Essay on Body Modifications: Tattoos

Traditionally, tattoos were meant for sailors, soldiers, bikers and gangs. Along with several changes in the industrialized and technological society of the twenty-first century, the standard for getting body modifications have altered as well. Everyday, people are willing to get permanently marked as an individual choice rather than the customarily perception of belonging to a certain group. Tattoo and piercing shops are not seen as “the backstreet” of the commercial civilization today, it is somewhat an expected sight in all public places. Josie Appleton in “The Body

“Institutional confinement was not a major punishment in Europe until the 1600s and 1700s” (Bohm & Haley, 2011, p. 355). Prior to the 1600s, confinement was used to detain people before trial, hold prisoners awaiting other sanctions, coerce payment of debts or fines, hold and punish slaves, achieve religious doctrine or spiritual reformation, and quarantine disease (Bohm & Haley, 2011). Prior to the large-scale use of imprisonment, offenders were punished by fines, confiscation of property, and diverse methods of corporal and capital punishment (Bohm & Haley, 2011). Some popular methods of corporal and capital punishment include beheading, stoning, hanging, burning, and branding (Bohm & Haley, 2011). Reformers of the 1700s and 1800s described

Tattooing has become a mainstream event; about one in five adults in the United States have at least one tattoo (Stanglin, 2012). In the United States, tattoos were once seen as a symbol of rebellion. They were mostly seen on bikers or people who were consider tough. These stereotypes brought about the assumption that people with tattoos are deviant and are more willing to engage in risky behavior and commit crimes. This negative perception of tattooed individuals is what brings us to look deeper into the actions and minds of those who “get inked”.

Body modifications have existed in our society for centuries and the way in which it is perceived has changed somewhat over the years. But certain stigmas still persists to this contemporary day. One such body modification is the act of inking or marking the skin: Tattooing. Like most body modifications, tattoos are an often misunderstood form of body modification. Despite the stigmas, tattoos have become a unique object of desire to diverse groups of people. But are the popular perceptions of tattoos out of synch with the true meaning behind them? This essay will explore the social and cultural practices of tattooing and the causal connection between the mind and the tattooed body. It will also explore why tattoos engender

Crucifixion was a punishment ordered for any capital offence, although Roman law could order the crucifixion of slaves for almost any reason. Emperor Constantine banned the crucifixion of slaves and in 319 AD a law was passed to make it illegal to kill slaves. Because they were treated so poorly, many slaves were driven to assault or murder their owners. Punishment for killing their master was a major crime, as Romans were terrified of slave rebellions. The punishment for slaves murdering their owners would be to torture and kill the slaves inside the owner’s house. If a slave was caught stealing, the punishment would be branding or tattooing, this was to permanently mark the slave for his or her crime. The slave would be branded with the letters “FUR”, the Latin word for theft “fure”. Many bodily remains and tools from these punishments have been found in Rome in places such as the Emperor’s palace and in the city and many of these can now be found in museums in Rome. The punishments for slaves in Rome were major and it would be a very large mistake to step out of line and be caught committing a felony . The harsh punishments were put in place so that the slaves of Rome would not rebel against the Masters and upper

In recent years tattooing and body piercing have become increasingly prevalent in popular culture. These forms of body modification are no longer tools used by criminals and gang member, showing their role in society. These practices are used by many of teenagers and young adults in our society today. In fact many of these practices have been a positive trend in American culture, giving adolescents a way of expressing themselves

Tattoos have been around throughout our history, from Egyptian times to the present day. Many people may say they know the history of tattoos, and where they originate from, but do they really? Does one know that there were reasons that some people had tattoos? There may be people who know the actual history of tattoos and body art and why one would decide to get one; however there are people who do not. To be able to understand the idea of tattoos, one should educate themselves to the history of tattoos. Although tattoos have been considered taboo and a stereotype, history reveals that this particular form of body art has been used for self expression, status and

Moderation is important when discussing tattooing and piercings. When tattooing, piercings, and body modifications began to alter the overall appearance of the individual, the individual would be considered deviant by majority of society. There are many individuals in the United States that have tattoos and piercings, but majority of the people have tattoos that can be concealed or tattoos and piercings that are not gaudy. An article titled, “Tattoos in the Workplace” discussed that in 2012 a poll was conducted that stated that 21% of adults in the United States had tattoos (Osland, 2013). However, nearly 60% of people that have tattoos, have them in areas that are hidden by clothes (Kesling, 2013). Although this study may not cover every single individual in the United States, it does give a

The delivery of punishment has changed significantly over the centuries. Up until the 19th century in England, imprisonment was not regarded as a punishment, it was merely used while the offender waited to be sentenced to their ‘real’ punishment (Bull, 2010; Hirst, 1998). Corporal punishment such as flogging, branding and mutilation, death by hanging, and transportation to other continents such as America and Australia were common punitive measures through the ages, until well into the 1800’s (Newburn, 2003). Although these extreme penalties are no longer acceptable or practised by criminal courts in England or Australia, in some ways, the past has

Discipline and Punish is a post-modernist classic, which describes the progression of the punishments used for different crimes throughout the 18th and 19th centuries in various countries across Europe. The book is ordered chronologically; beginning with the use and decline of torture and public executions in part one; followed by the use and decline of less violent forms of punishment, such as labour in part two; correction and panaptocism are discussed in part three; and the shift to the prison and the carceral system as the main form of punishment are discussed in part four.

There is a long list of cultures that utilised tattoos as a form of decoration and communication (Swami, 2011). That said, within some western societies, that historical connection to the tattoo is not that strong. However the art of tattooing has seen a steady growth of its popularity and acceptance, and since the early 1990s, that growth has accelerated dramatically (Caplan, 2000; Cash, 2011; DeMello, 2000; Swami, 2011). The current estimated incidence of tattooing amongst the populations of North America and Europe is approximately 25 percent (Laumann & Derick, 2006; Swami, 2011), with one researcher suggesting those rates could continue to increase to as much as 40 percent of the population (Anderson, 2006).

The rising popularity of tattoos and body piercing is more than just the latest fashion craze. This type of body art has been a part of this world for thousands of years. Tattoos and piercings have served as amulets, status symbols, declarations of love, signs of religious beliefs, adornments and even forms of punishment (Smithsonian.com). In the later years (1940 – 2000) tattoos and piercings were more common among teenagers and young adults, but now, people of all ages are expressing themselves through body art. To try and understand this rise in the desire to permanently mark ones self, we must first determine the origin and history of tattoos and piercings.

This paper focuses on the subject of whether or not tattoos and piercings should be allowed in the workplace. There are a lot of resources arguing that they should not be allowed, but this research maintains the point that they should be more accepted in the workplace these days. This paper concludes by discussing how tattoos and piercings are much more of an artistic expression rather than a form of rebellion as it was once considered.

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

Tattoos are becoming a popular phenomenon that is seen everywhere. Today’s youth are getting permanent tattoos to be cool and trendy, but are not considering the long-term effects. Teenagers should be aware of all that body modification may include, it is not just a pretty picture. Adolescences must consider the dangers and conscientious result of attaining diseases, being underage, and having a permanent mark on their body.