Tattoos are known and seen all over the world on a diverse set of individuals. The meanings and reasons behind the tattoos differ from person to person. Tattoos are self-expressive forms of fulfilment and expression among many individuals in an ever-changing competitive society. Tattoos hold internal and external power for tattooed people in a variety of ways. This will be discussed in the ethnography. Tattoos are important symbols of identity expression through use of the body. The body becomes the document of expression. This study is aimed to examine this form of expression and the reasons and meanings for certain art placed on the body. The study took place in Pretoria South Africa for a period of 5 months. The information was gathered …show more content…
Observation and surveillance by powerful people from large institutions conceal these devices of display by use of higher institutional power. Tattoos can thus function as a method of bio power. Bio-power is where an individual will use their tattoos to hinder surveillance and strategies by power institutions, by means of tattoos used as tools of rebellion. The display of tattoos on the body, visible to the public, is a method used by tattooed individuals to contest prevailing public conventions of body appearances. They practice this challenges to public conventions through the use of their own personal tattooed bodies as crucial to confrontation. The theory of bio-power by Michel Foucault’s (1994) is the authority of an individual based on their biological condition of life (Foucault 1994). The individual holds a form of power which is deeply rooted within that individual’s public community. I use the concept of bio-power by Foucault to demonstrate how the practice of tattoos can exemplify a symptom of power and techniques of …show more content…
2006; Romans et al. 1998; Stirn et al. 2011). It then comes as no surprise that earlier methods of research have not only ignored the use of tattoos as practical expressions of identity construction, and focused on the negative traits connected with tattoos (Atkinson 2003; Kosut 2005; Sanders and Vail 2008), it was also wrongly assumed that reasons why people got tattoos were the same throughout history. Tattoos have involuntarily brought along with them methods of control for tattooed people through their very existence which has in turn formed methods and industries of dealing with and challenging such forms of control. We need to understand the changes in patterns of social meaning and perception of tattoos over time, before we can understand the roots of power and subversion. What cannot be ignored, is history of tattooing in the United States, it has altered and it has been changed over time to fit or resist our expectations of the times and places where it has been practiced. Since the first known tattoos, more than five thousand years ago, to the tattoos of today, there have been numerous different views
Non-conformity is skin deep is an article by David Brooks of 27th August 2006, which argues that people fail to adopt the violations that are socially acceptable such as tattoos shallowly. Brooks notes that people’s nonconformity is superficial because they adopt to some transgressions only to look powerful but still remain unchanged inside. The writer made a positive observation through this work because many people have transformed to the socially acceptable violations in the society.
The option to get or not get a tattoo is a personal one. Many people have strong feelings about both sides. "Tattoos: The Ultimate In Expression" is better supported because it provides real-world scenarios from real people.
Moderation is important when discussing tattooing and piercings. When tattooing, piercings, and body modifications began to alter the overall appearance of the individual, the individual would be considered deviant by majority of society. There are many individuals in the United States that have tattoos and piercings, but majority of the people have tattoos that can be concealed or tattoos and piercings that are not gaudy. An article titled, “Tattoos in the Workplace” discussed that in 2012 a poll was conducted that stated that 21% of adults in the United States had tattoos (Osland, 2013). However, nearly 60% of people that have tattoos, have them in areas that are hidden by clothes (Kesling, 2013). Although this study may not cover every single individual in the United States, it does give a
Tattoos have recently become increasingly popular in youth, due to the hidden meanings and symbolism that they are endowed with. Helen Day’s opinionative blog entry, The Power of Ink, asserts that the significance of tattoos have diminished due to the fashionable aesthetics that tattoos project. A highly casual, yet acknowledging tone characterises her blog entry, which is predominantly catered to young Australian readers who are interested in receiving a tattoo. Accompanying her blog entry is a number of comments which both support and criticise the new phenomenon of tattoos. Poignantly complementing her article is an image of Ta Mako tattoos, a Maori form of body art, and the front cover of the written work “No tattoos before you’re
Tattoos are a source of self-expression, and there are countless of ideas that one can forever ink on their body. There are people whose life story is captured and told by the inking that scatters their physique, yet there are others who believe this is a representation of a bad character. When I began digging, I knew that starting off with an individual's clashing experience with their tattoo would be
The rising popularity of tattoos and body piercing is more than just the latest fashion craze. This type of body art has been a part of this world for thousands of years. Tattoos and piercings have served as amulets, status symbols, declarations of love, signs of religious beliefs, adornments and even forms of punishment (Smithsonian.com). In the later years (1940 – 2000) tattoos and piercings were more common among teenagers and young adults, but now, people of all ages are expressing themselves through body art. To try and understand this rise in the desire to permanently mark ones self, we must first determine the origin and history of tattoos and piercings.
It is this sort of strictly prescribed, highly ritualistic decoration that Beckwith and Fisher depict in African ceremonies. “ We have tried to show how body art is relevant to every stage of development, from birth to death”, says Fisher. But while the traditional, often spiritually based versions of bod mod are quickly disappearing among indigenous peoples, the impulses behind personal adornment remain unchanged: attracting a mate, signaling status, declaring allegiance to a group( Lemonick 75). For men, the tattoo is a public identity symbol, and their first is usually on their arm. Women reserve their tattoo for a more intimate audience, and they usually choose their breast. For most, the tattoo is symbolic of their individuality and having withstood a painful and exciting event. Tattooees enjoy being noticed, although they reveal their tattoos selectively ( Davis 471). Anthropologists describe body art or modification as a way of identifying oneself as being a part of a group, a tribe, or a gang: of denoting one’s financial status or marital status: or even as a way of beautifying the body (Grief, Hewitt 368).
Body modifications have existed in our society for centuries and the way in which it is perceived has changed somewhat over the years. But certain stigmas still persists to this contemporary day. One such body modification is the act of inking or marking the skin: Tattooing. 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 diverse groups of people. But are the popular perceptions of tattoos out of synch with the true meaning behind them? This essay will explore the social and cultural practices of tattooing and the causal connection between the mind and the tattooed body. It will also explore why tattoos engender
Although numerous tattoos and piercings are offensive, many are not. In the essay “Why Looks Are the Last Bastion of Discrimination” Rhodes quotes that “Individuals with tattoos and body piercings are often viewed as ‘rougher’ or ‘less educated’.” (Rhodes, Deborah par- 3)
Our purpose is to examine whether or not people who get tattoos are more likely to engage in risky activity. In our study, risky activities was defined as actions of a person who is more willing to step outside of society’s boundaries and participate in more impulsive, sensation seeking, adventurous and sexual activities (Wohlrab, Fink, Kappeler, & Brewer, 2009). In our study we will focus on some
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 today are recognized as totally different than what they were pictured as in the past. “Tattooing is recognized by government agencies as both an art form and a profession and tattoo-related art work is the subject of museum, gallery and educational institution art shows across the United States.” [ (Levins,
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
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
Daniel Evers has worked in numerous cities and states over his career. I asked how educated his general clientele is, he responded without hesitation. “Over my career, I have noticed a dramatic increase in the number of lawyers, nurses, pharmacists, and high ranking military getting tattooed. The common thought when I began my career as an artist was that only drug users or gang members were tattooed. Now it is common for business owners and veterinarians to have tattoos from head to toe.” (Evers, 2016)