The practice of body modification has a long history on every continent of the world. Rooted in spiritual and ancestral tales that date back to what cultures respectively consider human creation, body modification is a highly purposeful and personal art form. Body modification can be found in most cultures around the world and varies widely in practice and media. Tattooing, ritual scarification, piercing, and the intentional and forced malformation of certain parts of the human body are all common examples of body modification. Such practices have been and are regularly used to distinguish one's social class, family ancestry, express one's life art or central purpose, tell one's life story, or simply enhance one's aesthetic beauty. The latter, however, is more often seen in modern Western cultures that adopt and manipulate traditional, non-Western art forms for vain and/or aesthetic purposes where their original meanings and purposes become tainted and forgotten. It is in these less commonly recognized cultures, usually classified as “non-Western,” that body modification has its roots. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The practice of injecting dye ink into the skin, commonly known as tattooing, has a rich history in the islands and cultures of Polynesia. The term "tattoo" derives from the traditional Tahitian "tatau", although the actual practice of tattooing is believed to have originated on the island of Samoa over 2000 years ago. And although many of the Oceanic cultures are known for their visual and practical differences, they ultimately have more in common than anything else. Most Polynesian societies have long functioned under systems of hereditary nobility in which body modification artists specializing in ritual tattooing and scarring are supported and honored by the public, often revered as priest-like individuals. Such artists often practice body modification as their sole profession and are believed to serve as communicators between the spiritual figures and ancestors of their societies and community members. Tattoo designs are carefully selected by artists for specific individuals to enhance certain qualities or characteristics of the wearer, depict lineage and personal status, or even as spiritually protective and intimidating armor in the case of traditional Polynesian warriors. When those originating from the Marquesas Islands were studied, battle tattoos were thick and dark in nature and were often applied heavily to the face. This served as both an optical illusion and a point of military intimidation for the warriors' enemies. For the Maori people of New Zealand, the practices of tattooing and ritual scarification borrow many of their skills and visual characteristics from decorative and architectural sculpture. The most traditional Maori tattoo is a large piece that extends from the torso to the knees of initiated male members of the community. Such tattoos are called pehas and feature arrow-shaped and spiral motifs that accentuate the wearer's natural musculature and define the buttocks. It is an honor and right of passage for Māori men to sport these designs and the application process is a social ritual where many members of the community come to witness the tattooing or participate in the celebratory festivals that take place afterwards. Like those in Oceania. , body modification practices in Latin America were based on the importance of.