Tattoos As A Subculture

The cultural performance and ritual of tattooing evolved over time, but holds historical significance for membership into a group of people, age bracket, or culture. Polynesians used tattoos as a coming of age ceremony, and symbol of adulthood. Boys would be put away for weeks at a time to transition from boyhood and to heal from the harsh procedure. As the practice moved aboard ships, men tattooed one another shoddily, creating connection and camaraderie between one another. As movement across seas spread tattooing, port cities began to sprout parlors as artistic sailors settled down with this new line of work; this became the only form of Polynesian art widely accepted and practiced in the West. P.T. Barnum accentuated the novelty of tattoos and employed these visually interesting people to performer. Sanitation practices were never consistent until the 1960’s when Sailor Jerry aimed to create tattooing into an esteemed and respected art form. “Realistic Tattoo” opened as the first shop to create custom, appointment-based tattoo art.

Tattooing is not a fantastic thing in America, but in China, tattoos always can arouse people’s curiosity. As a Chinese, tattooees are rare, since people always have prejudice for those body art because of traditional idea and social impact. When I was in high school, I was attracted by tattoos because of a paster that can post on body. I put them on collarbone, arm, and ankle, just like tattoos. But my parent did’t allow me to get a real one and said that would hamper me to get a great job. To be honest, I can’t understand such a traditional thought while I think tattooing is a kind of art. Differently, in America, most young people have one at least, as far as I can see. It seems like a fashion for young people today, whereas

Deviant acts cannot be discussed without taking into account culture, perspective, and religion. Every culture is known for their types of expressions though tattooing, piercings, and body modification. Asian gangs such as the Yakuza are known for their full body tattoos, while African tribes can be associated with wearing rings that stretch their necks. Often, these types of tattooing and body modifications are seen as a sign of beauty or a sign of respect. In the United States, tattooing, piercings, and body modifications are becoming more acceptable, in moderation.

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)

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

For some people tattoos are being used as a known accessory, the reason on why do people make the decision to get them is hardly if ever even questioned. The pain, the stereotypes, and the misconceptions that are often associated with tattoos would pose the question as to why would you choose to get a tattoo. Tattoos can be personal and good way of expressing yourself. Most people, they are shown as different symbols that each have an equal level of significance. The essential of each tattoo have each found the symbolism of them, and their cultural relevance has consistently been a trend found throughout history, religion, and art.

One of the most universally popular tattoo designs is the sun. Many cultures have used their own stylized representation of this symbol of life to decorate their bodies. Across all of the continents and islands of the Earth, this symbol, in it's many forms, remains constant. It stands for infinity, rebirth and fertility in every part of the world. Positioned at the center of the solar system, the sun has always been the most important feature in the sky.

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.

Tattoos are changing because more and more people are realizing that the reputations associated with tattoos are not usually true. Tattoo culture is not in any way, shape or form different from my culture. My culture is American and the tattoo culture that I chose to do is based on the American side of tattooing. Today tattoos are seen as more of a way of expressing oneself as opposed to being seen as destruction to the body. American tattoo culture is unique because it gives people a sense of individuality to express themselves. It gives the quiet people a voice and the outgoing people a way to express themselves other than speaking. Tattoos speak to people. Some tattoos mean peace, tranquility, and happiness while other tattoos may mean

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.

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.

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

Tattoos are a taboo throughout society in different regions of the world. The practice of body art demonstrates many aspects of religion, traditions, customs, and other things. A tattoo can mean anything to anybody. People can say all the negative things about them, but the evolution of tattoos is actually different from their expectations.

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

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).