Persuasive Essay Tattoos

My senior project was over the History of Tattooing, I chose this as my topic because Tattoos really interest me with all the different styles and meanings behind them. Some things I already knew about Tattooing is a lot of tribes used tattoos to symbolize things, but I didn’t know what.

Evidence of tattoos is found not only on mummies or in text, but on the objects left behind by ancient civilizations.

Throughout history tattooing has served many purposes. The earliest evidence of tattooing was found in 1991 in the mountains of Austria. An Iceman was found, his bones dated back to 3,300 B.C. which is over 5300 years ago. His skin had signs of blue tattoos. The scientists did not understand the reasons for his tattoos, but counted fifty-eight in total. (Wiman-Rudzinski, 2002)

Tattooing is an ancient tribal tradition practiced by everyone but the Romans and Greeks. It can be a way of expressing one’s self, honouring someone, or telling a story. In Canada, thirty-eight percent of adults have at least one tattoo, that is approximately fourteen million people. Although people have positive reasons for getting tattoo’s, the health risks far outweigh them. Tattoo ink can cause allergic reactions and contribute to obtaining Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Because of the risks of infections, tattooing of the human body should not be practiced in our modern Canadian society.

In our parents’ generation having tattoos were more frowned upon in society then it is today. Having tattoos back then gave you a certain persona for being a troublemaker, gang affiliated, or having a criminal record. When applying for professional job a resume might not even get a second look because the future employee has visible tattoos or piercings. Having tattoos back then was less common because of things like this, people didn’t want to have that appearance and worry about being associated with other that are nothing like them. Not many people want to look down on by others because the physical appearance. Except that is exactly what was happening, the higher class of people were looking down on anyone who was different from them.

In accordance to Professor David Isaacs, body art originated in Europe nearly 7,000 years ago. Nearly 5,300 years ago, in the Otztal Alps, a mummified remain of a human called Otzi had be found with over fifty-seven tattoos from his neck to his toes. Since the remain of Otzi was found, tattoos took off and started developing generation to generation. In David Isaacs article, “Tattoos,” he states that tattoos have been able to show a societal impact within our society, such as how they have changed and adapted into today’s

Since the art of tattooing has been around for over a great number of years, it would be quite difficult to pinpoint exactly where the very first tattoo was given and what the meaning behind it was. One of the earliest forms of tattoos was traced back to 3500-3100 B.C., which included charcoal that was rubbed into small incisions in the skin. This early form of tattooing was found on Ötzi the Iceman,

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

What used to be the property of sailors, outlaw and rock star is now become a popular body decoration for many people. It’s not just anchors, skulls, and spider web anymore, people have found plenty ways to express themselves with their tattoo. You might be thinking to get your first one, but fear of the unknown can sometimes hold you back from it. The best thing you can do is educate yourself about the process how the human skin is transformed into a beautiful work of art.

Tattoos have been prevalent in Polynesian culture for over 2,000 years. (PBS.org) This is where the modern tattoo first originated, getting its name from the Polynesian word "tatau", and where it has thrived as a cultural tradition of honor and courage. In Samoa, tattoos are given by hand, and the trade is passed down from father to son after years of practice and apprenticeship. Tattooing begins when a male of noble rank, such as a chief, hits puberty and marks his status for all to see. This traditional ceremony leaves indelible marks symbolic of the courage and the dedication to the culture needed to endure the pain. Samoan culture marked any man a coward, forever marked with his shame, if he did not receive a tattoo or complete the one that was started. In Hawaii tattoos were used to represent levels of distinction and also to aid people in their spiritual well-being. Some of the most common tattoos or kakau were images of the lizard which was revered and feared by the Hawaiian people and the crescent fan that marked the highest ranking members of society. Many intricate woven patterns that mimicked nature were used, but the exact meanings of these markings were lost because of the secrecy involved in the art of tattooing. The idea that tattooing was a secret art shows the importance of this ritual to Hawaiian society, and the Kahunas who administered the tattoos

In a recent Fox News poll, an astounding one in five voters in America admitted to having at least one tattoo (Blanton, 2014). Body art has become increasingly popular over the past several years among a wide range of individuals. With so much attention on tattoos, it is a wonder how and when tattooing began. However, no one really knows for certain when tattooing began, or how it began for that matter. The belief is that tattooing began “at least by 3300 BCE. That is how far back anthropologists have dated an iceman named Otzi, who was discovered in the Alps between Austria and Italy in 1991” (Nagle, 2009). Though anthropologists have an idea of when tattooing began, there is no evidence as to how the first tattoo was created.

Going along with what you said about tattoos becoming more popular each day, our textbook says that one in three college students have one or more tattoos (Tortora). I would guess that this number is quite higher than it used to be. The ink that is deposited into the dermis layer of the skin moves at a fast rate of 50 to 3000 times a minute. The dermis layer is deeper than the epidermis, making it more stable. It is more stable because the epidermis sheds about every four to six weeks (Tortora).

Tattooing has been an art form for thousands of years and is associated with a wide variety of styles and techniques. In fact, the oldest tattoo found to date was discovered on the body of Otzi the Iceman who died in 3345 B.C. Today, nearly 45 million Americans have at least one tattoo and that number is steadily increasing. After watching the Ancient Ink documentary, I realized that tattooing has more significance behind it than I initially thought. This realization showed me that my knowledge of tattoos is limited and that I wanted to learn more about them.

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.

There appears to be no specific date to when tattooing was actually ‘created’. It is thought, however, the art of tattooing was founded by accident. The theory is that a prehistoric man cut himself and accidentally rubbed soot from a fire into it. Once the cut healed, the realization that the mark remained behind was enough for these men and women to experiment with what they had just learned.