REVIEW OF THE CUSTOMISED BODY BY TED POLHEMUS In The Customized Body Housk Randall and I sought to present a comprehensive analysis of not only how, but why, human beings have, throughout their history, modified their appearance. While body decoration has long held great popular appeal, unfortunately, most anthropologists have seen it as a trivial and superficial subject unworthy of serious attention. [But see the bibliography of The Customized Body for some important exceptions.] What I tried to focus on in the text for this book is the extent to which the decorated body resides at the vortex of human nature: that we and we alone as a species transform our own appearance not only sets us apart, it gives us key tools for both personal and social expression. While a wide range of contemporary photographers have taken the decorated body as their subject, few have captured its power or beauty as Housk Randall did in the photographs presented here. Unfortunately the tribal origins of body decoration could only be reported in this work by drawings generously provided by the (under-rated) artist Joe Brocklehurst. Had we been able to include photographs of the extraordinary body arts practised by traditional peoples the historical depth and significance of this art form would have been more visually evident. Unfortunately too, as many of the photographs are explicit and erotic, the book has often been deemed inappropriate for young readers. My more recent book Body Art (Element Children’s Books, 1998) tries to rectify this problem - but, in my view, the illustrations are often too jokey to capture the beauty and appeal of traditional forms of body decoration. Maybe someday I will have the time, energy and opportunity to produce a book which is suitable for all types of readers and which in terms of images as well as text is historically and anthropologically comprehensive. (To date the closest thing we have to such a work is Desmond Morris’ Bodywatching (Grafton Books, 1987) which suffers from Morris’ inability to grasp the social and cultural complexities of human nature.) Despite such quibbles, The Customized Body offers a stimulating and (thanks to Housk Randall and Jo Brocklehurst) beautiful guide to human body decoration and adornment. I’m pleased to report, therefore, that its publishers - Serpent’s Tail - have seen fit to produce a second edition in 2000. As in any good marriage, the text and photography are distinctive in their approach but they merge perfectly together in their admiration for those individuals - both ancient or contemporary - who have stretched the possibilities of physical expression. The Customized Body, Ted Polhemus & Housk Randall, Serpent’s Tail, London, 2000, £15.99/$ 25.00 USA - Ted Polhemus