Cultural Tattoos Essay - 1539 Words

Tattoos and Their Cultural Relevance For as long as there have been people, there have been methods of distinction amongst them. Throughout the years we have discovered ways in which to express our beliefs, our ideals, and our passions. Tattooing has been one of forefront methods in expressing our humanity, or in certain cases, our lack there of. For so many, they have taken on many different representations, each with an equal level of significance. The importance found in the symbolism of tattoos and their cultural relevance has consistently been a trend found throughout history, religion, and art. The ancient practice of body art commonly known today as tattoo originates from the Tahitian word â€Å"tatau†, which means, to tap the mark†¦show more content†¦The defiant Japanese commoners covered themselves lavishly from their necks to their elbows, and above the knees. The Japanese government looked upon this disturbance of the poor as subversive, and outlawed tattoos in 1870. This is when the symbolism of tattoos in Japanese culture shifted. They had gone from a representation of splendor, to one associated with Japanese crime. As a result, tattooists were forced to retreat into the background of Japanese society. Luckily for them, the Japanese gangster class in Japan known as the Ikuza, embraced this subculture with open arms. The elaborately designed tattoos of the Ikuza depicted above, represented character traits the wearer desired to emulate. A lion represented courage, while a carp was worn to emulate strength and perseverance. Because the designs require d long periods of pain, the act itself was looked upon as a show of allegiance to the wearer’s personal beliefs. Tattooing was also popular amongst Maori men of New Zealand, who covered their buttocks, thighs, and faces. Maori men had their faces tattooed by a â€Å"mokoâ€Å" artist, a technique that is unique to the Maori. The pattern was slowly carved into the skin with a chisel, much in the same way a design might be carved into a plank wood. Ink was then be placed in the fresh wounds to create the tattoo. The process, which was extremely painful, was typically done in stages,Show MoreRelatedCultural Symbolism Of Tattoos1134 Words   |  5 Pagessome people tattoos are being used as a known accessory, the reason on why do people make the decision to get them is hardly if ever even questioned. The pain, the stereotypes, and the misconceptions that are often associated with tattoos would pose the question as to why would you choose to get a tattoo. Tattoos can be person al and good way of expressing yourself. Most people, they are shown as different symbols that each have an equal level of significance. The essential of each tattoo have eachRead MoreTattoos And Its Effects On Society Essay1553 Words   |  7 Pages†¯Ã¢â‚¬ ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.† - Thomas Merton Tattoos have been around for a long time and are used in different groups for different purposes. Tattoos originated in small cultural tribes and religious groups. This type of body art has been used as a source of expression for personal and family pride and a form of identity for cultural and religious groups. Tattoos have also been used in certain periods of war. Through the use of these body modificationRead MoreExpressing Identity Through Tattoos and Piercings Essay786 Words   |  4 PagesExpressing Identity through Tattoos and Piercings 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, butRead MoreInk Tattoos855 Words   |  4 Pagesink tattoos presented in the texts. â€Å"When, for example, does tattooing become self-mutilation?† This quote is taken from text 1 by Andy Carrington who’s a poet and writer. In 2012 he published this text â€Å"Is Tattooing a Form of Self-Mutilation?† through his personal website. The question is: Does tattooing mean self-mutilation at all? It depends how you turn the perspective. Andy Carrington has a majority of tattoos, since he wrote â€Å"I will confess I chose to have a majority of my tattoos doneRead MoreTattoos : Culture And Culture1485 Words   |  6 Pagesof every culture and the American culture is no different. One of the aspects of American culture is the tattoo. Tattoos have been around for centuries, they are also part of other cultures and appeal to a broad variety of people. Tattoos became part of American culture through cultural diffusion, which is where one culture shares its culture with another through direct contact. Recently tattoos have re-assimilated into American culture and society by first being associated with deviant behavior andRead MoreMigrant Tattoos And Their Implications : A Case Study Of Eritrean Emigrants1200 Words   |  5 PagesMigrant Tattoos and Their Implications: a Case Study of Eritrean Emigrants in Newcastle Introduction Tattoos, as an art of body modification, have cultural and social meanings all over the world for thousands of years (Humbly, 1925). Archaeological evidence clearly showed that body modification (tattooing) is one of the oldest forms of human expression/art (Ball, 1996). The implication and importance of tattoos has been diverse and changed through time in a society (Humbly, 1925). â€Å"AnthropologicalRead MoreInformative Essay About Tattoos756 Words   |  4 Pagesin high school I always talked to my friends about tattoos and how mind blowing it would be to have one. However, they always asked me â€Å"are you sure you want a tattoo, you know they don’t ever go away right?† I always downplayed what they said until I actually did research about tattoos. Once I learned that my religion, Islam prohibited any form of tattoo I was heartbroken; I always dreamt of getting a tattoo but, I never knew what to get. Tattoos serve a variety of purposes depending on religionRead MoreWhat Does Morality Have On Do With Tattoos?1695 Words   |  7 PagesWhat Does Morality Have To Do With Tattoos? Coca Cola (2015) did an experiment/ advertisement called, Remove labels this Ramadan, where six people sat in a pitch-black room and engaged in conversation. They each went around the table and described something unique about themselves. One man said he is in a heavy-metal band, the group then depicted what they envisioned him to look like, describing him to have long hair and possible piercings. Another man said he enjoyed reading and studying, particularlyRead MoreAnalysis Of Hamlet And An Argumentative Essay892 Words   |  4 PagesEnglish 112 involved writing a large variety of literary pieces focusing on multiple components of writing. I wrote a multigenre on tattoos, literary analysis on Hamlet, and an argumentative essay as well as a summary and response essay on the need for higher education. From this wide array of papers I have learned and grown in my technical writing skills that will contribute in my pursuits of college level classes. I will address each of my papers and what I have learned from them. I have includedRead MoreEssay on Body Art543 Words   |  3 Pagesto conform to new customs of their particular cultural group, to attract a mate or sex partner, to show of their wealth or social status, or to just make an outgoing statement about themselves. Is body art really a pop culture? Our dissatisfaction with the human body and its covering is expressed in endless change. This results in the desire and adoption of a trend, these trends are shown through ways such as piercing, body painting, and tattoos, Body piercing has grown in popularity over the