China
In China, two common forms of cultural body modification include skin lightening and eye-lid surgery. Since Chinese medicine has always emphasized the importance of maintaining a pure body with no incisions, body modification has not upheld a long and illustrious history in China. However, with the formation of new beauty ideals including lighter skin (which symbolizes wealth) and double eyelids (which makes the eyes appear larger to the viewer), China has learned to embrace technology and body modification. Many of these new Western-style practices were adopted from Japanese practitioners who have been developing their expertise for countless decades (Briggs, 131).
In this room, I will have stations set up where those who do not have double eyelids can actually get their eyelids taped to simulate the look. Since this does not engage audience members who already have double eyelids, I will also have skin lightening cream samples for visitors to try. The results won’t be instantaneous, but it will show them that the cream (which is pretty much just lotion) is not that different from our habits of darkening our skin.
