On Teenagers And Tattoos Andres Martin Summary

Many adults view tattoos as a negative aspect on the skin of an individual. Some may argue that “they are too young” to understand the concept of permanence. Despite the arguments of adults, the idea of obtaining a tattoo seems to attract more and more teenagers. In today’s society it has become common to witness tattoos on the skin of many individuals. At their short age, teenagers, become fascinated by the idea of a tattoo, not only because of the looks, but also because of how it makes them feel. In the article “On Teenagers and Tattoos,” by Andres Martin, an assistant professor of child psychiatry at the Yale Child Study Center in New Haven, Connecticut, attempts to persuade his fellow child psychiatrists to think about tattoos as

an opportunity to get to know their patients. Throughout his piece, Martin describes tattoos as a mark of individuality that allows teenagers to express themselves.
Over the course of the years, the cultural status of tattoos has undergone many changes amongst society.

Tattoos have become a “magnetic appeal” to teenagers, while they also become “battleground with adults” (Martin, 2001, p. 143). In the article “On Teenagers and Tattoos,” by Andres Martin, the author explains that by exploring the “complex psychological underpinnings of youth tattooing,” adults are able to understand teenagers better (Martin, 2001, p. 143). Initially, the author states that tattoos “can offer a concrete and readily available solution for many of the identity crises and conflicts normative to adolescent development” (Martin, 2001, p. 143). Tattoos, according to Martin, provide adolescents with a sense of uniqueness along with a sense of control during a time of change in their lives. Moreover, tattoos are far more than “memorials or recipients for dearly held persons or concepts…” they are the only “ongoing memento of a relationship” (Martin, 2001, 144). These marks strive for incorporation, becoming a permanent mark on an individual’s skin, along with providing evidence that something ever existed. Furthermore, tattoos can “promise permanence and stability” (Martin, 2001, 144). A sense of stability can be derived from tattoos, while the world around keeps changing. Exploring the significance behind the marks on a teenager’s skin, can help resolve differences and gain a sense of understanding of an adolescent’s way of

thinking.
The article “On Teenagers and Tattoos,” by Andres Martin is an expository article examining the psychological positions of teenagers on tattoos, which have become a “battleground” between adults and teenagers who are in a stage of development (Martin, 2001, p. 143). The audience that Andres Martin addresses are child psychiatrists who are making an attempt of understanding how tattoos help adolescents identify themselves. The audience, being people with professional studies, would expect for Andres Martin’s work to be thoroughly researched providing a strong sense of knowledge. The expectations of the audience would also include, for the article to be based primarily on facts with supporting evidence. I believe the author was able to meet the expectations, the audience held. Andres Martin was able to provide his audience with researched facts and evidence, in the form of two descriptions of Andres Martin’s patients. Throughout his work, Martin maintained a high level of formality, and was able to connect to his readers. As an experienced professor of child psychiatry, other psychiatrist may seek his opinion to help clarify possible doubts. Andres Martin is able to connect to his readers, and maintain a high level of formality by limiting his use of first person point of view. Martin states that “…we may not only arrive at a position to pass more reasoned clinical judgement, but become sensitized though our patients’ skin to another level of their internal reality.” This may serve a good base for other psychiatrists to feel a connection with the writer. All in all, Andres Martin’s is highly informative and is able to provide child psychiatrists with knowledge about the reasoning behind teenagers and tattoos.

The use of figurative language, in a piece of work, can help an author connect to the reader more effectively. A metaphor, is a figure of speech that uses one thing to mean another, while making a comparison between the two things. An analogy, on the other hand, is a comparison between two different things, the goal being to show a similarity. These two form of comparisons help a reader see something in terms of somethings else, serving as a lens. In most cases, people make decisions based on what they feel, or how they think. In a persuasive essay, different forms of comparison can help appeal to a reader emotionally and logically.
In the article “On Teenagers and Tattoos,” Andres Martin, appeals to the audience through his use of comparisons.

Martin compares tattoos to a “… “Keep Out” sign hanging from a teenager’s door” (Martin, 2001, p. 143). It is evident that the image tattoos initially create, is not positive which may result in adults rejecting the adolescent. This comparison can help the reader, a child psychiatrist, understand how adults view teenagers with tattoos and further develop ways to change this view that can undermine these adolescents. In my opinion, the comparison made Andres Martin is persuasive to a child psychiatrist because it appeals directly to the emotions of the reader. Martin is convincing, in the idea that psychiatrists should “… become sensitized through our patients’ skins to another level of their internal reality” (Martin, 2001, p.

150).