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Tattoos And Identity

Other groups have used tattoos to mark a person as a criminal or a liar. During WW II the Germans tattooed numbers on all Jews in concentration camps that still can be seen on some of the holocaust survivors. So as you can see the tattoo has an extensive history that goes way beyond your typical stereotypes.
             The old stigma the tattoo had and still has to a certain point is that tattoos are for biker gangs and sailors. If you had a tattoo up until the 1980's you were either a biker or a sailor, these were the two identities" that were associated with the tattoo. The truth is the reason sailors had tattoos was because originally they were visiting these foreign countries where tattoos were status symbols and ways of expression. Sailors visiting these places thought the tattoos were exotic art forms and naturally they too received tattoos. The impression that bikers were the only other group with tattoos is true because they were the largest group in the public eye to have tattoos. The reasons gangs have tattoos according to Bartash is because gangs use their bodies as a canvas in which they write a message that shows they belong to a specific group but also as a form of intimidation to other rival gangs. These were the first two groups who were to use the tattoo in showing it as apart of their identity; because of this tattoos received a very bad reputation as lower class, social deviants, tacky and just plan bad. Many people say that this is the reason tattoo parlors were banned for so many years when in fact the true reason tattoo shops were banned is because in the 1950's tattoo shops and people receiving tattoos were spreading hepatitis. Though tattoo shops are once again legal with no threat of hepatitis the reputation of outlaw deviant still can not be shaken.
             One of the biggest question asked by people with out tattoos is why did you get a tattoo? There is no one specific answer to this question everyone gets tattooed for different reasons.


Essays Related to Tattoos And Identity

1. Tattoos

The punks I knew tended to revel in the shocking or self-destructive aspects of body alterations; neo-tribalist body art often stresses transformation - gaining control over one's body, undergoing a rite of passage, or the desire to carve an individual identity in a conformist culture." ... It distinguishes someone from the mainstream, it serves as a badge of identity and it can be a way for people to create an identity and a sense of community." ... Most non-pierced or non-tattooed people would agree that people are heading to the needle factory in order to claim their rebellious identit...

  • Word Count: 1651
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2. Tattoos: not just skin deep

Tattoos: not just skin deep Just as a war hero is decorated with medals, others decorate themselves with tattoos. ... Going back as far as tattoos do in history, let's look at why they got tattooed. ... Comparatively, in modern times: By piercing and tattooing their bodies they show they are beginning to establish their own identities and they force their parents to see them as separate entities (Howard, 1). ... Tattoos can be used when people are seeking a "public identity" or wish to rebel also. ... Only gradually is it becoming accepted as adornment and as a sign of self-procl...

  • Word Count: 885
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. Tattoos: Not Just Skin Deep

Going back as far as tattoos do in history, let's look at why they got tattooed. ... Comparatively, in modern times: By piercing and tattooing their bodies they show they are beginning to establish their own identities and they force their parents to see them as separate entities (Howard, 1). ... Tattoos were used in the 20th century to label inmates of Nazi concentration camps (Tattoo, 33). ... Tattoos can be used when people are seeking a "public identity" or wish to rebel also. ... Only gradually is it becoming accepted as adornment and as a sign of self-proclaimed identity (Hewit...

  • Word Count: 1017
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. Body Art and Tattoos

There are many forms of body modification, but tattooing is the most common of all. ... There are good reasons that tattoos goes back to Bronze Age. ... It is possible that the body marks were in some ways medicinal or use in a practice of healing; however, it could also be decorative and bearers of meaning in terms of rank and identity. ... Female mummies from Egypt with tattoos were often assumed as prostitutes, but it is also shows that other woman of all social classes likely were tattooed. ... Tattoos back then are more basic of a design and only have one color which is black. ...

  • Word Count: 807
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5. The Bar Code Tattoo by Suzanne Wyen

The use of the barcode tattoo in The Bar Code Tattoo is used to organize people into a genetic hierarchy. ... It will become your identity. ... Individuality vs. conformity, Identity vs. access, Freedom vs. control.... The Barcode Tattoo demonstrates this with the tattoo. ... On page 102 "new medical phenomenon they dubbed tattoo mania psychosis this mania in which a person becomes convinced that the barcode tattoo will somehow do him or her harm. ...

  • Word Count: 1042
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Body Art as Visual Language

People have always marked their bodies with signs of rebellion, social status and cultural identity. ... Reshape, pierce, tattoos or simple adorn their bodies. ... Like performance artists and actors, people in everyday life use body art to cross boundaries of gender, national identity, and cultural stereotypes. " Tattooing uses a sharp implement to puncture the skin and thus make a permanent mark, design, or picture on the body. ... In fact, cosmetic tattooing of eyebrows and eyeliner is one of the fastest growing of all body art tattoos. Tattoos can also signify bravery and commitment to ...

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7. The Beauty and Significance of Body Art

Beauty and art is not often defined by what individuals finds acceptable and pleasing to the eye; but can be used as a form of self-expression and developing identity as a person. ... Schildkrout states, "Body art can be an expression of individuality but it can be an expression of group identity. " (Hirschberg & Hirschberg, 2012, p. 110). ... Egyptian mummies bear tattoos dating back to 4200 BCE and the oldest known remains of a tattooed body comes to us from a Glacier in Italy and dates to the Bronze Age. ... Tattooing has been around for many years and as time passes, the popularity has...

  • Word Count: 967
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8. Moko

Moko is the Maori art of tattooing. ... Maori tattoos consist of intricate patterns on the back, legs, hips, and face. The tattoos are made using a tool similar to the adze. ... In this way, tattooing is related to the arts of wood and stone carving. ... Geneolgy and personal identity are often denoted through stylistic continuity within the tattoos. ...

  • Word Count: 432
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Art for the human canvas

Tattooing has been around for centuries. ... The art of tattooing has exploded! ... "I'm not a fan of tattoos," says state Rep. ... This winter, body art got a stamp of legitimacy from the American Museum of Natural History with the opening of "Body Art: Marks of Identity." ... Whether you consider tattooing a taboo or art for the human canvas, tattooing has made its "mark" on this generation. ...

  • Word Count: 1379
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