Hole-ier Than Thou

When plugs first began appearing in my pop culture periphery about 5 years ago, they were the sort of fad that sent anthropology students like myself (at the time) into either cries of cultural appropriation or head-scratching confusion. Like infamous "white dreads" before them, they were a strange steal from National Geographic worn by privileged, middle-class tribal punk kids. They didn't bother me, but I did think they looked silly on pretty much everyone, and figured they'd go away soon enough, thereby opening up a niche field of earlobe re-elasticizing plastic surgery.

I think, as with so many other trends like it, that I got used to seeing plugs around, in every size, material, and on everyone, of every gender and color. Eventually, they became as divorced from context for me as septum piercings or suspension fetishists. Probably due to getting to know many perfectly sane, unpretentious people who have them, I no longer find them as offensive to the eye as I once did. In fact, I am willing to concede that plugs do, in fact, look good on some people. (I am not willing to concede in part on the dreadlocks issue, particularly in the case of blondes.)

Plugs are quite beautiful on their own, as aesthetic objects. Being, at heart, an Aesthetic cushioned by my militant secular humanism, I have admired many pairs online and under the glass countertops of tattoo parlors. Swirled or marbled blown glass in psychedelic colors is passé; it reminds me of the pipes kids at my undergrad used to buy from the local head shop. If you're going to put big holes in your ears, then have a good time with it, I say.

For 00g wearers who are fans of classic horror films, classic art, or who just plain want to be classy with their plugs, Mystic Metals Jewelry has some beautiful designs. In addition, they cater to proud geeks with the Empire/Rebel Alliance logos, the Zelda TriForce, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and the Umbrella Corp, among other offerings. They also carry a line of dangling picture earrings for those less…hole-y. Below, some of my personal favorites:

BMA Mod(ified) on Etsy has plugs with more of a graphic design feel. Specialities include china patterns, mod looks, and even some Banksy. They have a wide range of sizes, and might be worth a look for people who are stretching.

Why let the modernists have all the fun, though? Ark's Endeavors plugs into the Steamworld with ladylike cameo plugs.




As with any other body adornment, sometimes a cheat is necessary. I have not, and will not be stretching my ears. This was me today:

Determined to continue worrying my mother through optical trickery*, I have found a number of places that sell pin-style fake plugs for the unstretched among us. My reason for not stretching is not fear of social stigma; I already have several large and (somewhat) visible tattoos. For me, it's a health issue, since every piercing I've ever had (even the ones that I've kept) has gotten infected despite my meticulous care. It's not metals or cleanliness, just sensitivity, and a truth about plugs is that they are a large opening in your body, and highly susceptible to infection. If you're thinking about stretching your lobes, do it slowly, and do your research. Talk to friends that have them, ask around piercing places, and read some of the helpful guides out there on the internet. Or, go to TribalStyle http://www.etsy.com/shop/TribalStyle, and fake it until you make it.

*The story behind this comment is that I once got off a plane flight to see my parents, and promptly forgot I was wearing fake plugs. When my sister and father met me at baggage, they both immediately put on distressed expressions. "Those aren't real, are they???" my mother said later. It's nice to know I still have some way of rebellion left open to me.