Ethnographic Analysis Of Tattoos

There are multiple reasons for individuals to tattoo their bodies and the reasons are usually individualistic and subjective. The experience of being tattooed is intricately bound up with one’s character,

“Of course, everyone knows the saying "judging a book by its cover" is a reality so there will always be someone who disapproves. The one thing I try to do is be upfront about who I am, which includes my tattoo”. Even though not all tattoos have to have some deep meaning to them, people just want them so they can be different. Even though it’s a paradox since some people get them just to be like someone else, who is well respected in society.

Most outlines are in black, especially cartoons, but Jenna wants her tattoo only to be light blue. Jessica outlines a small star, about half and inch by half an inch, in light blue on the center of Jenna's wrist. As Jenna is tense and balls her first up, Jessica has to slow down with the tattoo because muscles are tightening up in Jenna's wrist. Blood drains from her skin, as most fresh tattoos make the skin seem as if it is cut, and Jessica uses "white-wash" (regular paper towels) to clean the area with carbonated water to release oxygen in the skin. Also, Jenna has to stop tensing up before Jessica can proceed with the process, so communication is a big key in tattooing.

Different cultures tattoo for different reasons like, protection, rank in society, adornment of the body and coming of age. Regardless of why people are tattooed, they have been tattooing since before the birth of Christ.

The tattoo is a very old form of body modification, but in spite of that there is still a certain rejection towards those who carry them in a visible area of the body, for some it disfigures what has been created in the image and likeness of God while for others associates this with convicts or gang members mainly because they were one of the first groups to use tattoos to differentiate themselves from the rest of society. But also it is true that there is a very limited understanding about this corporal modification that could be one of the reasons why it can not be appreciated as for how it should be. However, modern society reflects the current popularity of tattooing because it has acquired an entirely artistic meaning to a social expression and a way of identity.

American policing has evolved tremendously ever since the time of Sir Robert Peel, who was credited for creating the first professional Metropolitan police force in London. His police model also became a branding basis for today’s police organizations. Peel’s theory of professionalism indicates that a police officer must be hired and trained to do the job, and he must also adhere to strict procedures established along military lines (Champion, 2001). Uniformed police officers are the most identifiable to the general public, and they are also perceived in many different ways by the community. The neatly crisp ironed uniform of a police officer signifies authority, respect, and professionalism. Therefore, the actions of every officer must reflect what their organization stands for and set forth the purposes of the core values and mission statement.

When studying the history of tattoos, pinpointing the first time a tattoo was seen was almost impossible to do until 1991. An Iceman, named Otzi, was found by German hikers in 1991. Otzi was found covered with at least 57 tattoos (Huffington Post). This is to show that tattoos have been around for more than fifty-three hundred years. Otzi’s tattoos were discovered to be therapeutic and they consisted of lines and crosses all over the body. The next oldest tattoos were found on the Chinchorro mummy. Chinchorro’s tattoos consisted of symbols and drawings, and were found to be decorative only. It is more than remarkable that even after 53 hundred years, similar designs, symbols, and drawings are still used to mark our skin. These findings

Reed, Carrie E. (2000). Tattoo in Early China. Journal of the American Oriental Society, 120(3)

Subcultures involve groups of individuals that step away from the mainstream. We can identify these groups through their out of the norm approach to fashion, music choices, lingo and even recreational activities. As a result of this subculture not appealing to the normal look of the “average” person, society fears these such groups. People with tattoos is a subculture that is misunderstood and even feared by many individuals in today’s society. These so called outsiders are out-casted from these norms in society due to fear and lack of knowledge. Being considered not ordinary is one of the reasons people like to be in this subculture, they get enjoyment from not being like everyone else. This subculture although looked down upon and feared

On November 19th, 2015, The Daily Mail posted an article on the “Whole Glory” art exhibit in Milk Gallery in Manhattan. The exhibit allows randomly chosen participants to stick their arm inside a hole in a wall and get a tattoo by Scott Campbell, whose usually charges $1,000 for the first hour of tattooing. The artist and his clients had no contact while getting inked, and the clients did not see his work until he was done (Stern, 2015). Today tattoos are seen on more than just the powerful; they are now for everyday common people. Tattoos have come a very long way to get where they are and have been through many progressions with in the techniques. But with their popularity, and predominance within the art world, they have become a trend for more than just delinquents.

Tattoos are commonplace in today’s society. Most adults have at least one, but the majority people do not stop and think about how society got to this point. However, in every situation there are the outliers. Carol Rose, lawyer and journalist, known for her involvement in advocating human rights and civil liberties, is this exception. Her article, “On Pins and Needles Defending Artistic Expression.” posted on her blog about privacy, freedoms, and the law on Boston.com, focuses on tattoos and their place in society over time. Written in 2010, this article was published at a time when, in some states, tattooing had only become legal recently (Rose 37). In analyzing this argument, it is important to look at the claim, warrant, and evidence. Rose defends the right of people to get tattoos, and for those tattoos to be seen as skin art or self expression.

Tattoos have always been a controversial topic since people had the ability to mark their bodies. Some specific research articles shows that tattoos shows are considered a culture within themselves and some show the complete opposite. With the different perspectives about individuals with tattoos, the definition to explain the culture behind tattoos is not definite. By definition, culture is defined as the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively. A crucial question constantly placed in todays society is the whether tattoos can considered a culture. Based upon the influence through society that has been passed down from generation to generation through various different families, the expression and meaning that is behind the reasons for why people get tattoos, as well as festivals and organizational events that occur for people associated with their culture to celebrate tattoos.

Many people now have tattoos since they are so widely accepted throughout many cultures. Tattoos have been around for a very long time and were used in many different ways. Montserrat states that tattoos were a part of the cultures in North America, Europe, Japan, China, Ancient Rome, and Ancient Greece. Many modern cultures have learned to accept the fact that tattoos do not mean the same things they used to. In the past, they were used as identifying slaves and criminals (Montserrat). Tattoos were used to remind people of the journeys they had taken and was used by members of the military (Montserrat). According to Montserrat, “From the late 20th century, many American and European celebrities had tattoos, as did many members of youth culture,

In the past, tattoos were commonly thought of as trashy or bad. One would often relate them to bikers, rock and heavy metal stars, pirates, or gangsters. That has considerably changed over the years. According to Swan, "In 2003 approximately 40 million Americans reported to have at least one tattoo." Today's culture is still fascinated with tattooing. In the 1990s, tattoos were the sixth fastest growing retail behind the Internet, paging services, computer and cell phone services. 28% of adult’s ages 30-39 were tattooed and that number rose to 36 percent in the 25-29 age group. 31% of the gay, lesbian and bisexual population, regardless of age, was inked as well. Tattoos are significant because they

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