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Needs a valid reference to be included. Source is dated post-death and contains none of the information it claims. Shannon's only mention of self-censorship of his tattoos can be found here: http://www.zentastic.com/blog/2008/08/05/self-censorship/
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{{short description|Canadian editor and publisher}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Original research|date=October 2015}}
{{primary sources|date=April 2022}}
{{primary sources|date=October 2015}}
{{COI|date=October 2015}}
}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Shannon Larratt
| name = Shannon Larratt
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| nationality =
| nationality =
| other_names =
| other_names =
| spouse = Rachel Larratt (divorced)
| family = [[Devon Larratt]] (brother)
| occupation = [[Editing|Editor]], [[publisher]], [[writer]]
| occupation = [[Editing|Editor]], [[publisher]], [[writer]]
| known_for =
| known_for =
}}
}}


'''Shannon Larratt''' (September 29, 1973 – March 15, 2013) was the creator, former editor and publisher of [[BME (website)|BMEzine]], an [[online magazine]] noted for coverage of extreme [[body modification]]s. He published several books, including ''ModCon: The Secret World Of Extreme Body Modification''. He was also an artist, computer programmer, film producer and business owner.
'''Shannon David Larratt''' (September 29, 1973 – March 15, 2013) was a Canadian writer and artist. Larratt was best known as the creator, editor, and publisher of [[BME (website)|BMEzine]], an [[online magazine]] focusing on extreme [[body modification]]s. The author of multiple books, Larratt was also known for writing openly about his experiences with mental illness and drug abuse.


== Early life and education ==
⚫
==BMEzine==
Shannon David Larratt was born in [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]], [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]] on September 29, 1973. His brother is a professional armwrestler, [[Devon Larratt]]. Larratt wrote publicly about his father's mental illness causing danger to those around him, which would parallel his own later experiences with mental health.<ref name="father">[http://www.zentastic.me/blog/2001/10/20/its-uploading-have-patience/ Zentastic.me]</ref> Larratt wrote in 2002 that his father faced restraining orders by multiple neighbors and family members.<ref name=":3" />
Larratt founded ''BMEzine'' in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artpolitic.org/Interviews-Shannon-Larratt.bodymod-interview.0.html |title=Art Politic = Interview with Shannon Larratt |publisher=Artpolitic.org |date= |accessdate=2013-05-04}}</ref> In 2002 he was the host of the first of several "BME Pain Olympics" [[viral video]]s showing [[cock and ball torture]]. There were conflicting testimonies as to whether the video was real or spoofed but it was eventually revealed to be a hoax.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bmezine.com/2009/09/23/oh-balls/ |title=Oh, Balls &#124; BME: Tattoo, Piercing and Body Modification News |publisher=News.bmezine.com |date=2009-09-23 |accessdate=2013-05-04}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}


In middle school Shannon produced a video titled ''SUCKMORD'', which was largely a collage of his work and which centered on themes surrounding death.<ref>{{YouTube|keF7nkB1Abg|Suckmord}}</ref> His high consumption of psychedelic drugs during this period was likely connected to his later psychiatric issues.<ref name=":1" /> In his final year of high school, he claimed to have been allowed to use [[LSD]] by a teacher, while creating an art project that incorporated his own blood.<ref name=":2" />
⚫
In September 2007, there were issues over the ownership of ''BMEzine''. Larratt claimed to be locked out of ''BMEzine'', IAM, and his personal blog, ''Zentastic''.<ref>{{cite web |title=ModBlog - Betrayal |url=http://news.bmezine.com/2007/09/27/betrayal/ |archiveurl=http://scotgate.org/2007/09/27/modblog-betrayal/ |date=2007-09-27 |archivedate=2007-09-27 |work=Modblog |publisher=BMEzine.com |accessdate=18 August 2009}}</ref>


Though Larratt claimed to have begun attending university on a full scholarship,<ref name=":1">[http://www.zentastic.me/blog/2001/09/30/stories/ Zentastic.me]</ref> he dropped out after the first year.<ref name=":2">[http://www.zentastic.me/blog/2007/03/05/does-that-make-me-a-legend/ Zentastic.me]</ref>
⚫
In May 2008 Laratt posted on BME's blog that he would no longer be working at BMEzine, and that ownership of BMEzine would be transferred to his ex-wife, Rachel Larratt.<ref>{{cite web |title=So Long And Thanks For All The Fish |url=http://modblog.bmezine.com/2008/05/14/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/ |date=2008-05-14 |work=Modblog |publisher=BMEzine.com |accessdate=18 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inkedmag.com/inked-people/rachel-larratt/ |title=Rachel Larratt |publisher=Inked Mag |date= |accessdate=2013-05-04}}</ref> In August 2012, he began writing for ModBlog once again.


== Career ==
⚫
==Personal life and other projects==
⚫
=== BMEzine ===
Shannon lived in [[Toronto|Toronto, Ontario]], [[Canada]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}}
Larratt founded ''BMEzine'' in 1994.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.artpolitic.org/Interviews-Shannon-Larratt.bodymod-interview.0.html |title=Art Politic = Interview with Shannon Larratt |publisher=Artpolitic.org |accessdate=2013-05-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221230552/http://www.artpolitic.org/Interviews-Shannon-Larratt.bodymod-interview.0.html |archivedate=2012-02-21 }}</ref> In 2002 he was the host of the first of several "BME Pain Olympics", [[viral video]]s showing various clips of [[cock and ball torture]].


⚫
In September 2007, there were issues over the ownership of ''BMEzine''. Larratt claimed to be locked out of ''BMEzine'', IAM, and his personal blog, ''Zentastic''.<ref>{{cite web |title=ModBlog - Betrayal |url=http://news.bmezine.com/2007/09/27/betrayal/ |date=2007-09-27 |work=Modblog |publisher=BMEzine.com |accessdate=18 August 2009}}{{dead link|date=May 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} [http://scotgate.org/2007/09/27/modblog-betrayal/ Alt URL]</ref>
Shannon's mother (and others) decided he was 'crazy' and he was eventually labeled dangerously schizophrenic and institutionalized against his will. Given the options of having to take his prescriptions or being locked up again he attempted suicide by overdosing on a mix of tranquilizers and dopamine-altering drugs. He survived after a week-long coma even though his breathing had failed before help arrived. He claimed "their attempt to break me had stolen my memory and damaged other parts of my brain" and he credits body modification for helping to "heal some of the damage that was done to me."<ref name=":0">[http://www.zentastic.com/blog/2004/06/06/interview-2/ Zentastic.com]</ref>


⚫
In May 2008 Laratt posted on BME's blog that he would no longer be working at BMEzine, and that ownership of BMEzine would be transferred to his ex-wife, Rachel Larratt.<ref>{{cite web |title=So Long And Thanks For All The Fish |url=http://modblog.bmezine.com/2008/05/14/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/ |date=2008-05-14 |work=Modblog |publisher=BMEzine.com |accessdate=18 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inkedmag.com/inked-people/rachel-larratt/ |title=Rachel Larratt |publisher=Inked Mag |date= |accessdate=2013-05-04}}</ref> In August 2012, he began writing for ModBlog once again.
In high school Shannon produced a video (with Greg Yardley) titled "SUCKMORD" for the "Hardplains Drifter Society" which is a collage of his work with clips from other sources tossed in; the plot centers around how people deal with death.<ref>{{YouTube|keF7nkB1Abg|Suckmord}}</ref> He spent his senior year "doing massive amounts of psychedelic drugs and pouring that into my art — it nearly killed me and I still suffer psychiatric effects from it, but I believe that I produced some truly profound works and learned a great deal about myself and the world around me."<ref name=":1" /> His final year's art project "was largely on the effects of LSD on painting and sculpture, with a secondary focus on blood art, so I actually did acid at school while working on the project for the entire semester, under teacher “supervision”."<ref name=":2" />

Shannon attended university on a full scholarship for doing his 'art' and considered all other kinds of art "really nothing but visual masturbation."<ref name=":1">[http://www.zentastic.com/blog/2001/09/30/stories/ Zentastic.com]</ref> Part of his first year of university was spent "not only planning, but actually poisoning my performance art class (it's a long story that I'll tell later). Even though it got me a serious talking to and the board of the university did debate my fate, the end result was an A grade and a great deal of respect from my professor. I suspect though that if I were in school in 2001 instead of 1992, I'd be in jail instead of where I am now.<ref name=":1" />" He dropped out of college after the first year, "preferring dealing drugs and stealing to going to school".<ref name=":2">[http://www.zentastic.com/blog/2007/03/05/does-that-make-me-a-legend/ Zentastic.com]</ref>

Several years later the shame, disappointment and added pressure from his parents pushed him to "the point of a nervous breakdown."<ref name=":3">[http://www.zentastic.com/blog/2002/06/06/that-hypocrite-smokes-two-packs-a-day/ Zentastic.com]</ref> His mother then 'forced' him to see doctors who diagnosed him as “schizophrenic”.<ref name=":3" /> He then went on to successfully re-launch a telephony company with a friend (the previous pre-medicated attempt proved too stressful for Shannon), and he also attended the University of Toronto for computer science for a year.<ref name=":3" />

On October 21, 2001, Shannon blogged "I'm extremely angry and extremely hostile and sociopathic and probably quite dangerous when it comes down to it. At the same time though, I grew up seeing a father that was the same, and have spent twenty years developing coping mechanisms that stop me from being like him."<ref>[http://www.zentastic.com/blog/2001/10/20/its-uploading-have-patience/ Zentastic.com]</ref> Shannon believed in following a “stay calm” mantra that on October 14, 2006 he had tattooed on the inside of his fingers as a reminder.<ref>[http://www.zentastic.com/blog/2006/10/14/back-from-king-of-fools/ Zentastic.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.zentastic.com/blog/2013/02/25/touched-by-his-noodly-appendage/ Zentastic.com]</ref>

In 2002 Shannon announced "my father has publicly gone totally crazy and most of my family and even some neighbors have restraining orders against him."<ref name=":3" />


⚫
== Personal life ==
=== Mental health ===
Having seen the consequences of his father's mental illness on the family, Larratt made finding coping mechanisms a priority.<ref name="father" /> Following a nervous breakdown,<ref name=":3">[http://www.zentastic.me/blog/2002/06/06/that-hypocrite-smokes-two-packs-a-day/ Zentastic.me]</ref> he was diagnosed with [[schizophrenia]], leading to him being [[Commitment (mental health)|institutionalized]]. The diagnosis would later be disputed by another doctor.<ref name=":0">[http://www.zentastic.me/blog/2004/06/06/interview-2/ Zentastic.me]</ref>


=== Death ===
In 2010, Shannon was diagnosed with tubular aggregate [[myopathy]], a rare muscle disease.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zentastic.com/blog/2010/10/22/finally-its-firm/ |title=Shannon Larratt is Zentastic " Finally it’s firm!!! |publisher=Zentastic.com |date=|accessdate=2013-05-04}}</ref> On March 15, 2013, it was posted on the BMEzine blog that Larratt had died.<ref name="ripshannon">{{cite news|title=RIP Shannon Larratt 1973-2013|url=http://news.bme.com/2013/03/15/rip-shannon-larratt-1973-2013/|newspaper=BMEzine|date=15 March 2013}}</ref>
In 2010, Larratt was diagnosed with tubular aggregate [[myopathy]], a rare muscle disease.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zentastic.me/blog/2010/10/22/finally-its-firm/ |title=Shannon Larratt is Zentastic " Finally it's firm!!! |publisher=Zentastic.me|date=|accessdate=2013-05-04}}</ref> Larratt died in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], where he had been living, on March 15, 2013.<ref name="ripshannon">{{cite news|title=RIP Shannon Larratt 1973-2013|url=http://news.bme.com/2013/03/15/rip-shannon-larratt-1973-2013/|newspaper=BMEzine|date=15 March 2013}}</ref>


== In popular culture ==
==Media appearances==
* Shannon had appeared in and written for magazines and newspapers around the world, including the front cover of the premiere issue of the British magazine, ''Bizarre'', as well as ''BURST'' and ''BUBKA'' in Japan, ''VideoText Journal'', ''[[Wired (magazine)|WIRED]]'', io9'', ''Tattoo Savage'', ''The Gargoyle'', ''The Picture'', ''Piercing Bible'', ''Stuff'', ''Fetish'', ''Friday'', ''GQ'', ''Details'', ''DS'', ''Fashion Theory'', ''CyberZone'', ''Biba'', ''Unity'', ''Tatowier'', ''Nyan2club'', ''Skin&Ink'', ''NetGuide'', ''the Net'', ''Playgirl'', and others.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}}
* Shannon appeared in and written for magazines and newspapers around the world, including the front cover of the premiere issue of the British magazine, ''Bizarre'', as well as ''BURST'' and ''BUBKA'' in Japan, ''VideoText Journal'', ''[[Wired (magazine)|WIRED]]'', io9'', ''Tattoo Savage'', ''The Gargoyle'', ''The Picture'', ''Piercing Bible'', ''Stuff'', ''Fetish'', ''Friday'', ''GQ'', ''Details'', ''DS'', ''Fashion Theory'', ''CyberZone'', ''Biba'', ''Unity'', ''Tatowier'', ''Nyan2club'', ''Skin&Ink'', ''NetGuide'', ''the Net'', ''Playgirl'', and others.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}}
* Shannon had appeared on several television and radio shows including TLC, Discovery Channel, Richler Ink, and more.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}}
* Shannon appeared on several television and radio shows including TLC, Discovery Channel, Richler Ink, and more.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}}
* Shannon appears in the intro to the ''[[Clerks II]]'' film (playing "Ear Guy"), along with his ex-wife Rachel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424345/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast | title=Clerks II (2006) - Full Cast & Crew |publisher=imdb.om |date= |accessdate=2014-03-09}}</ref>
* Shannon appears in the intro to the ''[[Clerks II]]'' film (playing "Ear Guy"), along with his ex-wife Rachel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424345/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast | title=Clerks II (2006) - Full Cast & Crew |publisher=imdb.om |date= |accessdate=2014-03-09}}</ref>


==Books==
== Bibliography ==
* ''I Am The Strength Of Art'', with portraits by Philip Barbosa. 1999.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}}
* ''I Am The Strength Of Art'' (1999; with portraits by Philip Barbosa)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shannon Larratt, Founder of BME Commits Suicide |website=Bad Cripple |last=Peace |first=William |date=March 16, 2013 |url=http://badcripple.blogspot.com/2013/03/shannon-larratt-founder-of-bme-commits.html |access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref>
* ''ModCon: The Secret World of Extreme Body Modification'', with portraits by Philip Barbosa. 2002 (ISBN 0973008008 )
* ''ModCon: The Secret World of Extreme Body Modification'' (2002; with portraits by Philip Barbosa)<ref>{{Cite book|isbn = 0973008008|title = Modcon: The Secret World of Extreme Body Modification|last1 = Larratt|first1 = Shannon|year = 2002}}</ref>
* ''Opening Up: Body Modification Interviews 1995-2008''. 2008, (ASIN B00262W3XW){{Citation needed|date=April 2013}}
* ''Opening Up: Body Modification Interviews 1995-2008'' (2008)<ref>{{ASIN|B00262W3XW}}</ref>
* ''MEET TOMMY: An Exploration of Private Body Modification and Play''. 2012<ref>[http://www.zentastic.com/blog/meet-tommy/ Zentastic.com]</ref>
* ''MEET TOMMY: An Exploration of Private Body Modification and Play'' (2012)<ref>[http://www.zentastic.me/blog/meet-tommy/ Zentastic.me]</ref>


==References==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
== External links ==
{{commons category}}
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.zentastic.com Shannon Larratt's blog]
*[http://www.zentastic.me Shannon Larratt's blog]
*{{IMDb name|2277474}}
*{{IMDb name|2277474}}


Latest revision as of 07:13, 13 March 2023

Shannon Larratt
Born(1973-09-29)September 29, 1973
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
DiedMarch 15, 2013(2013-03-15) (aged 39)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation(s)Editor, publisher, writer
SpouseRachel Larratt (divorced)
FamilyDevon Larratt (brother)

Shannon David Larratt (September 29, 1973 – March 15, 2013) was a Canadian writer and artist. Larratt was best known as the creator, editor, and publisher of BMEzine, an online magazine focusing on extreme body modifications. The author of multiple books, Larratt was also known for writing openly about his experiences with mental illness and drug abuse.

Early life and education

[edit]

Shannon David Larratt was born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on September 29, 1973. His brother is a professional armwrestler, Devon Larratt. Larratt wrote publicly about his father's mental illness causing danger to those around him, which would parallel his own later experiences with mental health.[1] Larratt wrote in 2002 that his father faced restraining orders by multiple neighbors and family members.[2]

In middle school Shannon produced a video titled SUCKMORD, which was largely a collage of his work and which centered on themes surrounding death.[3] His high consumption of psychedelic drugs during this period was likely connected to his later psychiatric issues.[4] In his final year of high school, he claimed to have been allowed to use LSD by a teacher, while creating an art project that incorporated his own blood.[5]

Though Larratt claimed to have begun attending university on a full scholarship,[4] he dropped out after the first year.[5]

Career

[edit]

BMEzine

[edit]

Larratt founded BMEzine in 1994.[6] In 2002 he was the host of the first of several "BME Pain Olympics", viral videos showing various clips of cock and ball torture.

In September 2007, there were issues over the ownership of BMEzine. Larratt claimed to be locked out of BMEzine, IAM, and his personal blog, Zentastic.[7]

In May 2008 Laratt posted on BME's blog that he would no longer be working at BMEzine, and that ownership of BMEzine would be transferred to his ex-wife, Rachel Larratt.[8][9] In August 2012, he began writing for ModBlog once again.

Personal life

[edit]

Mental health

[edit]

Having seen the consequences of his father's mental illness on the family, Larratt made finding coping mechanisms a priority.[1] Following a nervous breakdown,[2] he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, leading to him being institutionalized. The diagnosis would later be disputed by another doctor.[10]

Death

[edit]

In 2010, Larratt was diagnosed with tubular aggregate myopathy, a rare muscle disease.[11] Larratt died in Toronto, Ontario, where he had been living, on March 15, 2013.[12]

[edit]
  • Shannon appeared in and written for magazines and newspapers around the world, including the front cover of the premiere issue of the British magazine, Bizarre, as well as BURST and BUBKA in Japan, VideoText Journal, WIRED, io9, Tattoo Savage, The Gargoyle, The Picture, Piercing Bible, Stuff, Fetish, Friday, GQ, Details, DS, Fashion Theory, CyberZone, Biba, Unity, Tatowier, Nyan2club, Skin&Ink, NetGuide, the Net, Playgirl, and others.[citation needed]
  • Shannon appeared on several television and radio shows including TLC, Discovery Channel, Richler Ink, and more.[citation needed]
  • Shannon appears in the intro to the Clerks II film (playing "Ear Guy"), along with his ex-wife Rachel.[13]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • I Am The Strength Of Art (1999; with portraits by Philip Barbosa)[14]
  • ModCon: The Secret World of Extreme Body Modification (2002; with portraits by Philip Barbosa)[15]
  • Opening Up: Body Modification Interviews 1995-2008 (2008)[16]
  • MEET TOMMY: An Exploration of Private Body Modification and Play (2012)[17]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Zentastic.me
  2. ^ a b Zentastic.me
  3. ^ Suckmord on YouTube
  4. ^ a b Zentastic.me
  5. ^ a b Zentastic.me
  6. ^ "Art Politic = Interview with Shannon Larratt". Artpolitic.org. Archived from the original on 2012-02-21. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
  7. ^ "ModBlog - Betrayal". Modblog. BMEzine.com. 2007-09-27. Retrieved 18 August 2009.[dead link‍] Alt URL
  8. ^ "So Long And Thanks For All The Fish". Modblog. BMEzine.com. 2008-05-14. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  9. ^ "Rachel Larratt". Inked Mag. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
  10. ^ Zentastic.me
  11. ^ "Shannon Larratt is Zentastic " Finally it's firm!!!". Zentastic.me. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
  12. ^ "RIP Shannon Larratt 1973-2013". BMEzine. 15 March 2013.
  13. ^ "Clerks II (2006) - Full Cast & Crew". imdb.om. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  14. ^ Peace, William (March 16, 2013). "Shannon Larratt, Founder of BME Commits Suicide". Bad Cripple. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  15. ^ Larratt, Shannon (2002). Modcon: The Secret World of Extreme Body Modification. ISBN 0973008008.
  16. ^ ASIN B00262W3XW
  17. ^ Zentastic.me
[edit]
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