Tattooing has been around for many years, spreading to different cultures, with variant meanings, yet when brought all together, tattooing shows remnants of a very diverse history. By the Merriam Webster's Intermediate Dictionary tattoos are defined as marks or figures fixed upon the body using a needle to put ink under the skin, but to many cultures and civilizations of the world, they mean much more. .
Tattooing Today.
In the United States of America, tattooing has changed dramatically from the way it was once viewed. The stigma that once surrounded tattooing, usually condemning those who had them, has now evolved into an accepted pop culture. Those who usually wore the tattoos were often bikers and circus "freaks", which gave the tattooing industry a bad reputation. Moreover, a particular biker group known as Hells Angels, wear their own Hells Angel symbol to show membership to the group (Midre). Furthermore, heavily tattooed Betty Brodbent, traveled with Ringling Brothers Circus in the 1930's and was the star attraction (Midre). Tattooing to many is no longer seen as a desecration to the body, but as an accepted art form and a means for personal expression. Unfortunately, there are those who get tattoos for irrational and ridiculous reasons. Some get tattoos just because of how many people today have them and for most people who do get these tattoos, leave no meaning to them. So do all th!.
ese people who are getting tattoos understand the purpose and meanings in the origination of tattooing?.
History of Tattooing around the World.
Many scientists believe that tattooing happened accidentally (Flamepoint).
They came up an idea that people injured themselves on pigment-carrying, sharp instruments or materials (Flamepoint). For example, sharp materials would include charcoaled branches from leftover fires or wooden spears/arrowheads hardened in fire, which cut the skin and trapped the pigment in the dermis (Flamepoint).