Droit et Cultures (Oct 2020)
Mutilations ou perfectionnements ? Processus de naturalisation des modifications corporelles : un regard anthropologique
Abstract
The article shows the contribution of the anthropological approach regarding body modification practices that exist in many societies. Ethnographic exploration, highlighting the variability of the symbolic value of the practices and the development of critical reflection on the ideas used to interpret bodily markings are some of these anthropological contributions. It is a question of arriving at a «decentralized» and comparative view of operations, in order to identify where «naturalization» takes place. Body operations always have a double value, constructive and mutilating. It therefore seems appropriate to learn to recognize this double value, beyond the «naturalization» of operations on the body. The boundary between «mutilations» or «improvements» is mobile by definition, since it varies according to the point of view, whether inside or outside the society or group. It is also important to remember that this variability depends on contingent situations of power or cultural or religious hegemony.
