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Sociological thinking on tattoos
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Society has changed in many ways over the years; at one point tattoos were considered unprofessional and disgusting to most people, but today, they are quite common amongst young adults and people who enjoy art. Parents and people of many older generations, sometimes struggle to understand why this new interest in tattoos has been able to consume American culture so quickly. Prior to this boom of interest in tattoos, there were many horror stories that surrounded the subject due to unsanitary tools used and possible diseases a person could catch if a mistake was made. Lois Desocio is one of those adults who has struggled to understand tattoos, especially since her son Alec began to fill his body with them. As Alec’s collection of body art continues …show more content…
Author and mother Lois Desocio notes in the article, “My Son will have no choice but to join the circus. What else can he do when he’s 40, his bald head in the grips of inked-on spikes? Will there be naked women etched on his back? How about a purple MOM flowing across his chest” (Desocio 16). Many of the different stereotypes that often surround people with tattoos, are the first issues that make Lois Desocio nervous. Even with the data she has continued to find on the subject, it doesn’t seem to reassure her. It’s like Alec’s mother takes one step forward, and two back while having this verbal internal battle with herself. Desocio acknowledges, “According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 36 percent of young people between the ages of 18 and 29 have a tattoo, and the number is rising” (16). It truly does seem as if Desocio is trying to change the way her mind interprets this situation, but it’s tough to do that when one mindset has already been implemented in your head from …show more content…
Parents always seem to worry about how their children may look back on something when they don’t have much life experience. Which makes sense as to why a permanent imprint on her son’s body can keep her up at night. Lois writes, “But, oh, the agony of hindsight; the woe of the ‘If I only knew then what I know now.’ What breaks my heart is the inevitability that Alec will suffer for this” (16). Having concern for someone when going about activites like this is understandable, but immediately looking ahead to a possible negative outcome shows the amount of fear currently consuming Alec’s mother. After going on about these feelings though, Lois goes into deep detail about how proud she truly is of her son. She complement’s his ability to be confident even though he may be judged, while also reflecting on the individualism that has created a man comfortable in his own skin. But at the very end of the article, she ends her explanation by mentioning “And who knows- maybe he’ll reconsider adding any more tattoos to his motif” (16). Even as Lois tries to accept this life choice for her son, she believes her worries will never go away. Lois can only continue to adjust she admits, with the hope overtime that Alec can erase those fears by proving each one of his mother’s thoughts wrong. Many people struggle to change their mindset or a distinct thinking
Life is not something simple as we often prefer. There are many different approaches and in most instances we will not find the desired fulfillment in any of them. In the short story “Parkers Back” written by Flannery O’Connor we have a multi-faceted view into the life of the primary character O.E. Parker. In addition we see into the life of Sarah Ruth, Parker’s wife and possibly into the life of author Flannery O’Connor, who died shortly after completing this short story. The characters in this story deal with Tattoos from totally different perspectives and get completely different results. Tattoos are the focal point of the story and prominent on many occasions. Without purpose in life people often make bad decisions which impact the rest of their lives and those they interact with. How often do we pretend to be something or somebody we are not, and have to live with the unpleasant results?
...siderably. From a mark of criminality to an embraced art form, the body modification has represented various expressions of the bearer’s inner self. However, despite the efforts to normalize tattoos in the society, the social stigma of deviance perceived by the larger society still remains deeply etched in the art. It is apparent that the intended message a bearer wants to communicate through a tattoo may not be perceived correctly by others. These motivations behind tattoos are filtered through cultural and historical lenses that often result in unintended perceptions of tattooed bodies. In addition, the attempts of using tattoos to change social conditions often reinforce the very conditions they seek to counter. Though these stigmas and misinterpretations see no sign of fading, tattooing will remain as a powerful vehicle of self-expression and social commentary.
In the beginning of the article, Martin explains that teenagers usually pursue tattoos from an influence or even in an effort to confirm affiliation or identity (Martin, 1). He then compares the standpoints of the adolescents and parents. Adolescents tend to get tattoos or piercings for the look and feel of it, while parents feel that their child receiving a piercing or tattoo as a threat to their authority. Martin expresses how even the simplicity of piercing or tattooing skin can cause strain and arguments in families (Martin, 2). He then introduces his three main sections: Identity and the Adolescent’s Body, Incorporation and Ownership, and The Quest for Permanence. In his first section, Identity and the Adolescent’s Body, Martin explains some reasons as to why adolescents seek receiving something involving such permanence. He conveys how most teenagers seek piercing and tattooing as a refuge from an identity crisis or conflict, which are normal for youth development (Martin, 3). In Martin’s second section, Incorporation and Ownership, he explains how some adolescents receive tattoos after long thought processes; they embrace fantasy and imagination (Martin, 4). Last but not least, The Quest for Permanence. Martin explains how an anchor tattoo could mean something different for everyone. It is impossible to perceive a tattoo and know
Irwin discusses in the article Legitimating the First Tattoo: Moral Passage Through Informal Interaction on the internal struggle of those who get tattoos must go through as they commit to art that they get on their body.
Many adults view tattoos as a negative aspect on the skin of an individual. Some may argue that “they are too young” to understand the concept of permanence. Despite the arguments of adults, the idea of obtaining a tattoo seems to attract more and more teenagers. In today’s society it has become common to witness tattoos on the skin of many individuals. At their short age, teenagers, become fascinated by the idea of a tattoo, not only because of the looks, but also because of how it makes them feel. In the article “On Teenagers and Tattoos,” by Andres Martin, an assistant professor of child psychiatry at the Yale Child Study Center in New Haven, Connecticut, attempts to persuade his fellow child psychiatrists to think about tattoos as
In the past people who have tattoos or piercings would not qualified be considered eligible for many job opportunities. However, in recent years tattoos and piercings become have become more acceptable in the society. There are more than 45 million people just in the USA who have a tattoo or (Diane. 2012). Even though getting tattooed and pierced is more acceptable than ever, there are still many conflicts about tattoos and piercing between teens and their parents, elders, and the society. “On Tattoos and Teenagers” Andres Marin tried to address the main three reasons why teens are getting tattoos or piercing. Was he successful in addressing the reasons? We will get back to this question once we read his summary.
Tattoos and body modifications have been around for many generations. They first began in 3370 BC and were used by Europeans and Egyptians. Both tattoos and body modifications are defined as a cultural representation of self-expression and sometimes even religion. In the article “Tattoos and Piercing: Issues of Body Modification and the Workplace,” Dr. Elzweig states, “Although tattooing is not a new phenomenon, the number of people who have tattoos has increased significantly and continues to rise. Life magazine estimated in 1936 that only 10% of me American population was tattooed in whole or in part (One out of ten Americans is tattooed, 1936)” (Elweig, Peeples).
This outstanding mindset of the upcoming youth can be used as a magnifying glass for the future. As American children grow up in a culture that is becoming more and more demanding of tolerance, it is becoming increasingly clear that what lies ahead is optimistic. And as the world changes, the tattoo industry is changing as well.
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.
Besides my brother’s friends, I had never seen tattoos, or at least on woman with hundreds of tattoos was something I had not known existed. They had all kinds of ink on their skins, from realistic animals to silly cartoon characters. I asked my brother why they had tattoos, what were their reasons behind them. He then told me that everyone had different meanings and reasons for every single tattoo they had got done. Some got tattoos because it signified a blessing or a tragic accident in their lives. Others got tattoos because they were really digging the tattoo style, or because it was cute. Hearing everyone’s stories as to the reason they got these certain tattoos and how thankful they were of tattoo artists’ it made me a lot more interested in tattoos. Without the acceptance of tattoos, people would not be able to express their life, emotions, or situations they have been through on ...
...ending on the results, it can help increase or decrease the criminal or deviant stigma attached to bearing tattoos. We live in a hedonistic and free willed society, therefore one should not be categorized as delinquent or deviant without justifiable cause. On the other hand, the growing population of adolescents with body modifications engaging in high-risk behaviour can be more easily identified due to their markings. This makes it easier for the criminal justice system to spot the early manifestation of criminal activity. Health care officials can also use these visual cues to encourage a change of self-image by supplying teens with the knowledge and assistance to get their unwanted pieces of ink removed. Will removing the tattoo eliminate the deviant behaviour? Further research should be done on the effects of tattoo removal to an adolescent high-risk behaviour.
Dickinson introduces her seventy-seven year old Uncle Harvey. He has several tattoos from his younger years including one he got while serving in World War II. Harry prefers not to share his tattoos with the world, calling them “stupid mistakes” (1999). At seventy-seven, the invincible confidence of his youth is long gone, and he can appreciate the gravity of his mistake. Dickinson also speaks about her twenty-year-old nephew, Aaron that cannot wait to show off his tattoos to everyone he meets, but even he admits that he is happy he waited until he was eighteen to get his first tattoo. Aaron says, “When I think of the dumb stuff I wanted to do when I was 15, I’m glad someone stopped me” (1999). Even after this realization, Aaron still does not see the potential drawbacks of being a forty-year-old man with a Yoda tattoo. By the age of twenty, maybe sooner, children cannot wait to be on their own, making their own decisions, and out from under their parents rule. They long to be on the side of the individualists, making a name for themselves, finding their own identity. However, most will never stray from the conformity they have always known. In an article published in 1996 by Texas Monthly, titled “Needlemania”, Spike Gillespie
Nowadays, the popularity of tattoo is growing among all walks of life and getting tattoos has become a trend among college students (Stockard, Appel, &O'Neill, n.d.). In California, there are at least 17 tattoo shops can be seen through a short drive in the city. In the past, someone who has tattoo is treated as tattoo artist but today’s tattooed people are judged that they have a poor relationship with family (Coats, 2014). Tattoo has went from subculture to a pop culture and a report from Pew Research Center shows that 36 percent of Americans aged 18-25, who most are the college students, have at least one tattoo (Thobo-Carlsen, 2014). Undeniably, tattoo is more common among college students but it is not necessarily accepted in this decade (Coats, 2014).
They want to explore the ways in which media, television, magazines, the Internet, and the highly publicized lives of celebrities influence the popularization of the tattoos today and the normalization of its practice. These authors start by venturing into the fashion industry and what has happened over recent years. They give a brief history of what fashion encompasses and end with the thought that the ways in which a person covers their body is, at the same time, a way of exhibiting it (Walzer and Sanjurjo 71). The authors then go on to show how in recent years the Internet and popular reality TV shows have influenced not only tattooed individuals but tattoo artists, too. They give examples of how tattoo studios and individual artists find it useful to have their own website and use platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, and Instagram. These websites and the Internet alone have allowed tattoo artists to show off their designs to the world, promote their business, and globalize the tattoo itself. Popularized television shows also helped with the promotion of tattoos. It all started with Miami Ink, LA Ink, and NY Ink. The authors explain that once these shows took off, so did the world. Madrid Ink popped up, London Ink, Ink Master, and shows such as America’s Worst Tattoos (Walzer and Sanjurjo
Tattoos have become more prevalent in our society over the last few decades. What used to be a social faux pa or a negative brand has come to be a more acceptable life choice in our culture. However, only those who have joined the inked-up club can describe the sensation of modifying one’s body with art. From the pain and tantric feeling from the stinging that is released as a person allows themselves to be marked for the rest of their life, and the hot pierce of the needle that gives a sensation of feeling alive and the desire to do this again. Tattoos have become a major social focus today, so the psychology behind their popularity warrants discussion. Ultimately, people who get tattoos yearn for individual expression through artwork, acceptance or adherence to some rite of passage, and the physical satisfaction that only the experience of tattooing can provide.