia.com .  One of the first listings that came up was "body mutilations and markings."  Interesting!  What I was lead to, was a very brief but eventually insightful definition from social traditions of body marking.  They listed the typical branding, tattooing, piercing.  But, at the end of the tidbit, they mentioned "face painting at children's parties."

Now this got me thinking....  How many times have you gotten your face painted either as a child or with your children at a party or carnival, etc.?  Did you even think twice about it or did you just run up enthusiastically yearning for the minimally detailed flower or tiger mask so you can show it off to your friends or parents?



There was nothing peculiar about having some random person paint a butterfly on your cheek, simply because it was at a party.  But what if it wasn't at a party?  What if one of your classmates or co-workers showed up on a typical Tuesday with a lovely bunny nose and whiskers?  What would you think?


CRAZY!!!  Oh my god, did you see their face?  What is wrong with them???  Probably something along those lines, huh?



Why?  Not because it was an irregular marking - although, yes, that is part of it.  But because it was an irregular marking on their face.  I know my culture (Midwest U.S.) typically does not accept 'unconventional' facial designs.  But in other cultures, they are viewed as a sign of status, religion, and even protection.


Learning the traits of different cultures - jewelry, adornment, traditions - will ultimately help you better understand the people from them.  So instead of automatically reverting to judging just because something is different or strange in your views, you will hopefully get passed that to see the actual person...just a thought....