Running Header: VIEWS ON TATTOOS

Views of Tattoos: A Review of Literature

Ramon A. Medina Apodaca
University of Texas at El Paso











CRN:
English 1312
Josue Alvarez
Running Head: VIEWS ON TATTOOS
Introduction
Tattoos in modern day have grown and changed since the times when they first came about,
the views on them the purpose for them and even the amount and type of people wearing them
over time has changed. There are different opinions about tattooing of course, which seemingly
dont affect the rising numbers of shops and tattooed people. There are a fair amount of opinions
that one may take into account on the matter of altering one self, so this paper will inform the
reader about some history of tattooing and a few opposing views by answering these questions.
What roles/affect do tattoos have in American Society today?
What roles and views did tattoos have in our history?
What are some risks of tattooing that individuals should be aware of?
This paper will share the findings of the populations and behaviors of people found to be
associated with tattooing and attempt to provide a definition to tattooing in historical and present
day terms. Additionally to that give reasoning to the act and introduce the different opinions on
the matter and how they affect our society.
What roles/affect do tattoos have in American Society today?
Today there are a growing number of tattoo shops and people modifying their bodies with
tattoos, what does that mean? How does that affect me? This may not likely affect you at all, but
with the growing number of people with inked body modifications you are likely to get an
answer or two from different perspectives. Now although today there may be new and different
views upon the matter if alteration it does not put to rest views upon them from our recent past.
Those individuals that modify their bodies with tattoos could be doing so as a form of self-
Running Head: VIEWS ON TATTOOS
expression. Reasons ranging from they like what an image looks like or they may be of
sentimental value, tattoos are not always images they be words and digits as well. Today tattoos
are seen on many people including stars and major athletes. If the reason is not self-expression,
the wearer may have a symbol in relation to his or her religion and or beliefs, or a tribal tattoo
can be worn, signifying the beginning of a new stage in life(Fisher). In an interview Scott
Campbell tells the public about his time spent in prison tattooing the other inmates, Everyonoe
is given an orange suit and assigned a number; it dehumanizes a population. Tattoos become a
last ditch effort to distinguish yourself from the person standing next to you.( Wilson, 2014).
That would be a somewhat positive and considerable reason of tattooing, but when it comes to
Barbie with a tattooed neck many parents disagree. In 2009 when Totally Stylin Barbie was
released to the public with stick on tattoos Barbie came underfire according to
Shuyler(Schuykler, 2011). Many parent argued that the doll sent the wrong message to their
children and believed it would make youth go for tattoos when they turned 18. Chadwick tells
the reader in her Journal Tattooing, like medicine, is an ancient art form [and may be done on
minors and used as a medical alert to convey a medical message for those at risk of life
threatening complications].(Chadwick, 2013) Tattoos can even be led to be seen by researchers
according to Roberts as negative and a deviance that is associated with mental disorders(Roberts,
2012). Today there are so many views on tattoos and it does not really lean more to one side than
the other but definitely has undergone dramatic redefinition, [it has] shifted from a form of
deviance to an acceptable form of expression at least as far as the youth are concerned (Roberts,
2012). In the long run although tattoos may be discriminated upon in the workforce in society
tattooed people are not individualized from the normal society through race or gender. In a
Running Head: VIEWS ON TATTOOS
survey I asked about being against or for tattoos and the results shown in Figure 1 that came back
were pretty interesting .
What is your opinion of tattoos ?
Responses

All for (covered in tattoos)
11.76%
6

I don't mind (I have one or a few hidden ones)
70.59%
36

I would never get one and disagree with the act
21.57%
11

All for or dont not against seeing people covered in tattoos received 6 out 53 responses and
the most responses fell under I dont mind/have a few hidden ones with 36 out of 11.

When and where do tattoos begin to set their mark on history?
Unlike the past people generally hide their tattoos as a form of identity to themselves
whereas before there was either more of a general meaning to tattoos for example to sailors or
bikers or convicts.The word tattoo according to the Royal Museum Greenwhich website is
derived from the word tatau.(Greenwich,2014) When the word is split you get the words tat
and au, tat reffering to the instrument being tapped into the skin and au for the cry of pain
from the device. In our more recent history according to Schwarz, a client would walk into a
Running Head: VIEWS ON TATTOOS
parlor without an appointment, select an image from those displayed a patriotic icon such as a
flag or an eagle, some element of religious iconography [] and wait his or her turn to have
the tattoo done (Schwarz 2006: 224). Lautman, adds to this that the common approach was to
accumulate one or more separate images over time, usually by different artists, with little or no
concern for their placement or relationships between or among them (Lautman 1994: 15) The
population of these modifications or additions to the body, as it is more fit to say because there
really was no purpose for the individuals with marked skin, leaned more towards sailors, bike
riders, gang members, convicts and carnival folk. This in mind it is safe to say the marked
population leaned more towards a lower class. Until we get to the early 20
th
centuries, in this
time tattooing was at a very high price and only those who could afford it. It was only until its
costs went down that the lower class adopted the modification method did the numbers of higher
class people decline dramatically(Greenwich, 2014). Something that has not dramatically or
horribly spread into chaos is infection through getting tattoos.



What are some risks individuals should be aware of tattoingo body modifications?
Infections are a big problem that an individual should be aware of before he or she walks
into a tattoo shop and gets a tattoo. Juhas and English tell us like most nay other tattooist will tell
a customer about tattoo complications and that they may be avoided [by following] he proper
counseling prior to the tattoo placement(English, Juhas, 2013) given by the tattooist. Infections
can be received through dirty and unsafe equipment, viral or bacterial infections transferred
Running Head: VIEWS ON TATTOOS
through the skin or blood can end very fatally. It was once illegal in New York to get a tattoo
because of the spread of Hepatitis through improper use of tools in tattoo shops and parlors.
Individuals should pay attention at all times when they are receiving their tattoos and if not kept
in the loop about what is going on in the room you put yourself at risk. Not only can you be
infected through placement but tattoos are permanent and should not be taken lightly whatsoever
because they are Permanent. Tattooing may be expensive but the removal of tattoos is quite the
sizeable price tag.
Conclusion
Tattoos can have quite an impact on individuals personally and not, parents may be
defensive about children getting them or having the idea exposed to them at a young age, so
quite easily business owners may not want to expose tattoos in their business because it looks
unprofessional. The world has many views and ways of belief that when someone gets a tattoo
nowadays the point is just for an individual to have for him or herself.







Running Head: VIEWS ON TATTOOS

Chadwick, S., & Shah, M. (2013). Tattoos: Ancient bod art may assist in medcal emegencies.
Europa Journal of Pediatrics, 172(7), 995-995. doi: 10.1007/s00431-013-1971-1

Greenwich, Royal Museums. (2014). Title of document. Retrieved from
http://www.rmg.co.uk/explore/sea-and-ships/facts/ships-and-seafarers/amazing-facts-
about-tattoos
Jill A. Fisher, Stephen Pritchard (n. d.)Questions behind the art,
http://tattootemple.hk/http:/tattootemple.hk/questions-behind-the-art

Juhas Elizabeth, E. J. C. (2013). Tattoo-associated complications. Journal of Pediatric and
Adolescent Gynecology, 26(2), 125-129. doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2012.08.005
(n.d.). Native american tattoos; identity and spirituality in conteoporary america. 19(3/4), 32-14:
doi: 10.1080/08949460500297398


Velasco, S. (2011, October 20). Babie doll tattoos: Is new doll appropriate for kids. Christian
Science Monitor,