Tattoos
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What is a tattoo?
This is a permanent mark or design made on the skin by a process pf pricking and ingraining an indelible pigment or by raising scars.
What is the modern ethnocultural context of tattooing?
Although tattoos can be seen all over the world today, the American culture has been proven time and time again to be the prevalent tattooing culture.
Fisher(2002) found that "through advertising and other forms of popular culture, Americans accept the requisite need to commit themselves to 'body-work' or suffer social stigmatism and rejection." (p. 102). Not only has our culture put demands on the body to be thinner, healthier and better looking, we have turned the concept of tattooing into an acceptance/rejection factor.
Our American culture has used body modifications like tattooing to support the idea of exclusive clubs, groups, gangs and organizations. Depending on the group that the individual belongs to, they will most likely recieve a tattoo/marking which identifies them as being an official member. Fisher(2002) tells us that, "Historically, men have been much more likely to get tattoos than have women, especially men who are members of particular groups, such as the military or motocycle gangs. (p. 100). Recent studies have found that this trend has been reversed with about 60% of the clients that go into the tattoo parlour being women. This gives the tattooists the suspicion that tattooing is equalizing between the sexes.
There are four primary functions of the tattoo, the first being that the tattoo functions as a ritual. The American culture is one that has few rituals or rites of passage apart from different religious practices, therefore Americans have turned tattooing into a mark representing a significant life event. (Fisher, 2002, p. 100). Each tattoo may have its own personal significance that is established by the bearer of the tattoo, allowing room for personal freedom of expression. As breifly described above, a tattoo may also represent identification or a feeling of belonging for the individual, whether it be to a group or to any area in society.(Fisher, 2002, p. 100). A tattoo may also serve a protective purpose from any type of harm, this would be more of a symbol than an active source of protection to comfort the individual.(Fisher, 2002, 100-101). Lastly, the most common function of the tattoo is to serve a decorative purpose.(Fisher,2002, p. 101)
Fisher describes tattoos as being "often in the form of(or rhetoric of) technological improvements, 'change' is commodified and packaged as another product that is more fashionable , that is more advanced, and that will help Americans reinvent themselves." (p. 102). In history, as described below, different cultures have used tattooing for labeling servants/slaves and military markings, only recently have we transformed the concept into one of fashion. Fisher (2002) is upfront when she says, "As fashion, tattoos have taken hold of the American imaginary and transformed tattooing cuture." (p. 102).
To conclude, the practice of tattooing reflects our American culture in a way that highlights our need of acceptance regarding our bodies, our need to belong somewhere as individuals and our concern for the latest fashions. What has America come to?
What is the History of Tattooing?
Fisher(2002) explains that, "Although the word,"tattoo" did not emerge until James Cook's voyage to Polynesia in the 18th century, the practice of indelibly inking the body has a much longer history." (p. 92) That being said, the history of the tattoo is quite difficult to trace. (Fisher,2002, p. 92). The Greeks invented the word, 'stigma,' which can be defined as "a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality or person." This could mean anything along the lines of, a mental disorder or even a crime that an individual has committed. In essense the term, 'stigma' relates to a marking on someones body that identifies the mental, or physical deviation or an outstanding action.
Researchers believe that there is evidence suggesting that after originating from the Greeks, the word, 'tattoo,' was then transmitted to the Romans. (Fisher, 2002, p. 92). From the information above, one can identify the english word, 'stigma,' as coming from the the ancient practice of tattooing, no matter how far back it may go. Interestingly enough, as researchers continue to look at the history of many types of words, they will find a similar trend, in that each word is linked to one or two ancient words.
Greeks, being the first tattooists that we know of, began to degrade the original form of tattooing and used it for marking criminals and/or slaves in that culture.(Fisher, 2002, p. 92). As we do not know for sure, the original use for the tattoo, we can only assume that the Greeks degraded the original purpose. Later on, as this new purpose became popular, it was transmitted to the Romans from the Greeks. (Fisher, 2002, p.92) As the new purpose grew in popularity, it soon became a form in which the government could control their society. The Greeks and the Romans, soon came to the realization that they needed to use tattoos to control those individuals(criminals and slaves) who were not meeting their standards. Meanwhile, it also became a technique of warning for anyone considering going against the social norm. Fisher (2002) explains that,"their bodies would act as agents of the state emitting a visible sign of their social role." (p. 92).
When Roman Emperor Constantine came into power, he replaced the inscription of tattooing the faces of slaves and criminals, with tattooing the hands or their calves. This was to prevent defiling that which was made in the image of God. Fisher states that tattooing was, "introduced as a practice of the enemy in Ancient Greece, tattooing was reintroduced into European cutlure through similar cirmumstances during the 18th century." (p. 92) Between 1770 and 1860, Sailors were noticed to have been returning from over seas, to their homelands, with different types of tattoos from their voyage. Scolars suspect that this may have been how tattoos were brought into Europe, although it is unclear, they also suspect that their were tattooists practicing in Europe and the USA. (Fisher, 2002, p. 92).
Meanwhile Fisher(2002) explains that, tattooing had already been accepted amoung soldiers, specifically the tattoos that were political and symbolic of their allegiance to their side in the war. (p. 94). They were allowed to, and even forced to, tattoo themselves in order to represent who they were and what their positons were in the war. At this time there was also a change in the way that criminals wore their tattoos, in the 1880's cryptography of tattoos became interesting to the French and Italian Criminologists. In this time, tattoos were seen as physical indicators of criminality. Meanwhile, in England and the USA, the fashionable tattoo craze was beginning to pick up. By the end of the 1880's tattoos became fashionable and spread through upper classes fo England and the United States.(Fisher, 2002, p. 94). The new 'ethnic' tattoo was a design that was influenced by the Japanese, which meant that the fashionable tattoos started with the Japanese. This fashionable tattoo served to send messages, identify culture, and personal experiences or preferences. This form of tattoo went from upper class all the way to middle class, spreading the popularity to all classes and walks of life. Today, the tattoo remains extremely popular for expressing oneself with design and is no longer used for identifying criminals or slaves.
This is a permanent mark or design made on the skin by a process pf pricking and ingraining an indelible pigment or by raising scars.
What is the modern ethnocultural context of tattooing?
Although tattoos can be seen all over the world today, the American culture has been proven time and time again to be the prevalent tattooing culture.
Fisher(2002) found that "through advertising and other forms of popular culture, Americans accept the requisite need to commit themselves to 'body-work' or suffer social stigmatism and rejection." (p. 102). Not only has our culture put demands on the body to be thinner, healthier and better looking, we have turned the concept of tattooing into an acceptance/rejection factor.
Our American culture has used body modifications like tattooing to support the idea of exclusive clubs, groups, gangs and organizations. Depending on the group that the individual belongs to, they will most likely recieve a tattoo/marking which identifies them as being an official member. Fisher(2002) tells us that, "Historically, men have been much more likely to get tattoos than have women, especially men who are members of particular groups, such as the military or motocycle gangs. (p. 100). Recent studies have found that this trend has been reversed with about 60% of the clients that go into the tattoo parlour being women. This gives the tattooists the suspicion that tattooing is equalizing between the sexes.
There are four primary functions of the tattoo, the first being that the tattoo functions as a ritual. The American culture is one that has few rituals or rites of passage apart from different religious practices, therefore Americans have turned tattooing into a mark representing a significant life event. (Fisher, 2002, p. 100). Each tattoo may have its own personal significance that is established by the bearer of the tattoo, allowing room for personal freedom of expression. As breifly described above, a tattoo may also represent identification or a feeling of belonging for the individual, whether it be to a group or to any area in society.(Fisher, 2002, p. 100). A tattoo may also serve a protective purpose from any type of harm, this would be more of a symbol than an active source of protection to comfort the individual.(Fisher, 2002, 100-101). Lastly, the most common function of the tattoo is to serve a decorative purpose.(Fisher,2002, p. 101)
Fisher describes tattoos as being "often in the form of(or rhetoric of) technological improvements, 'change' is commodified and packaged as another product that is more fashionable , that is more advanced, and that will help Americans reinvent themselves." (p. 102). In history, as described below, different cultures have used tattooing for labeling servants/slaves and military markings, only recently have we transformed the concept into one of fashion. Fisher (2002) is upfront when she says, "As fashion, tattoos have taken hold of the American imaginary and transformed tattooing cuture." (p. 102).
To conclude, the practice of tattooing reflects our American culture in a way that highlights our need of acceptance regarding our bodies, our need to belong somewhere as individuals and our concern for the latest fashions. What has America come to?
What is the History of Tattooing?
Fisher(2002) explains that, "Although the word,"tattoo" did not emerge until James Cook's voyage to Polynesia in the 18th century, the practice of indelibly inking the body has a much longer history." (p. 92) That being said, the history of the tattoo is quite difficult to trace. (Fisher,2002, p. 92). The Greeks invented the word, 'stigma,' which can be defined as "a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality or person." This could mean anything along the lines of, a mental disorder or even a crime that an individual has committed. In essense the term, 'stigma' relates to a marking on someones body that identifies the mental, or physical deviation or an outstanding action.
Researchers believe that there is evidence suggesting that after originating from the Greeks, the word, 'tattoo,' was then transmitted to the Romans. (Fisher, 2002, p. 92). From the information above, one can identify the english word, 'stigma,' as coming from the the ancient practice of tattooing, no matter how far back it may go. Interestingly enough, as researchers continue to look at the history of many types of words, they will find a similar trend, in that each word is linked to one or two ancient words.
Greeks, being the first tattooists that we know of, began to degrade the original form of tattooing and used it for marking criminals and/or slaves in that culture.(Fisher, 2002, p. 92). As we do not know for sure, the original use for the tattoo, we can only assume that the Greeks degraded the original purpose. Later on, as this new purpose became popular, it was transmitted to the Romans from the Greeks. (Fisher, 2002, p.92) As the new purpose grew in popularity, it soon became a form in which the government could control their society. The Greeks and the Romans, soon came to the realization that they needed to use tattoos to control those individuals(criminals and slaves) who were not meeting their standards. Meanwhile, it also became a technique of warning for anyone considering going against the social norm. Fisher (2002) explains that,"their bodies would act as agents of the state emitting a visible sign of their social role." (p. 92).
When Roman Emperor Constantine came into power, he replaced the inscription of tattooing the faces of slaves and criminals, with tattooing the hands or their calves. This was to prevent defiling that which was made in the image of God. Fisher states that tattooing was, "introduced as a practice of the enemy in Ancient Greece, tattooing was reintroduced into European cutlure through similar cirmumstances during the 18th century." (p. 92) Between 1770 and 1860, Sailors were noticed to have been returning from over seas, to their homelands, with different types of tattoos from their voyage. Scolars suspect that this may have been how tattoos were brought into Europe, although it is unclear, they also suspect that their were tattooists practicing in Europe and the USA. (Fisher, 2002, p. 92).
Meanwhile Fisher(2002) explains that, tattooing had already been accepted amoung soldiers, specifically the tattoos that were political and symbolic of their allegiance to their side in the war. (p. 94). They were allowed to, and even forced to, tattoo themselves in order to represent who they were and what their positons were in the war. At this time there was also a change in the way that criminals wore their tattoos, in the 1880's cryptography of tattoos became interesting to the French and Italian Criminologists. In this time, tattoos were seen as physical indicators of criminality. Meanwhile, in England and the USA, the fashionable tattoo craze was beginning to pick up. By the end of the 1880's tattoos became fashionable and spread through upper classes fo England and the United States.(Fisher, 2002, p. 94). The new 'ethnic' tattoo was a design that was influenced by the Japanese, which meant that the fashionable tattoos started with the Japanese. This fashionable tattoo served to send messages, identify culture, and personal experiences or preferences. This form of tattoo went from upper class all the way to middle class, spreading the popularity to all classes and walks of life. Today, the tattoo remains extremely popular for expressing oneself with design and is no longer used for identifying criminals or slaves.