Scarification

After researching into Azog, I became interested in the idea of perhaps incorporating some form of scarification into the character of the Hunter Orc as I felt that this was one element of Azog's appearance that made him seem particularly fierce and dominating. Before I had even had a chance to suggest this to Charlie, however, he sent me a message saying that he had had his own thoughts about the appearance of the Hunter Orc and now wanted him to look a little wilder than the character of Lurtz, with some form of tribal body markings. When I suggested the idea of incorporating the elements of scarification he seemed very happy with this, so I began furthering my research.

African Tribal Culture

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Scarification is very popular within African cultures, not purely for it's aesthetic elements but also to serve a functional purpose; indicating lineage, families and social or religious status. Standard scarification is done by using a sharp object to cut into the skin, ideally to create a raised keloid scar. There are, however, more complex and gruesome methods of scarification, including cicatrisation which involves making an initial cut and then irritating the wound by applying caustic plant juices that form permanent blisters. These blisters are often rubbed with charcoal or gunpowder to make them stand out further.
Scarification is often used in tribal cultures to indicate a rite of passage for both men and women. For women in particular the purposes of scarification are vast, often undertaken at key stages in their lives such as reaching puberty or getting married. It is said that these scars make the women appear more appealing to men as they are interesting to touch as well as look at. It also proves to potential male suitors that the woman has a high pain threshold and can therefore withstand the pain of childbirth.

For men, the purposes of scarification vary from tribe to tribe and country to country. In Papau New Guinea's Sepik region they believe that human's were created by crocodiles. Hence, scarification is used to initiate young boys to become men; slicing their check, back and buttocks with bamboo to test strength and self discipline. The scars that remain are symbolic of the teeth marks of a crocodile. For the Karo tribe of Ethiopia, men scar their chests to represent the killing of enemies from other tribes. The Maori tribesmen of New Zealand etched deep tattoos across their entire faces to make them appear fiercer in battle.

Modern, Western Scarification

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Scarification is also very popular within Western cultures as a more extreme part of the craze for body modification. Similarly to African cultures it is often used to mark a rite of passage in a person's life and is said to open up the borders of the body.
Scarification is especially popular amongst women who have suffered some form of sexual trauma, whether that be molestation, rape, incest, etc. It can be seen as a way to reclaiming authority over one's own body and sexuality. The following quotes have been made by women partaking in scarification, regarding their reasoning behind their decisions:

"A physical manifestation of my experience would be a mental and spiritual release."

"...ritualised marking symbolically revokes former claims on the body - those of victimisation, patriarchy and control - and so is deeply meaningful."

Some woman, however, undertake scarification for totally different reasons, such as wanting to break away from and reject the pressures of cultural standards of beauty and what is considered to be 'normal'. This is a view shared by some members of the gay community who regard body modification as "defiant self-exile" in order to reflect their standing outside of the sex and gender mainstream as a modified body can no longer live a 'nor

malised' life. It is also an act of defiance in refusing to give up any pleasures that may offend the mainstream.

Homo-erotic body modification received a lot of publicity in the 1990s when public cuttings were popular. Their was uproar at the realisation that some of the men participating in these cuttings were HIV positive and were therefore somehow endangering their audiences. There was much ambiguity regarding the legality of homo-erotic body modification and a number of tattooist, piercers and cutters were prosecuted for assault, despite the fact that all of their 'victims' argued that they were consenting adults. In 1995 a judge eventually ruled that body modification for decorative purposes would remain legal, however, body modification performed for erotically would be deemed illegal.