Tattooing: Mind, Body And Smport: The Inner Essence Of

First, Many people choose to get a tattoo to commemorate a loved one who has passed or celebrate a special event in their lives. "Tattoos are a wonderful way to keep the memory alive of that special person". When getting a tattoo, people should take the reason into consideration and decide whether it is something they want for a lifetime. Tattoos are very personal and should be treated as such.

Over the years body art has evolved and become much more acceptable. In the mid 1900’s, piercing and tattoos were most commonly found among sailors, bikers and young rebellious adults. They are, in some instances, still used to identify people, such as gang members. But over the years all this has changed. Society itself has become more open to self expression. It would not be unlikely to find a tattoo or piercing on an “upscale” person now, like a doctor or lawyer. Another reason for this rise in number of people with body art could be due to the technology our world now has to offer. It is no longer such a worry about contracting Hepatitis from getting tattoos or piercings, due to medical technology and education on health and safety issues.

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.

From the Stone Age to the present day, the symbols and traditions of tattooing throughout history are fascinating.

For as long as there have been people, there have been methods of distinction amongst them. Throughout the years we have discovered ways in which to express our beliefs, our ideals, and our passions. Tattooing has been one of forefront methods in expressing our humanity, or in certain cases, our lack there of. For so many, they have taken on many different representations, each with an equal level of significance. The importance found in the symbolism of tattoos and their cultural relevance has consistently been a trend found throughout history, religion, and art.

“The colors and pictures we apply to our skin communicate our values and aspirations as well as our hopes and personal histories. Even when we adopt the “natural look” and don't adorn our skin at all, we are making a social statement. Our skin talks even when we don't; it is not a neutral canvas.” (Jablonski, 164) “Body art represents, among other things, a sustained effort to reverse the dematerialization of art by making the body matter.” (Taylor, 111)

When you think of social issues there are many that come to mind ,but there is one that though it effects many is overlooked. That issue is the acceptance of tattoos into our main stream culture. Tattoos actually have a very long history in our culture but in the past, was concentrated in small out of the way pockets of society like the military and criminals. This has slowly started to change and tattoos have started to make their way into the commonplace. This transition into an age of acceptance is not only moral move but a logical one, this claim can be justified with the with deep traditional roots and personal experience that tattoos hold for the people that adorn their skin with them.

This article is basically a literature review from an anthropological perspective. Interesting references are offered identifying tattooing as culturally important in Papua New Guinea, among the Maori in New Zealand (who use flesh drawings to "stamp into the mind" that culture's traditions), and in Polynesia where tattoos link people with spirits (Schildkrout, 321).

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 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.

Tattoos are a special type of historical art that’s been used for many generations in multiple cultures, some for imprisonment and some for tradition. I will briefly discuss how Tattooing helped influence the culture of the twentieth century and how being a tattoo artist takes the ideals from the history of tattooing and implement it into the modern world; to keep that art format alive, using surrealism, and stories, being inspired by the works of many great artists like Salvador Dali. The artwork of Salvador Dali, and Horiyoshi III will be used to example this association between the visual arts and Tattooing.

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.

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

Body modifications, with the focus of tattoos, have existed in our society for centuries and the way in which it is perceived has changed somewhat over the years, yet certain dishonors still remain our modern day. 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 endless diverse groups of people. But are the popular assumptions of tattoos out of sync with the true meaning behind them? Further explanation and exploration of the history will reveal the social and cultural practices of tattooing and the causal connection between the mind and the tattooed body, in addition to providing answers as to why tattoos stimulate uneasiness

The most commony used form of body modifcation and tottos are for inidividual expression and beuty purposes. People are vale to express them self through these methods. They can use tatoos to on the body to display thier belifs, hobbies, likes, dislikes, such as a cross, quote, object, and more. Tatoos are also appelaing to the eye and are sometimes inserted becaus they are "pretty". Body modifctaion is used similiarly. Some poeple like to have piercings, ears