Piercing and Body Modification Media List

If you know me, you know piercing and body modification is my great love in life, and I’m all about everything related to it. On that end, from a young age I have ravenously consumed media about piercings, tattoos, and body modification. I regularly see folks asking for suggestions on content related to this to watch, read, and consume, so I decided to collect it all into a blog post for ease! If you have any further suggestions that aren’t on this list, message me so I can add it!

Books

Modern Primitives- This essential primer from ReSearch takes a look at the modern primitive movement across the 70s-90’s. They sat down and did a series of interviews with body piercing and tattooing pioneers such as Fakir Musafar, Jim Ward, and Lyle Tuttle. This collection of interviews is directly responsible for many peoples first taste of the industry, and an inspiration for hundreds of piercers and enthusiasts on their Journey.

Running the Gauntlet- This book tells the story of the gauntlet, americas first body piercing studio. It tracks how Jim Ward got his start in this industry, what inspired him to pursue piercing, and what shaped the first piercing studios in the country. It will also teach you how many tools and techniques we used today came to be.

Spirit and Flesh- this photo book tracks the work of Fakir Musafar, the grandfather of modern body modification. It showcases many of his self portraits documenting his early interest in modification and piercing, and his personal journey through it.

A Brief History of the Evolution of Body Adornment in Western Culture- Written by Blake from Nomad, about his and his mothers personal experiences in anthropology and body modification, and tracking the spread of tribal modification through to modern times.

Africa Adorned- this gorgeous hardcover examines the traditional adornment and body art of multiple African cultures. It looks as different forms of scarification, tattoo, and piercing among other adornment.

Bodies Under Siege- this psychological piece examines self harm in modern culture and psychiatry, and touches on the intersection of body modification and body piercing and self harm.

The Piercing Bible- this primer on piercing from Elayne Angel is a good historical reference, and you will find it on anyones list, including the reprinted version. While many of the techniques and suggestions are outdated, it paints a picture of what piercing looked like in the early 90’s. It's worth noting Elayne made some incredibly transphobic comments in a court of law during her divorce. While I want to acknowledge divorce is a difficult time, it also does not justify transphobia and setting a legal precedent against trans marriage rights. She has refused to applogize despite many trans and nonbinary voices requesting accountability for the harm she has caused.

https://leatherati.com/an-open-letter-to-elayne-angel-c75fd41a9f48

This letter, written by a trans man directly effected by her transphobia is worth a read, and I encourage folks to donate to the trans legal defense fund rather than support her book.

Better Safe then Ari- This series of books follows Ari Pimsler as he interviews various important members of body piercing history. Each interview is succinct, and filled with gems of wisdom and advice, and entertaining stories about the formation of the modern piercing industry.

Nodal Points- These collect different articles and interviews from Sacred Debris cataloguing different aspects and elements of body modification history. They paint a beautiful portrait of the people who made this industry the way it is today.

Modcon- this book is a rarity to find these days, but it follows the events of mod con and the BME days, and gives a rare inside look at the early days of the growth of the heavy modification scene.

Wings of Desire: Learning to Fly- this book tracks the evolution of the Oslo Norway based suspension team wings of desire, and how they came to be the icons of the suspension industry they are today. Follow Haave as he explores this gorgeous art form.

Return of the Tribal- a photographic exploration of the modern revival of tribal practice. Piercing, tattooing, scarification, and body paint, and tracing their origins in tribal cultures to modern times.

In the Flesh: The Cultural Politics of body Modification- an interview based study on the subculture of body modification, looking at gender, sexuality, and ethnicity are reconfigured through body modification. "The 1990s saw the dramatic rise of spectacular forms of body modification, which included the tattoo renaissance and the rise in body piercing, the emergence of neo-tribal practices like scarification and flesh hanging, and the invention of new, high-tech forms of body art like subdermal implants. This book, based on years of interviews with body modifiers throughout the United States, is both sympathetic and critical and provides the most comprehensive look at this phenomenon. From punk rock to "modern primitives," from queer sadomasochism to cyberpunks, sociologist Victoria Pitts provides insight into the full range of body modification subcultures. Whether by turning themselves into female punks, neo-tribal "primitives" or science fiction cyborgs, body modifiers are engaged in the project of "reclaiming" their bodies from the machine of modern life. Pitts explores the connections between body modification and contemporary struggles over sex and gender, and widespread attitudes about identity, consumption, and the body"--Publisher description

If you read anything on this list, make it this one. In the Flesh is a brilliant look at body modification and the subcultures it exists within, simultaneously looking at the struggles modification has faced to be legitimized within it own subcultures and within the larger community, as well as look at the way the modern industry is still influenced by cultural appropriation, colonization, and the exoticism of marginalized bodies.

Pagan Fleshworks: The Alchemy of Body Modification- an examination of the cultural trends ofd tattooing, implanting, branding, and piercing as a quest for the transformative psychic experience.

Penis Inserts of Southeast Asia- this piece reviews various forms of penile piercing and implantation across south east asia, with a focus on pearling

Marks of Civilization: Artistic Transformations of the Human Body- a look at how body piercing, scarring, and tattooing have for years been invested with profound cultural ands social meaning.

Stoned: In this New York Times best seller author Aja explores the colorful, brilliant, and interesting history of gemstones. She looks at science, history, culture, and more to explore how 8 different gemstones had a major hand in politics, war, fashion, media, and even our day-to-day lives. This book is quick-paced, humorous, and manages to cover a range of topics from lighthearted pop culture to dark history engagingly and entertainingly. If you want to learn more about the gemstones that fill the jewelry we work with, this is the perfect way to do so.

Brilliance and Fire: Do gemstones need a bibliography? Diamonds certainly deserve one. This book that a long look a the storied, and often bloody, history of diamonds. How did our society become so enamored with diamonds- and to what lengths have certain forces gone to keep us obsessed with these small, glittering gems? 'From the South African mines where most diamonds have been sourced since the late 1890s to the companies that have fought to monopolize them; from the likes of Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Kanye West, who have dazzled in them, to the people behind the scenes who have carefully crafted our understanding of their value--Brilliance and Fire offers a glittering history of the world's most coveted gemstone and its greatest champions and most colorful enthusiasts.' A must-read for any piercer or foh stocking and working with diamonds.

Hidden Exposure and Private Portraits- These two photobooks document the work of Stefan Richter and showcase some of the best genital piercing documentation and collection of modified portraits to come from the 80's and 90's. These books have been a major inspiration for generations of genital modification work.

PFIQ and Body Play- these print magazines were a fundamental way to bring modified people together in the time before the internet. They inspired generations of young piercers and enthusiasts and have become highly collectable if you can get your hands on them.

The Butchering Art- This novel takes a look at the life of renown surgeon Joseph Lister, who set about to prove the existence of germs and the benefit of the use of antiseptics for wound care. Using a mix of excerpts from his letters and journals, and a thrilling recreation of the period, Lindsey Fitzharris takes you into dark, dirty victorian operating rooms where surgeons barehanded removed limbs before gathered crowds. She explores the way infection was often times more deadly than the surgeries themselves and takes us alone Lister's life long quest to determine the cause of infections. While not directly related to piercing, the advancements made by Lister are still in practice in studios around the world, and understanding the history, and sacrifice, that made our careers possible is essential for anyone.

Hurts So Good, The Science and Culture of Pain on Purpose- From sexual machochists, to hot pepper enthusiasts, ballerinas, and polar plunges, author Leigh Cowart explores what drives humans to explore painful experiences- and why so many folks say they find a release, a catharsis, and healing in pain. By participating in many of these activities themselves, and through conversations with psychologists, fellow scientists, and people who seek pain for pleasure, Cowart unveils how our minds and bodies find meaning and relief in pain—a quirk in our programming that drives discipline and innovation even as it threatens to swallow us whole. This book explores tattoos and piercings, along with body suspension, and a myriad of other painful practices. A deep dive into what drives pain, and a must-read for any piercer to better understand the science that brings us back to the piercing room again and again.

Sacred Pain- Why would anyone seek out the very experience the rest of us most wish to avoid? Why would religious worshipers flog or crucify themselves, sleep on spikes, hang suspended by their flesh, pierce their skin, or walk for miles through scorching deserts with bare and bloodied feet? In this novel Ariel Gluklich sets out to answer these questions and explore the idea of pain on purpose. He examines pain from the perspective of the practitioner, looking at both scientific understanding of pain and ritual and religious texts.

He also ranges over a broad spectrum of historical and cultural contexts, showing the many ways mystics, saints, pilgrims, mourners, shamans, Taoists, Muslims, Hindus, Native Americans, and indeed members of virtually every religion have used pain to achieve a greater identification with God. He examines how pain has served as a punishment for sin, a cure for disease, a weapon against the body and its desires, or a means by which the ego may be transcended and spiritual sickness healed. "When pain transgresses the limits," the Muslim mystic Mizra Asadullah Ghalib is quoted as saying, "it becomes medicine." Based on extensive research and written with both empathy and critical insight, Sacred Pain explores the terrain of self-hurting and reveals how meaningful suffering has been used to heal the human spirit.

Living Buddhas- This unique book details the process of monks in Japan choosing to self-mummify as part of a spiritual practice. With a close look at Japanese history, and the way indigenous japanise beliefs blended with Buddhism to encourage this aesthetic practice of extreme body modification, even through death, this book is a well-rounded examination of this nearly-lost practice. "This first English-language work on the subject recounts the process by which these monks starve themselves for a decade, bury themselves alive with only a small breathing tube, and meditate until death. After three years, the mummified body is exhumed and displayed. The biographies of various monks are presented within, as is an examination of the religious beliefs involved, an amalgamation of three distinct religious traditions. Also explored is the role of asceticism in religion, and beliefs about life and death shared by the Buddhist sects involved in self-mummification." As suggested to me by a client, this details a beautiful and unique religious practice that we are in danger of losing the history of due to a lack of interest and awareness. ((Lynn Note: I was unsure of including this in the media list- does self-mummification count as a form of religious body modification? Well, we consider rituals like the sponga and self-flagellants as forms of religious body modification, so why wouldn't we consider this? After a discussion with my client who suggested this book, there is a desire to raise awareness and interest in the practice to preserve knowledge and funding for temples that house these mummies. Thus, I feel it belongs here on this list.))

Online

sacreddebris.com- A collection of the best safe then Ari interviews, some of my historical essays, and other photos and snippets of piercing and modification history. A collaborative effort of four unique minds all driven to document and preserve the history of this industry.

The Point- found on safepiercing.org the point is a quarterly publication from the APP about body piercing. It is no longer a printed magazine and is now an online resource for folks to learn more, with different topics and information covering every issue.

Modblog and BME- it’s safe to say we wouldn’t be where we are as in industry without the influence BME had on a generation of young piercers and clients. ModBlog remains online where you care read about every topic under the sun related to piercing and modification. BME also remains up, and while access these days can be hazy, there is still a wealth of information to be had.

Confessions of a Piercing Nerd Blog- Jeff Saunders, former president of the APP, has an informative blog directed at young piercers and industry members. Full of strong technical information and great discussions of best practices and techniques, it’s a worthwhile read. It has since moved to patreon.

Rogue UK Blog- Published by one of the UK's foremost piercing studios, the Rogue Blog is a fantastic resource for education about different piercings, getting into the industry, gemstones and jewelry, and so much more. Lovingly written by their skilled staff it's a must follow resource for up and coming piercing education.

The AUPP Periodicals- Put together by the amazing folks in the Australasian United Professional Piercers these periodicals are deeply well researched, well put together collections of information about fundamental body piercing topics. Their materials edition is perhaps the most comprehensive piece on material and mill certs you can get for the industry, and all of their publications are worth reading.

Audio

The Piercing Wizard Podcast- Host Ryan Ouelette sit’s down with different members of the industry to discuss any and every topic under the sun, in guided interviews. Often equal parts informative and light hearted, these hour interviews are perfect for your daily commute.

Video

Modified- This classic documentary explores body modification in all facets, from body building and plastic surgery to piercing, tattooing, and branding. Meet with some of the pioneers of different elements of our industry, and take a peek into how piercing and modification grew to be.

Flesh and Blood- this documentary follows heavy modification practitioner Steve Haworth through this life. Traveling, doing heavy modifications, and working out new and experimental procedures.

The People Who Suspend- follow suspended and film maker Lucas Larson as he explores modern body suspension around the world. From art installations, to base jumping, to ritual, learn more about the how and why we fly.

Dances Sacred and Profane- famed photographer and documentarian Charles Gatewood follows Jim Ward and Fakir Musafar to experience a chest suspension and body piercing rite and ritual. Juxtaposed with the debauchery of Mardi gras, we examine both the sacred and profane extremes of human experience.

Hellraiser- for many modification enthusiasts, the scenes of body suspension in hell easier ignited a spark that for them never went out. In speaking to numerous community members, this film is often cited as an early inspiration for piercers and suspension practitioners. Therefor, while not educational, it makes this list, and y’all can fight. Me on it.

A Man Called Horse- a captured aristocrat joins a Native American tribe, and eventually becomes one of the, taking on the name Horse. During this he participates in a chest suspension as a ritual to accept him into the tribe. CW for cultural appropriation and not aging well, this film from the 70’s still remains an important element of body modification history.

Erotic Tattoo and Body Piercing (Pt 1,2,3 and 4)- a series from Charles Gatewood, documenting various tattoo and piercing conventions and events, and the sexual side of body modification. These offer a glimpse into the history of the industry, and what the early ages of piercing and tattoo looked like.

Pierce with a Pro- These classic videos were piercing instructional pieces from the gauntlet era. While many techniques are these days outdated, they are an amazing resource for the history and evolution of piercing techniques.

Bloodsisters- During the early 1990s, San Francisco was the epicenter of body modification and gender nonconformity, with transgender pioneers like Patrick Califia and Tala Brandeis fighting for visibility, alongside the voice of a bold S/M community. Michelle Handelman’s provocative and pioneering documentary Bloodsisters captures these queer outlaws in their zeitgeist moment, shot on digital video with an unfiltered rawness that mirrors the activism of the era. From pushy bottoms to macho femmes, Bloodsisters is an A-Z documentary guide that shatters assumptions about gender and lesbian sexuality, with a heavy feature of body modification, from play piercings, active kink scenes, and a showcase of some of the coolest piercings and tattoos that the 90's had to offer.

In the late 1990s, Bloodsisters was at the heart of a censorship controversy when the NEA was up for ratification. This controversial film was attacked in congress by the American Family Association for its depictions of radical lesbian sexuality. Twenty-five years later, the film has become recognized as a treasured historical document of a movement that tore down barriers of sex, gender, and activism.

Trauma-Informed Resources

Many of us identify as Trauma-Informed Service Providers. But this title means little if we aren't continually doing the work to educate ourselves about trauma, injustice, healing, and repair. Piercing can be a healing and empowering pratice if we allow it to be, and part of that is understanding how to create a space for healing to occur. The following are suggested reading for piercers, apprentices, and FOH alike to allow them to better support their clients and peers through the rituals of body piercing.

Trauma and Recovery : "Trauma and Recovery represents the fruits of two decades of research and clinical work with victims of sexual and domestic violence. It also reflects a growing body of experience with many other traumatized people, particularly combat veterans and the victims of political terror. This is a book about restoring connections: between the public and private worlds, between the individual and community, between men and women. It is a book about commonalities: between rape survivors and combat veterans, between battered women and political prisoners, between the survivors of vast concentration camps created by tyrants who rule nations and the survivors of small, hidden concentration camps created by tyrants who rule their homes. The research sources for this book include my own earlier studies of incest survivors and my more recent study of the role of childhood trauma in the condition known as borderline personality disorder. This book appears at a time when public discussion of the common atrocities of sexual and domestic life has been made possible by the women's movement, and when public discussion of the common atrocities of political life has been made possible by the movement for human rights. I expect the book to be controversial—first, because it is written from a feminist perspective; second, because it challenges established diagnostic concepts; but third and perhaps most importantly, because it speaks about horrible things, things that no one really wants to hear about." Publishers Description

The Body Keeps Score: "Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal—and offers new hope for reclaiming lives." Publishers Description

Big CW for this book as it does not warn you about graphic depictions of rape and violent acts. The book is widely regarded as having some beneficial insight and being helpful for many survivors while also containing problematic depictions of trama, justifying crimes committed during war, and often glossing over female and queer experiences of trauma. I debated including it on this list becuase of some of the problems with its content, but ultimately decided to becuase of how many people this book has helped and many of the beneficial teachings in it. If you want a primer to trauma I much prefer Trauma nd Recovery, but if you want to expand your practice, this is another ok place to start as long as you go into it a bit skeptical of the author and his goals.

On Repentance and Repair: "American culture focuses on letting go of grudges and redemption narratives instead of the perpetrator’s obligations or recompense for harmed parties. As survivor communities have pointed out, these emphases have too often only caused more harm. But Danya Ruttenberg knew there was a better model, rooted in the work of the medieval philosopher Maimonides.

For Maimonides, upon whose work Ruttenberg elaborates, forgiveness is much less important than the repair work to which the person who caused harm is obligated. The word traditionally translated as repentance really means something more like return, and in this book, returning is a restoration, as much as is possible, to the victim, and, for the perpetrator of harm, a coming back, in humility and intentionality, to behaving as the person we might like to believe we are.

Maimonides laid out five steps: naming and owning harm; starting to change/transformation; restitution and accepting consequences; apology; and making different choices. Applying this lens to both our personal relationships and some of the most significant and painful issues of our day, including systemic racism and the legacy of enslavement, sexual violence and harassment in the wake of #MeToo, and Native American land rights, On Repentance and Repair helps us envision a way forward." Publishers Description

This book was suggested to me by a peer and it's no exaggeration to say it changed my life. Harm is part of our realities, we will all be harmed and cause harm at some point in our lives, both professionally and personally. This book helps create a path forward to heal from that harm, and allows us to embrace growth and transformation. I'd like to believe many of our client interactions and most of our industry interactions would probably go a lot smoother if we all read this one.