Annotated Bibliography: The Changing Cultural Status of Tattoos
Dickinson, L., Dukes, R. L., Smith, H., & Strapko, N. (2015). To Ink Or Not To Ink: The Meaning of Tattoos Among College Students. College Student Journal, 49(1), 106-120. Retrieved from http://www.galileo.usg.edu.
In the journal titled “To Ink or Not to Ink: The Meaning of Tattoos Among College Students”, the authors discuss how students in college feel about tattoos. They address how many people do or do not have a tattoo, the meaning behind the tattoos, and why the non-tattooed students have chosen not to get one. The students with tattoos were said to of taken time to decide what their tattoos was going to be of, where they were going to have it done, and the placement of
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(2014). The Artification of Tattoo: Transformations within a Cultural Field. Cultural Sociology, 8(2), 142. Retrieved from http://www.galileo.usg.edu.
In Kosut’s article “The Artification of Tattoo: Transformations within a Cultural Field”, the author takes a look at how tattoos are a form of art and should be seen this way. It also indicates how tattoo artists have to have a technical skill in order to do this job and should be seen as actual artists and not overlooked. In addition to having steady hands like a surgeon, tattoo artists create original work for their clients. If tattoo artists and their work were seen as a legitimate career, it would be even more likely that tattoos would be accepted in society.
This source would be highly useful for my research, due to it focusing on the actual tattoo artists and their work. It is different than my other sources, and gives a different approach when arguing that tattoos are becoming more accepted. This would be another reliable source due to it being from an article that is all about culture and sociology. The author’s goal with this article is to show the side of the artists themselves instead of the people getting tattooed. If the tattoo artists are accepted and the work they do is accepted, then the people with the work on them should be accepted
It is true that the young people have more tattoos than the old people. 36% of Americans between ages 18-29 have a tattoo (Brooks). The fact that society is accepting this violation means that there are more people who are yet to confirm, of which they will in the near future. It is also evident that people wear tattoos to show commitment because lovers for instance wear the images or the names of their lovers and others wear the images of their icons to show that they matter to them. This kind of permanence on someone’s body shows commitment and it is admirable to the world.
Kosut, M. (2006). An Ironic Fad: The Commodification And Consumption Of Tattoos. The Journal of Popular Culture, 39(6), 1035-1048. Retrieved November 29, 2013, from http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2006.00333.x
Society has changed in many ways over the years; at one point tattoos were considered unprofessional and disgusting to most people, but today, they are quite common amongst young adults and people who enjoy art. Parents and people of many older generations, sometimes struggle to understand why this new interest in tattoos has been able to consume American culture so quickly. Prior to this boom of interest in tattoos, there were many horror stories that surrounded the subject due to unsanitary tools used and possible diseases a person could catch if a mistake was made. Lois Desocio is one of those adults who has struggled to understand tattoos, especially since her son Alec began to fill his body with them. As Alec’s collection of body art continues
I suppose it was inevitable that I would go on to get tattoos, though I never developed an affinity towards piercings of any type. However, long before I elected to go under the needle, I questioned the motivations underlying many of my peers to do the same. I graduated from an alternative high school, attended by a group of predictably societally non-compliant individuals. I had the opportunity to observe gang-related symbolism, simple physical expressions of rebellion, and even a few truly remarkable pieces of art that had simply been painted upon a canvas of skin, rather than a more traditional medium. For some it was all about freedom of expression, while others were influenced by a desire to display their incompatibility with a society they felt had spurned them. Others yet still were the recipients of markings ostensibly against their will, as mandated by familial or p...
Mantell, M. (n.d.). The Psychology of Tattoos. San Diego Magazine Dr San Diego. Retrieved November 17, 2013, from http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/San-Diego-Magazine/August-2009/The-Psychology-of-Tattoos/
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.
Kosut, M. (2008). Tattoo narratives: The intersection of the body, self-identity and society. Visual Sociology, 15(1), 79-100. doi: 10.1080/14725860008583817
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.
Symbolism and meaning is by far one of the most important aspects of the tattoo industry. “The abstract emotions and human awareness of emotions show what really is going on in ones life (Johnson)”. For that reason tattooing is a form of self-expression, and can stand for literal interpretations. For the most part these interpretations are the conveying of spiritual meaning, or marking milestones such as life or death” (Johnson). For those who think tattooing is just for looks or put a bad judgment on it, should also realize that ones personal interest reflects upon their lives. “Many individuals get their first tattoos during adolescence or young adulthood.”(Bravermark) Due to the mainstream culture, these traditions traditionally associate with stereotypes. Stereotypes defiantly have a huge impact on life. Which leads to the next point? Whether flaunted or hidden, sought as art or brought out on a whim, the tattoo has left a huge impact on generation after generation.
Tattoos are a controversial subject in the world we live in. The kind of people that get tattoos is now varied to almost all humans regardless of race, religion, or age. What many people fail to understand or realize is how much of an effect a tattoo can have on the rest of your life. The original tattoo stereotypes have faded from what they were many years ago and yet tattoos still have a reputation as for what kind of people get tattoos. There are many reasons as to why people would get a tattoo but there are many reason why you should think before you ink. Our society and the social media today has a huge impact on the tattoo industry. Movie stars and pop singers with many tattoos are posing as role models for our generation and
With this background and trend, tattoos are not surprising event for individuals, as well as health care professionals. The article is interesting, because thereby focusing consideration regarding to health care professional’s body art. This
As early as the nineteenth century women were modifying their bodies with tattoos as a way to seek employment; this employment consisted mainly of circus sideshows or “freak shows.” These women were most often regarded as outcasts and rebels and were frequently scorned and ridiculed. “At that time, positive associations with tattoos were limited to upper class women; these women were recognized as brave and noble as well as beautiful” (Hawkes, Senn, and Thorn 594.) There was a resurgence of tattooing in the 1920s and again in the late 1960s and early 1970s which brought not only an increase in the number of women receiving tattoos but also in the number of female tattoo artists. Unlike their predecessors these women were not tattooing their bodies as means to gain employment but as a form of self-expression and rebellion. Yet they still met with discrimination and negative attitudes when it came to their tattoos.
Tattoos are becoming a popular phenomenon seen everywhere. Today youths are getting permanent tattoos to be cool and trendy, but they are not considering the long terms effects. Teenagers should be aware that body modification may include risk to their body and it is not just a pretty picture. Adolescents needs to consider the dangerous and conscientious results of attaining diseases, being underage, and having a permanent mark on their body. Adolescents need to know that if they have a tattoo or piercings, they will not find employment.
Tattoo Lowers the Chances of College Students being Hired In a college student lives, getting a tattoo or not is a big decision to make. A person with tattoo is generally viewed as unprofessional, dirty, and untrustworthy due to the negative association of tattoos in the past. Even though some companies in the US are changing laws to be more lenient towards tattoos, tattoos still are still stigmatized by most people and companies. Therefore, college students should avoid getting tattoos due to less chance of being hired, restricted career options, and no laws for protection for tattoos.
Some tattoo art is so good that NBA players have had to get expressed written permission from their tattoo artist to allow their art to be presented while playing a basketball game on national television. Presently, more and more tattoo artists are graduating from colleges and universities with fine art degrees. These new tattooist has studied art academically and have a full understanding of the elements of art in the composition of tattoos. They are able to use their understanding of the fine arts to render their work on living canvases.