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Cultural phenomena of tattooing
Symbolism
Tattoo in culture and society
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Society’s outlook on “what’s in” changes every day, from what’s hot to what’s not. Fads repeat themselves over time and grow to be something that everyone now loves. Tattoos are the main trending thing of this century. They were once only a symbolism for criminals, sailors, prostitutes, and bikers, but now tattooing is mainstream in today’s times. Tattoos are seen as works of arts and your body is the canvas for aspiring tattoo artist. Nowadays there is such a wide variety of tattoos with different meanings, such as, a hand print of a loved one to someone’s favorite quote or bible verse. Some tattoos don’t always have to have meaning behind it. Anyone can decorate their body simply because they want meaningless, but artsy and funny tattoos. Inking up is becoming a significant part of someone’s life whether there is a meaning behind the tattoo or not, it is a growing thing to do and it doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. In the 19th century sailors would get them as a souvenir of a distant voyage they had gone on, as well as, a proof of identity and manhood. They took tattoos ...
In the beginning of the article, Martin explains that teenagers usually pursue tattoos from an influence or even in an effort to confirm affiliation or identity (Martin, 1). He then compares the standpoints of the adolescents and parents. Adolescents tend to get tattoos or piercings for the look and feel of it, while parents feel that their child receiving a piercing or tattoo as a threat to their authority. Martin expresses how even the simplicity of piercing or tattooing skin can cause strain and arguments in families (Martin, 2). He then introduces his three main sections: Identity and the Adolescent’s Body, Incorporation and Ownership, and The Quest for Permanence. In his first section, Identity and the Adolescent’s Body, Martin explains some reasons as to why adolescents seek receiving something involving such permanence. He conveys how most teenagers seek piercing and tattooing as a refuge from an identity crisis or conflict, which are normal for youth development (Martin, 3). In Martin’s second section, Incorporation and Ownership, he explains how some adolescents receive tattoos after long thought processes; they embrace fantasy and imagination (Martin, 4). Last but not least, The Quest for Permanence. Martin explains how an anchor tattoo could mean something different for everyone. It is impossible to perceive a tattoo and know
Tattooing is not just a recent fad. Tattooing has been around for a very long time. "The current first proven incident of a tattoo dates back 4,000 years B.C. a traveler was found in Italy near Austria, preserved in the permafrost of a glacier. Carbon dating and arte facts found near him suggest that he is over 5,300 years old" (Tattoos and Design). Tattoos have been used to identify a person with a particular group or just to decorate a person's body. "Some designs are symbolic: In Japan, carp mean bravery; peonies mean good fortune" (McNab 42).
Every day, tattoos have become apart of almost everyones daily life. Wether it be simply seeing someone with some on the street, to giving hundreds of them a day. While admiring their beauty, however, many people don’t think about the history behind the practice and how they have developed over the centuries. Tattoos have been around for thousands of years. One of the earliest evidence of tattoos being practiced was from the Iceman found with tattoos from the area of the Italian and Austrian border and was carbon dated to be around 5200 years old. Matching it's time, they use long one stakes dipped in soot.
Tattoos and body modifications have been around for many generations. They first began in 3370 BC and were used by Europeans and Egyptians. Both tattoos and body modifications are defined as a cultural representation of self-expression and sometimes even religion. In the article “Tattoos and Piercing: Issues of Body Modification and the Workplace,” Dr. Elzweig states, “Although tattooing is not a new phenomenon, the number of people who have tattoos has increased significantly and continues to rise. Life magazine estimated in 1936 that only 10% of me American population was tattooed in whole or in part (One out of ten Americans is tattooed, 1936)” (Elweig, Peeples).
"Tattoos “written by Buchness and Mary Ruth presents us with facts regarding tattoos, some being logical fallacies and opinions that has no proof to back it up. The article also portrays the usual stereotyping that people tend to express towards the topic tattoos in general. In the end, Buchness and Mary Ruth decides to use scare tactics without having any evidence to prove them to be true just like in the beginning of the article.
Many people have been getting tattoos lately. People of all ages have been getting them and from all different backgrounds. On a nice day in just about any public place one can spot a tattoo about every five minutes, from the business man who had a portrait of his daughter put on him to a young girl with a butterfly on her ankle and even people with extensive tattoo coverage. What is even more interesting is the rise in the number of people who are heavily tattooed and that they come from all different backgrounds. Not too long ago tattooing did not experience the popularity in mainstream culture that it does now. The question that must be asked in order to understand this fascination that popular culture has had with tattoos is why people get tattoos.
In conclusion, todays generation has reinvented the meaning of tattoos than previous older generations. The tattoo has shifted from a form of deviance to an acceptable form of expression. progress is being made where its possible in the 21st-century to get a tattoo made of vegetables that glows and can be removed almost painlessly. With the right technology, tattoos can do a lot more than just be coloured pigmented skin. They can become digital devices as useful and complex as the smartphone. Although the technology exits, its very specialized and very expensive. Unfortunately, local tattoo parlours may not have digital tattoos any time soon, it will take time for the demand to increase enough before the industry offers up the supply. Until then, the tattoo industry continues to innovate new ideas and expand its technology for future generations.
In a culture in which there are few rituals or rites of passage outside religion, the tattoo can serve (as it did for indigenous people who practiced tattooing) as a physical mark of a life event.” These life events are interpreted as significant by the bearer. He also explained that body tattooing can be used as symbols to recognize an individual as part of a group. To him a group can be as wide as “American to the very specific such as a family or partner’s name.”
A persons’ image is vital when meeting someone for the first time. Our peers, employers, family, superiors, even strangers that you walk past can automatically judge someone, and imagine how they present themselves to the world. Tattoos have been predominantly linked with a rebellious attitude and pictured on out of control stereotypes such as rock starts, bikers, sailors, and disobedient teenagers who want nothing more than to hack off their parents. With a new coming of age generation and a step into a more lenient and liberal society these types of patrons still participate in body art but so do doctors, lawyers, or just the run of the mill house mom. Tattoos signify religious beliefs, cultural influence, or each individual’s sole style. Body art is no longer socially offensive, employers are more apt to hiring tatted hopeful applicants, parents are warming up to the idea of their children inking their body and no longer a stranger on the street with a tattoo is necessarily prejudged as a criminal or safety hazard. Tattoos have become more evolved over the years because they have become more of a socially accepted element of the general public.
Body modifications can be used to establish identity, show feelings or emotions, strengthen self-confidence, or can symbolize an event or experience. Mary Kosut considers tattoos in particular an “ironic fad,” because fads are fleeting but tattoos are forever (1040). No matter how decorative or artistic a tattoo or body piercing may be, studies have found that people with tattoos and piercings have a higher tendency to be depressed or have other psychiatric disorders such as self-harm or eating disorders (Aizenmapepn and Jensen 28). Other studies link multiple tattoos with anti-social and assaultive behaviors (Favazza 153).
Tattoos can be seen as a symbol of separation and are aimed at individuals who are perceived to live ordinary lives. Tattoos can be quite unclear, for example, many individuals tattoo parts of their body that can be hidden and viewed only in intimate situations. A lot of women may tattoo as a type of thrill to be experienced in affectionate relationships and situations, whereas men usually tattoo parts of their body that can be shown off and frequently on display to the public. Tattooing can also be seen as a ‘rite of passage’, indicating a private change from one position to another. In this matter, it can supply a self-inflicted citation that emphasizes who we are. Therefore, while the individuals who tattoo might distribute that experience as a body, the person who tattoos is always going to recall the specific personal encounters the tattoos brings to them (Howson
Once sported only by sailors, outlaws, and biker gangs, tattoos are now popular body decorations for many people. And it's not just anchors, skulls, and battleships anymore — from school emblems to Celtic designs to personalized symbols, people have found many ways to express themselves with their tattoos.
In today’s society tattoos are still a huge controversy all around the world and is looked down upon every day, people would call it works of art and they all have a story behind it and makes them unique in positive ways, although tattoos are known to be most common in thugs and convicts, tattoos are expressive and artistic because not everyone who has a tattoo is a criminal or a bad person. Over the past fifty years, tattoos have gradually become a part of everyday life. Tattoos are being seen as common accessory, the question of why one decide to get them is rarely asked and answered . The pain, the stereotypes, and the misconceptions that are often associated with getting a tattoo would pose the question as to why a person would actually choose to get a tattoo, knowing the reaction they will get from people. Tattoos are an extremely personal and a way of expressing yourself. People get tattoos because it enhances their body image according to them; an immediate positive response is felt after receiving a tattoo.
Tattoos, Piercing and Body Art HomepageCollection of links, resources, articles, and information on tattoos and bodypiercing. Piercing aftercare...
Throughout society, some people think that body piercings and tattoos are dirty, disgusting, irresponsible and trashy. John Leo thinks the cultural crisis can’t really be dealt with by letting loose of our personal obsessions and marking up our bodies. I think body piercings and tattoos is a great way to express independence, religious or cultural reasons. The purpose of this essay is to not really focus on what John Leo thinks about body modification, but to show how body modification is okay to have to express someone 's personality.