Sociological Critique

For my final paper, I was to do a  Sociological Critique on something a sociologist might study, so I choose subdermal implants, got a 17/20, good for doing it within 2 days right? hmm whatever

A Sociological Critique

Subdermal Implants

By: Jose Morales

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In March of 2006 Quinn Norton, an author from Wired magazine, reports a growing interest in body modification, in the area of subdermal implants, where a three dimensional object of the wearer’s choosing, is inserted under the skin. Norton goes around interviewing several people, Shannon Larratt, and early adopter of subdermal implants; David Virda, founder of Health Educators, a ten year-old company; international body artist Emilio Gonzalez; and Dr. Phil Haeck; a plastic surgeon of Seattle, Washington, for their beliefs, ideals, and comments on the growing interest among the communities of extreme body modification.

From one point of view, when Norton interviewed Shannon, he gets that it was a dream starting off from a child, watching Star Trek, swaying him to become part of the population. It influenced him based on the diversity of the people from other worlds, but what intrigued him the most were the rigid foreheads. Shannon claims that his ideal world would be “Everyone looks interesting, everyone looks different.” When Steve Haworth, a pioneer at the time, invented a way to implant jewelry into the skin, Shannon became the first of many to receive and start off the new style and trend of body modification, subdermal implants.

Alone the idea of inserting contents of silicone under the skin, itself becomes an extreme, causing an interest for those who choose to practice skin alternation. These implants create a raised effect like any other would, but though in any shape or form creating a striking 3-D effect, such as a star, circle, heart, or even horns protruding from the skin. Those with any body modification, have incorporated them with their piercing or tattoos, often either creating an achieved stunning look, or a botched operation.

Both pioneers at the time, a woman from New Zealand, and an artist, Steve Haworth, from Phoenix, AZ, commence the body art of subdermal implants. The woman from New Zealand, comes in for a tattoo of a bracelet, with an idea, Haworth instead offers her a placing of beads around, under her wrists, becoming the first person and woman with this kind of surgical operation. Having become so popular, over 50,000 people world wide have had this kind of implant, according to Larratt, who runs BMEZine, an online community of the body modification world. As an early adopter, it comes with a price, medical-grade stainless steel were once installed, and now most commonly used is silicone, but a few with Teflon.

Subdermal implants, it is only the beginning. The rise if this popular trend will only grow larger, into a practice amongst all people. Just as society takes time to adapt, only prove that the norms that follow are not ready to accept it yet. It is an on going trend with a multitude of modifications and combination of them to come.

Presented are the effects of trying to be different, outside the norms of society to claim somewhat of an identity outside of the clones they see, soon becoming a hobby amongst them. Two of the three sociological theories take place; both symbolic interaction and functionalism are the major roles. As for symbolic interaction, they are needed, somewhat as the outcasts that any community needs, as to look down upon teaching those, what is and is not acceptable. Playing more than one role, functionalism is the larger influence, of the two, deeming the modifiers unworthy to be part of society, which only shows how the larger of society can, and will adapt to this imminent change, as if it was any other typical alteration. It is only typical of us to do so; we see anything new as a deformity or appalling, only to become accepted with time until something new has directed attention towards something unpleasant to look upon.

A quick overview of what common, normal everyday people had to say could have had a better impression of what the people might think, seeming less extreme, then only answers from doctors and health advisors who discourage and look negatively at from, not only of the causes and effects that could happen, but though the lacking of higher education these extreme body artists have, despite the training and the study in the medical field they have gone through.

Norton, Quinn. “Body Artists Customize Your Flesh.” Online posting: March 8, 2006 < http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2006/03/70322> Date accessed: April 15, 2009

Note from Prof. Esinger:

Mr. Morales:

You have done a good job summarizing your chosen article and then injecting some of the sociological concepts we have covered during the semester. You should have included a complete citation to the source of your article at the end of your paper. Also, your grammar and sentence structure could have been better!

Your presentation was good and I appreciate that you had handouts for the class to review. I am not sure why the sociological aspect did not come through in your talk but at least I found it in your paper.

Paper: 10/12

Presentation: 7/8