Taking a Look at the Tattoo Culture

This part of the research paper discusses the results of the interview questions obtained from two tattoo artists. The interview was conducted to gather some information about the tattoo artist subculture. The interview was conducted on November 03, 2017. Both tattoo artists are working in one of the tattoo shops in East Dallas, Texas. Both artists are in the age group of 60 to 75 years. Because those artists do not want their real names to be used in this research, tattoo artist 1 and tattoo artist 2 are going to be used instead of their real names. The tattoo artists were interviewed as a group.

On the most basic level, tattoos acted as a badge of social and cultural differentiation that separated the tattooed from the non-tattooed. On a deeper level, however, social and cultural homogeneity did not unite the tattooed, for the subject matter and aesthetic style of the tattoos created a fault-line that divided the classes. (Caplan, 2000, 148)

This essay describes the job of a tattoo parlor and the tattoo artist, and the interaction between the artist and the customer. The description is of a normal day where I visit Blue Moon Tattoo, watch a lady being tattooed, and receive a tattoo of my own. I describe the complete day in the parlor, from watching a woman find the perfect tattoo, to watching her getting the tattoo. Along with the description, the main point of this essay is to explain how people can actually be comfortable with a tattoo artist and be comfortable with needles being poked into their body. A small amount of interaction between the artist and the customer makes the tattoo have a bit of personality, and a memorable experience.

We seem to come into contact with a form art every day. It is all around us and sometimes we don’t even notice. One of those art forms is street art, better known by the name graffiti. Graffiti can be recognized for having a bad connotation associated with it, for example some people view it as offensive, vulgar, a nuisance or a form of vandalism. For some people graffiti is a way of life, a culture per se. There are many ways that culture can be defined for example culture can contain the use of symbols, it can be learned and shared, it has values and purpose. Graffiti as a culture contains all of these things and in this paper I will be looking at some comparisons and contrasts of graffiti culture in America from when it started and its evolution to mainstream artistic culture.

The cross tattoo meaning centers around the culture of its origins, the time frame of its original design, and the personality of the person who has one applied. While the cross tattoo symbolism is mainly regarded by people as being of religious origin, it actually has roots in the Pagan world. The cross tats meaning has a variety of origins; the people who choose them usually do so for the same reasons. Those reasons are based on religions, traditions, cultures, and simple liking of the intricate designs.

The negative relationship that exists between age and having a tattoo best exemplifies the complexity of tattooing’s existence in today’s society. Tattoos are much more prevalent among individuals of younger generations than they were among individuals of older generations. This illustrates both tattooing’s growing popularity and its failure to gain full social acceptance. Indeed, tattooing has become increasingly prevalent since its advancement during the tattoo renaissance. However this growing popularity appears to have only occurred amongst the youth. Youth have always been considered the vehicles through which social and cultural change take place. The tattooing phenomenon has employed the youth to expand its acceptance as well. The commodification

For the ended few decades, it handsome that coffeehouse baristas and graphic designers would be adorned with tattoos or piercings, but now, it’s as upright as alike that the kindergarten teacher embanks guide or real station sedan substitute is flash ink or a snout hum. People with drumbeat composition in a variety of industries

As generations progress from teenage years to adulthood, a new physical representation also rises with young adults. Though not all may participate with the given trend, there are those who find individuality within societally approved social boundaries. Compared especially to the 1960s trend of long hair representing a sense of freedom and independence, tattooing within the last decade provides a similar effect for those who participate in the kind of body modification. Regardless, the art of tattooing remains a controversial issue despite the increase in participation within the upcoming adult and young adult generations. Initially used “to provide a means by which those with poor character could be easily identified” (Whorton 3) by numerous societies throughout history, this purpose displays why we continue to place prejudices on those who participate in the aspect of society today. However, with an increase in the amount of people getting tattoos, more employers are faced with the decision on whether or not they will accept applicants with visible body art. Despite an obvious progression of the acceptance of tattoos within general society because of the younger adult generation, does this kind of body modification still significantly inhibit the probability of succeeding in the professional world?

Going further into why the reason are based depending on the time period and the culture. In some cultures body art could symbolize the expression of individuality, depiction of rebellion, definition of group membership, expression of spiritual meaning, and labeling milestones such as death and life. It also states how through expression of self different forms of body art like tattoos help people to “bridge the gap between one's inner reality and the

Thank goodness for Thomas Alva Edison’s patented invention of the “Electronic Pen” in 1876. It used a high-speed reciprocating motor to move a single needle and was intended for a document duplication system used by businesses. Edison’s invention was discovered and improved by many, but one stood out from all the redefined machines, and that was Samuel O’Reilly’s invention of the first functioning electric tattoo machine of 1891. This opened a whole new generation growth in the tattoo realm. More enhancements by Percy Waters with his improved, very close to modern day, tattoo machine of 1929. His machine included two electronic coils, a spark shield and an on/off switch. Tattoo art switched from solely an act of rebellion to a widely practiced

Tattoo artist were mainly middle-aged men, who worked at the hole in the wall tattoo parlors. Body art also became known to be seen at circuses, and “freak shows” sometimes being next to people with disabilities or natural born wonders (DeMallo). Until the golden age of tattooing, which took place in the twentieth century, when parlors were actually next to things like barber shops, and retail stores. Margo DeMallo describe body art at the end of the sixties as “fragmented into different forms that corresponded to different social groups: servicemen, gang members, convicts, bikers, and working class men and woman” (DeMallo).

Tattoos have been around for thousands of years and people are still being frowned upon for having these permeant designs placed on their skin and people are being 2nd guessed about the work they are able to preform in there area of expertise I personally think tattoos show peoples personality and every tattoo tells a different story. Now do not get me wrong I am not saying that employers should higher people with tattoos that may offend people, like having a gang related tattoo or some giant hemp leaf tattooed on there face or something as ridicules. However, if someone was to have a tattoo in memory to a family member that had passed and he or she were not able to receive a job because of it I just find that down right wrong. Shouldn’t we be focusing more on the way they present themselves not the presence of there tattoo and with our younger teen generation most people find it normal for someone to have a tattoo.

To Darin, tattoos are simply pieces of art that embody the craft and industry he loves. “I’m lucky to have the job I do. Like, no matter what anyone on the street thinks of me and my friends looking like hoodlums, I get to do what I love all day and not give a fuck about how people think I should look.”

The world of tattoos is at the forefront of modern society as a greater number of people are heavily tattooed than ever before. From an authorial standpoint, this phenomenon is deeply interesting. Tattoo culture has historically been an underground one, and to see its tendrils weaving their way into everyday life causes me, as a researcher, to question: how do members of this niche culture see themselves fitting in with the rest of society at large? By immersing myself into the world of tattooing and gathering opinions and views first-hand through interviews, I set myself on a quest to find out how members of this group perceive themselves and what stigmas they face in being part of a counterculture in the spotlight.

Nowadays anything can be considered workmanship. The structure of a building, the human body, music on the radio, love, Versaci 's new line of winter, and beautiful transvestites strolling down the road are only a couple of countless cases. That sort of craftsmanship is misrepresented. The greater part of these exist as a result of society. As individuals develop and change so does the qualities and customs that they are acclimated to. Genuine workmanship holds tight the dividers of historical centers everywhere throughout the world. Works of art by Monet, Da Vinci, and Picasso speak to all that can be made lovely by a man 's touch. The word tattoo originates from the Tahitian word tattau, which signifies 'to tap, ' and can be followed back through a piece of history. The specialty of tattoos has been apparent since antiquated Egypt and over 1,500 years prior the Japanese checked hoodlums as an image of disgrace for their discipline (Britannica, 2000). In the nineteenth century tattoos were seen as horrible and abnormal, yet as the twentieth century moved by innovation offered route to the pattern. The electric needle made a feeling of accuracy and control. This is the means by which the different plans created and tattooing turned out to be more about expression, as opposed to marking.