RubySoho
Winston
Tattoos - Making Parents Disapprove Since 3000 B.C.
June 14th 2007 23:54
In recent years, there's been a remarkable change in how tattoos are perceived in our society. It was not all that long ago that having a tattoo meant that you were a sailor, a carny, or just bad news. Tattoos, of course, have a very long and storied history, going back as far as 5000 years. Mummies and bodies preserved in ice for centuries have been found with evidence of tattoos (although nary a bald eagle or Rolling Stones lips among them).
Tattoos came to the western world in the 1700's after sailors observed the practice in Polynesia. For a time, tattoos were considered quite fashionable among the social elite, because they were expensive and unusual. That began to change in 1891, when Samuel O'Reilly invented the electric tattooing needle. Suddenly, it was easy to get a tattoo. Regular folks took up the practice, and the elite dropped out (it's no fun being elite if you do the same stuff that everyone else is doing). This change led to the perception of tattoos being 'crass' or 'vulgar'.
Slowly, though, tattoos have experienced a resurgence, gaining exposure during the counter-culture movement of the 60's, through the rock and metal scene of the 70's and 80's, until now. Really, since the 90's tattoos have become fairly ubiquitous and commonplace. Almost all of the stigma once associated with them has dissipated. Tattoos are increasingly employed now as a means of self-expression, wherein the designs are chosen to reflect personal tastes and interests. Then again, there will always be the guy who thinks it's a great idea to tattoo his girlfriend's name on his chest, only to inevitably regret that decision later. You'd think that the thought of etching an image into one's body, forever, would cause people to reflect on the potential hazards of getting 'I Love Rhonda' in cursive script from nipple to nipple. You'd think that, but you'd be wrong.
Of course, tattoos still have their detractors today. Older people tend to be somewhat baffled by why anyone wants one, which is understandable; they're looking at it from the perspective of a generation ago or more. While age may play a role in the perception of tattoos, it's hard to say that tattoo opinions fall along liberal/conservative lines, which is the standard we're all wont to use these days. A good ole' boy from Tennessee is just as likely to get a tattoo as a GenX-er from Seattle. Religious faith may prove to be more of a reliable predictor of who would or would not get one. For example, Orthodox Judaism prohibits tattoos, per Leviticus 19:28:
You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves: I am the Lord.
I don't know why God felt it necessary to reiterate who he was at the end of that sentence, since he already had said it 9 TIMES prior in the same chapter. The early Israelites must have had the collective memory capacity of a goldfish.
Anyway, now that I've veered off the track, Judaism is not the only religion with a dark view of tattoos. There are some conservative Christians who view tattoos as 'the Mark of the Beast' mentioned in Revelations. Indeed, some of these Christians see the proliferation of tattoos in modern culture as yet another sign that the End Times are near. Wait a minute, my co-worker's Winnie the Pooh tattoo is the Mark of the Beast? Damn, that Devil is a sneaky one! To be fair, however, Christianity has no official prohibition on tattooing. The whole End Times view is merely interpretive and, as far as I know, being tattooed is not enough to send one to hell. Yet.
Detractors aside, tattoos are enjoying sort of a golden age. Improved techniques, hordes of trained artists, and increasing demand have led to better quality tattoos that are true works of art. Because of the increase in quality and ease of availability, you're as likely to see a tattoo on a mom with two kids buying groceries as on the bass player for the metal band playing the local club. As long as people use a modicum of common sense and don't put something ridiculous on their foreheads, I think tattoos are great. It's an investment in something truly unique that lasts for your entire life. Personally, I favor putting them someplace that can be covered if necessary for weddings and job interviews, but that's just me.
In case anyone is wondering, yes, I have two tattoos. I have wanted to get more work done for a few years now, but at this point I have better things on which to spend my money. Someday, though, I aim to be back in the chair!
What about you? Do you have tattoos? If yes, of what? If not, how come?
Tattoos came to the western world in the 1700's after sailors observed the practice in Polynesia. For a time, tattoos were considered quite fashionable among the social elite, because they were expensive and unusual. That began to change in 1891, when Samuel O'Reilly invented the electric tattooing needle. Suddenly, it was easy to get a tattoo. Regular folks took up the practice, and the elite dropped out (it's no fun being elite if you do the same stuff that everyone else is doing). This change led to the perception of tattoos being 'crass' or 'vulgar'.
Slowly, though, tattoos have experienced a resurgence, gaining exposure during the counter-culture movement of the 60's, through the rock and metal scene of the 70's and 80's, until now. Really, since the 90's tattoos have become fairly ubiquitous and commonplace. Almost all of the stigma once associated with them has dissipated. Tattoos are increasingly employed now as a means of self-expression, wherein the designs are chosen to reflect personal tastes and interests. Then again, there will always be the guy who thinks it's a great idea to tattoo his girlfriend's name on his chest, only to inevitably regret that decision later. You'd think that the thought of etching an image into one's body, forever, would cause people to reflect on the potential hazards of getting 'I Love Rhonda' in cursive script from nipple to nipple. You'd think that, but you'd be wrong.
Of course, tattoos still have their detractors today. Older people tend to be somewhat baffled by why anyone wants one, which is understandable; they're looking at it from the perspective of a generation ago or more. While age may play a role in the perception of tattoos, it's hard to say that tattoo opinions fall along liberal/conservative lines, which is the standard we're all wont to use these days. A good ole' boy from Tennessee is just as likely to get a tattoo as a GenX-er from Seattle. Religious faith may prove to be more of a reliable predictor of who would or would not get one. For example, Orthodox Judaism prohibits tattoos, per Leviticus 19:28:
You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves: I am the Lord.
I don't know why God felt it necessary to reiterate who he was at the end of that sentence, since he already had said it 9 TIMES prior in the same chapter. The early Israelites must have had the collective memory capacity of a goldfish.
Anyway, now that I've veered off the track, Judaism is not the only religion with a dark view of tattoos. There are some conservative Christians who view tattoos as 'the Mark of the Beast' mentioned in Revelations. Indeed, some of these Christians see the proliferation of tattoos in modern culture as yet another sign that the End Times are near. Wait a minute, my co-worker's Winnie the Pooh tattoo is the Mark of the Beast? Damn, that Devil is a sneaky one! To be fair, however, Christianity has no official prohibition on tattooing. The whole End Times view is merely interpretive and, as far as I know, being tattooed is not enough to send one to hell. Yet.
Detractors aside, tattoos are enjoying sort of a golden age. Improved techniques, hordes of trained artists, and increasing demand have led to better quality tattoos that are true works of art. Because of the increase in quality and ease of availability, you're as likely to see a tattoo on a mom with two kids buying groceries as on the bass player for the metal band playing the local club. As long as people use a modicum of common sense and don't put something ridiculous on their foreheads, I think tattoos are great. It's an investment in something truly unique that lasts for your entire life. Personally, I favor putting them someplace that can be covered if necessary for weddings and job interviews, but that's just me.
In case anyone is wondering, yes, I have two tattoos. I have wanted to get more work done for a few years now, but at this point I have better things on which to spend my money. Someday, though, I aim to be back in the chair!
What about you? Do you have tattoos? If yes, of what? If not, how come?
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Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
Love my body just as it is, surgical scars and all.
Can I interest you in some of my digital images, for you, as a friend, I charge just twice the price.
Hop in quick, before I reach my celebrity status.
Funny how that is not happening here.
katyzzz....if measured in girlfriends some guys must be absolutely covered.
Comment by Onesnap
One of my friends has tattoos from an artist that died in the RI night club fire, the supporters of that artist have banded together to support the family and they have really bonded of their common loss.
Another friend got a recent tattoo and when she looked down after her sister gasped she realized it was her dead horse looking back at her amid a four leafed clover and a horse shoe (weird).
That's all for tattoo stories for the night...I myself would get a turtle on my back.
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
If you like change, then tattoos are not for you!
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
I agree with you though, good for your cousin.
I'm confused about the horse. She got a tattoo of a horse by accident? I'm missing something here....
A turtle tattoo would be cool
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Food Slate
For me, tattoos are my way of expressing myself and creating my own identity -- I designed them...and that's me. Each one also represents a different phase of my life...and that's how I've chosen to remember that time. I love them...and it is quite addictive...! However, I've decided no more...
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
Somehow I turn a blind eye to illicit practices, I guess that shows I haven't made it yet.
You've written a great article on tattoos but I hate them, guess it's just as you say.
katyzzz
Comment by Stanley
i would love more but i am just a poor university student and eating and mass consumption of alkihol is slightly higher on my list of priorities right now.
studying is like a distant 10th of my list.
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
There is certainly an addictive quality about them. I don't feel the pull as much as some people do, but I am looking forward to having more work done when the time is right. Thanks for the comment
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
Your better half sounds like she's got the tattoo addiction thing going. You better watch her, or she's going to end up like this:
Thanks for stopping by!
Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
always wanted a tat but never got drunk enough to go get one!
LOL
Great post though...lots of info here..
Take care,
Nick
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
Thanks for stopping by!
Comment by Amy Jane Vierra
80's and 90's You Tube
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
I also have no regrets about the work I had done. In fact, I still get a kick out of looking at them or comparing them with other tattooed folks. Since I was careful to place them where they can't be casually observed, I have no reason to wish I'd made a different choice.
Regrets plus tattoos = bad. I'm no expert on tattoo removal, but the little I've heard sounds like a major pain! (and an expensive one, at that)
Thanks for adding your $0.02
Comment by Onesnap
Yeah, to my parent's generation the tattoo thing for the cemetery matters. I think it was made fun of on a Curb episode.
Comment by Whitney
The Female View
Pet Advice
Tech Stripe
Alternative Look
My parents don't necessarily dislike them, but I'm sure they would like me to be tattoo-less. But they can't say anything because my dad has tattoos. The main thing they disagree with is piercings. I came home with my labret done, and my mom flipped out. I ended up removing it anyway, but it was insane the reaction I got. I was told to stick with my ears and they didn't care what piercings I got. Ha.
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
I do like my tattoos, however. My wife is thinking of getting her first one for her 30th b-day, and if she does I may sign up for some more work myself. It's been a long time coming.
Thanks so much for the stopping by
Comment by Whitney
The Female View
Pet Advice
Tech Stripe
Alternative Look
Tattoos are addictive, while there with your wife, you might as well get a tattoo, as well.