Tattoos were once only seen on sailors, outlaws, and biker gangs ("Tattoos") but recently have been popular amongst many people. Getting a tattoo doesn't technically mean you are a bad person. Tattoo is a form of art that is used to express someone through body decorations injected by ink. Although many people believe that tattoos are not necessary and can destroy your appearance, it can be inspirational and help people get through their hardships. Humans have marked their bodies with tattoos for thousands of years. These permanent designs have served as amulets, status symbols, declarations of love, signs of religious beliefs, adornments and even forms of punishment (Lineberry). The earliest known examples of tattoos on actual bodies were for a long time Egyptian and were present on several female mummies dated to c. 2000 B.C. But after discovering the Iceman from the Italian-Austrian border and his tattoo patterns, the date has been pushed back a further thousand years when he was carbon-dated at around 5,200 years old (Lineberry). Tattoos were mostly found on female mummies who were assumed to be of lower class, prostitute or in some cases “dancing girls” (Lineberry). Ancient tattoos were largely dotted patterns of lines and diamond patterns, while figurines feature more naturalistic images. They were usually dark or black pigment but depending on the culture, bright colors are also present. Tattoo's are ink injected into the skin by a machine gun. The ink is injected deep into the second layer of the skin called the "dermis" ("Tattoos"). Dermis cells are very stable which makes tattoo last a long time. A tattoo machine is a handheld electric instrument that uses a tube and needle system. On one end is a sterilized needle, wh... ... middle of paper ... ...oos. Another article by Mandi Caruso called Spiritually and Health, talks about a middle age post mastectomy woman who had both her breast removed because of cancer. She has a tattoo across her chest depicting her love of the water and surfing. Tattoos can really lure two or more strangers to starting a conversation and enables them to know about the tattooed person and his/her lifestyle. People tell stories through their tattoo's, regardless of the size. In conclusion, tattoos are a great way to express someone’s feelings and tell a story without that person having to tell the story directly. Some tattoos are thought about long and hard and others are last minute ideas, but there will always be a reason why the tattoo was chosen. It’s the ink seen on the outside that you're being judged for; people don't take time to understand the meaning of what is skin deep.
A tattoo is a mark, on a person, with an unforgotten design by inserting pigments into punctures in the skin. Many people get tattoos because they enjoy designs that mean something to them, but don’t know what type of chemicals or products they put in their skin. Also many people don’t understand how a tattoo can last forever. Pigments and carriers are in tattoo inks.
(2014). The Artification of Tattoo: Transformations within a Cultural Field. Cultural Sociology, 8(2), 142. Retrieved from http://www.galileo.usg.edu.
Society’s outlook on “what’s in” changes every day, from what’s hot to what’s not. Fads repeat themselves over time and grow to be something that everyone now loves. Tattoos are the main trending thing of this century. They were once only a symbolism for criminals, sailors, prostitutes, and bikers, but now tattooing is mainstream in today’s times. Tattoos are seen as works of arts and your body is the canvas for aspiring tattoo artist. Nowadays there is such a wide variety of tattoos with different meanings, such as, a hand print of a loved one to someone’s favorite quote or bible verse. Some tattoos don’t always have to have meaning behind it. Anyone can decorate their body simply because they want meaningless, but artsy and funny tattoos. Inking up is becoming a significant part of someone’s life whether there is a meaning behind the tattoo or not, it is a growing thing to do and it doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.
What is tattooing? Tattooing is a form of art that’s displayed on the human body. In fact, it is the oldest form of art known to man. Tattooing involves permanent, creative words and images. Some modern tattoos are quite simple while other tattooing is very complicated. Many different images can be a tattoo like a simple flower and cartoon characters to more ornate portraits and scenes. A professional tattoo artist is a person that applies tattoos onto individuals. Tattoo artists may also perform other body part modifications such as piercings and brandings.
Americans have been continuously encouraged to support and appreciate art. People are taught to appreciate paintings from a young age. They are informed that being unique is all right. Inventiveness and self-expression are continually being supported. Then, why are people so judgmental when they see an individual with tattoos? Numerous individuals decide to cover their bodies with tattoos. In fact, Jon Kelly, states in BBC News Magazine that, “Tattoos are more popular than ever, but workers can be dismissed from or denied jobs for the reason of their body modifications.” Although people have tattoos, it does not mean they have been in a gang or are violent, and it does not infer that they are not as competent or accomplishing as an individual without a tattoo. Tattoos are not character qualities. However, individuals with tattoos may not be considered for specific occupations, just for the reason that they make decisions with their own bodies; and they may be judged.
Tattoos have been utilized in various ways for thousands of years, ranging from punishment, to status symbols and indications of religious beliefs. They have served as the ultimate illustration of cultural diffusion in America, and despite generally carrying a negative social stigma, perception of tattoos has continued to evolve into a more acceptable practice.
Starting off as juices and markings, tattoos were nothing more than ways of identification and personalization. Rubbing juices extracted from plants onto your face and arms is the most notable to people. Also using bone needles and pigments to tattoo in a more modern fashion was common. Ancient descendants used what they had and although it wasn’t painless and easy, it worked.
Overall, tattoos shouldn’t make someone feel like they are a criminal or any less than what they were the moment before they were tattooed. Tattoos should be seen as art work by artists who put time and beautiful work into their pieces. And nothing less because they truly are a drawn captured for a life time and if the tattoo is chosen out of meaning and love than the tattoos that much better. People will soon come to realize that nobody’s thoughts should matter when it comes to a decision that has to do with their own body. But only with their inner self because the choice is theirs and nobody else’s.
Many people have been getting tattoos lately. People of all ages have been getting them and from all different backgrounds. On a nice day in just about any public place one can spot a tattoo about every five minutes, from the business man who had a portrait of his daughter put on him to a young girl with a butterfly on her ankle and even people with extensive tattoo coverage. What is even more interesting is the rise in the number of people who are heavily tattooed and that they come from all different backgrounds. Not too long ago tattooing did not experience the popularity in mainstream culture that it does now. The question that must be asked in order to understand this fascination that popular culture has had with tattoos is why people get tattoos.
Tattooing is not just a recent fad. Tattooing has been around for a very long time. "The current first proven incident of a tattoo dates back 4,000 years B.C. a traveler was found in Italy near Austria, preserved in the permafrost of a glacier. Carbon dating and arte facts found near him suggest that he is over 5,300 years old" (Tattoos and Design). Tattoos have been used to identify a person with a particular group or just to decorate a person's body. "Some designs are symbolic: In Japan, carp mean bravery; peonies mean good fortune" (McNab 42).
Tattoo inks have come a long way from the past to the present. The history of tattoo ink stretches back to the prehistoric times. The evolution of tattoos and inks have mainly been a journey of trial and error experiences by tattoo artists, professional and amateur, daring to try new things and making tattoo ink out of different things. Scientific American Journal explains the how tattoo ink is placed,” Tattoo ink is placed via needles into the dermis layer of the skin, where it remains permanently” (Scientific American, 3rd paragraph) .Some of the first materials that were used in making tattoo ink were “colored sand, charred nuts, bricks and soot from a burnt Bible”(Hammonds,Sandi, paragraph 1). Vegan and organic tattoo inks are known to be the safest and highest quality of tattoo ink due to the concentration of the pigments.
Every day, tattoos have become apart of almost everyones daily life. Wether it be simply seeing someone with some on the street, to giving hundreds of them a day. While admiring their beauty, however, many people don’t think about the history behind the practice and how they have developed over the centuries. Tattoos have been around for thousands of years. One of the earliest evidence of tattoos being practiced was from the Iceman found with tattoos from the area of the Italian and Austrian border and was carbon dated to be around 5200 years old. Matching it's time, they use long one stakes dipped in soot.
Tattoos are a controversial subject in the world we live in. The kind of people that get tattoos is now varied to almost all humans regardless of race, religion, or age. What many people fail to understand or realize is how much of an effect a tattoo can have on the rest of your life. The original tattoo stereotypes have faded from what they were many years ago and yet tattoos still have a reputation as for what kind of people get tattoos. There are many reasons as to why people would get a tattoo but there are many reason why you should think before you ink. Our society and the social media today has a huge impact on the tattoo industry. Movie stars and pop singers with many tattoos are posing as role models for our generation and
Symbolism and meaning is by far one of the most important aspects of the tattoo industry. “The abstract emotions and human awareness of emotions show what really is going on in ones life (Johnson)”. For that reason tattooing is a form of self-expression, and can stand for literal interpretations. For the most part these interpretations are the conveying of spiritual meaning, or marking milestones such as life or death” (Johnson). For those who think tattooing is just for looks or put a bad judgment on it, should also realize that ones personal interest reflects upon their lives. “Many individuals get their first tattoos during adolescence or young adulthood.”(Bravermark) Due to the mainstream culture, these traditions traditionally associate with stereotypes. Stereotypes defiantly have a huge impact on life. Which leads to the next point? Whether flaunted or hidden, sought as art or brought out on a whim, the tattoo has left a huge impact on generation after generation.
Dating back to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries North American tattooing originated in the island of Tahiti, and other small pacific islands including Samoa and Hawaii (DeMello). The modification by U.S tattooists was to “fit a local sensibility emphasizing patriotism rather than exoticism” (DeMello). Martin Hildebrandt, was the first known tattoo artist in the United States as a professional. Shortly after the first mechanical tattooing machine was created, up until this point tattoos had been done by hand. A tattoo machine was invented because tattoos become a fad with mili...