Tattoo History and Culture
History And Art Of Tattooing
Throughout recorded history we find that humans have the innate desire to adorn themselves and their surroundings. A house isn’t just a house but a home that expresses the inhabitant’s personality. A temple isn’t just a structure for worship but a construction for those who attempt to reach God; just think of the Gothic cathedrals-point up towards the heavens. A car isn’t just a means of transportation but a symbol of power or lack of it. And so it goes.
But tattoos? Being more personal than structures and surroundings, we must look within to understand their popularity.
Tattoos in America:
Not all societies adopt tattoos as means of personal and communal expressions. In many cultures -especially illiterate societies-tattoos carry the visual symbols, icons, and signals of collective consciousness and memories they wish to preserve.
In America, given their popularity today, we can see that tattoos are a continuation of the earlier generations’ symbols of rebellion, of being different, of presenting a contrarian attitude, of the nonconformist. In place of long hair we now have long nails, body piercing, and tattoos.
Is it a fad? Given that the fad is lasting longer than a decade, we can say perhaps it is more than a fad; may be a much longer wave. Young people imitate stars, celebrities, and other famous achievers. In soccer we see a veteran player like David Beckham sport very visible tattoos on his neck; following Beckham’s example, the young striker Natasha Kai isn’t shy about displaying her countless tattoos. In boxing, tattoos are almost mandatory -perhaps as weapons of intimidation-since most boxers wear them. The fiercer the tattoo the fiercer the appearance of the boxer: just take a close look at Mike Tyson’s face.
Tattoos are bridges between the body and the soul:
For many individuals, tattoos are connectors between material reality and the spiritual realm, much like prayers. While prayers are somewhat restricted for the most for worshipping, or for matters of extreme dangerous situations, tattoos being fixed and constant are reminders of our aloneness in this world. A glance at them can ameliorate that feeling of dread.
Sometimes it is difficult, if not impossible, to externalize a personal inner quest. A graphic depiction can do that for us as a way of telling others “this is what I am about.”
For many, tattoos concretize their faith in some abstraction. Take for example patriotism, freedom, or love. These human emotions and feelings cannot be properly articulated, but they can be expressed easily with a tattoo of the American flag, the Liberty Bell, or bleeding hearts.
Tats and Aesthetics:
One can make the argument that a tattoo doesn’t have to justify anything-but beauty. Many of the Celtic, butterfly, dragons, flowery, and even weaponry tattoos are so designed and executed that evoke a feeling of awe and admiration.
If a tattoo is well balanced, it is whole, and it has a splendor of its own, then we can say that it is beautiful. Must one have to justify beauty? Of course not, but keep in mind that quality must prevail; if enough quality tattoos are shown, then we are justified in calling this part of aesthetics: “body art.”
Generational Reactions:
While the public in general are tolerant and laissez-faire about tattoos, the generations in power (as in the power to hire, promote, and fire) are less inclined to accept the practice.
Tattoos will be viewed as a vehicle of strangeness in an applicant; a visible sign that the individual may not be a team player, someone difficult to manage. This may not be true, but it is the way of corporate cultures. In fact, I’ve heard a human resources executive denigrate tattoos as “jail art.”
Tats, Sense and Sensitivity:
Common sense tells us to be sensitive to other people’s feelings, history, and culture. Likewise, tattoos should not be worn as to offend others. Political symbols and religious symbols are still taboo in America. Cosmic and zodiac expressions have become universal symbols and are looked on with sympathy.
Conclusion:
Like in any other human endeavors, taste, likes, and dislikes, tattoos have caught the imagination of the younger generations and are here to stay. While some are critical of the practice, most people are tolerant. And instead of looking for the negative, we should look for the positive gains that they (tattoos) can yield to the wearer, and also for the beauty that some of them contain.
About the Author
Retired. Former investment banker, Columbia University-educated, Vietnam Vet (67-68).
For the writing techniques I use, see Mary Duffy’s e-book: Sentence Openers.
To read my book reviews of the Classics visit my blog: Writing To Live
How to Get a Tattoo : More History of Tattoos in Ancient Culture
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Japanese Tattoo C1900 Photo Mugs A TATTOOED JAPANESE MAN Tattooing of this complex and highly-coloured type was at one time not uncommon in Japan …. |
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Tattooed Gentleman Photo Mugs After patronising an Indian tattoo artist, this British soldier is highly decorated Date circa 1900…. |
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Hawaii $14.98 George Roy Hill (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) directed this adaptation of James Michener’s novel about the history of the 50th state. Max von Sydow plays a zealous missionary with a Calvinist bent, intent on enlightening the natives even as… |
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To Live $14.98 The story of Fugui and Jiazhen, and their family’s struggle for survival from the 1940′s through the 1980′s.Genre: Foreign Film – ChineseRating: UNRelease Date: 24-JUL-2007Media Type: DVD… |
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Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry $15.61 Considered by many to be the greatest tattoo artist of all time, Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins is the focus of this documentary. Featuring archival footage of Collins and interviews with such inking legends as Don Ed Hardy, Mike Malone, Philadelphia Eddie Funk, and others, this film analyzes the past–and future–of tattooing. AKA: “Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry: The Life of Norman K. Collins.” 77 min. … |
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Miami Ink Temporary Tattoo $19.99 Miami Ink was born when The Learning Channel (TLC) decided to branch out in the world of reality-based shows by focusing on the culture of tattoos. They turned to the Miami Ink studio in Florida as the center of their program. The show’s popularity demonstrates just how mainstream the art of inking has become and gives a glimpse into the skill and history of both the artists and their customers…. |
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Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Japanese Tattoo C19 from Mary Evans $29.99 Photo Puzzle, JAPANESE TATTOO C1900. A TATTOOED JAPANESE MAN Tattooing of this complex and highly-coloured type was at one time not uncommon in Japan . Chosen by Mary Evans. 10×14 Photo Puzzle with 252 pieces. Packed in black cardboard box of dimensions 5 5/8 x 7 5/8 x 1 1/5. Puzzle image 5×7 affixed to box top. Puzzle pieces printed on RA4 paper at 300 dpi. This item is shipped from our American … |
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Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Tattooed Gentleman from Mary Evans $29.99 Photo Puzzle, TATTOOED GENTLEMAN. After patronising an Indian tattoo artist, this British soldier is highly decorated Date circa 1900. Chosen by Mary Evans. 10×14 Photo Puzzle with 252 pieces. Packed in black cardboard box of dimensions 5 5/8 x 7 5/8 x 1 1/5. Puzzle image 5×7 affixed to box top. Puzzle pieces printed on RA4 paper at 300 dpi. This item is shipped from our American lab…. |
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TATTOO ART DISNEY’S TINKERBELL METAL LUNCH BOX TINKERBELL METAL LUNCH BOX WITH PRINTED AND EMBOSSED GRAPHICS. THIS IS A MARCH 24 OF 09 SPRING RELEASE FROM LOUNGEFLY, BEAUTIFUL ART WORK, 7 X 8 INCHES, BRAND NEW!!!… |
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The Mammoth Book of Tattoos $10.19 This collection covers all styles of tattoos from bold tribal pieces, Chines characters, and hieroglyphs to delicate air-brushed designs. Included are striking images of tattoos ranging from all-over “body suits? to individual motifs…. |
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Gil Elvgren: All His Glamorous American Pin-Ups (Taschen 25th Anniversary Special Editions) $10.19 Post-depression America was in desperate need of a defining iconography that would lift it out of the black and white doldrums, and it came in theform of Gil Elvgren’s Technicolor fantasies of the American dream. His technique-which earned him a reputation as “The Norman Rockwell of cheesecake”-involved photographing models and then painting them into gorgeous hyper-reality, with longer legs, more… |
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High Voltage Tattoo $13.59 High Voltage Tattoo is a graphic perspective on today’s global tattoo culture by Kat Von D, star of The Learning Channel’s L.A. Ink and one of the most talented and popular artists working today. Designed in a style that is reminiscent of a handmade Gothic journal with its red padded cover, ornate typography, and parchmentlike pages, it throws the door wide open to tattooing culture in the way on… |
