Today in class we had a guest speaker who talked about his personal experience about getting a tattoo. He said that when he first got it an amateur artist did it, and he did not like it. The speaker then told the story on how he got it fixed by another artist and how he loves it now because there is such symbolism in it for him. Many people in today’s society think that tattooing is destroying one’s image, but in truth it is an illustration of the person wearing it.Tattoos have been around for centuries and are actually part of our history. For example, during the Holocaust Nazis tattooed the Jews with numbers labeling them. Those tattoos are part of our history and the survivors of the Holocaust still have those numbers on their bodies, and they tell a story about that person. It also symbolizes a time in their life. If the survivor does not want the tattoo anymore it can be easily changed like the guest speaker’s.Tattoos can be changed to fit the person. One minute the person may love what they got and then years later they want to change it, which is totally possible. Tattooing has developed as an art form and continues to establish itself. Back during the Holocaust tattooing was very simple, but look at it today. It still tells stories or moments in a person’s life. So no, I do not consider tattooing vandalizing the human body. I see it as an illustration on a person’s skin that will be there for the rest of their life that they can share with others.
Megan Sowers
I wish I had been here to hear this speaker talk...I completely agree about the symbolism of tattoos and how they represent a time in your life. I know my first tattoo is not exactly the most detailed or perfect tattoo, and I already have plans to potentially change it. This does not mean that I regret the tattoo; far from it. I love the tattoo and only want to enhance it in the future. My second and third tattoos are two that I would never want to change and say a lot about me. These are an example of tattoos done right. If some people believe tattoos ruin the human form, then so be it. In my opinion, getting a tattoo is a personal decision and should be kept as such.
ReplyDeleteOn a personal standpoint, I myself believe there is nothing wrong with having a tattoo. Tattoos are a type of body art that expresses a story or a description of a person. In society today, especially the older generation, many people are lead to believe tattooing is a waste of money and bad decision. However, they have to realize that the tattoo is not on their bodies and how they cannot control everyone's actions.
ReplyDeleteShows such as Miami Ink and NY Ink show depict the truth behind people's reasoning to get a tattoo through their personal stories. In one episode, a college student wanted to get a tattoo of a cartoon character on his arm to show his love towards cartoons. Although the tattoo seems very random it actually possess more meaning than people would expect.
Sure there are people who do get tattoos for reasoning however, we must put this aside and look at the majority and not the minority.Just because one person covered in tattoos does not have meaning behind their tattoos does not mean the whole tattoo is the same way. Also, in going with the post I myself would love to have a couple tattoos myself since I enjoy looking at tattoos and learning about the story behind each one.
I agree with Megan that tattoos on a person may not mean anything to the viewer, but they have personal meaning to the one who wears it. Tattoos, just like graffiti and other forms of art, have great symbolism. There are many people who believe that tattoos destroy one’s image, although like Megan said, it serves as an illustration of the person wearing it. People get tattoos for many reasons but a very popular reason to get a tattoo is to remember a certain memory or person. Individuals with tattoos express themselves on their skin and by doing so put themselves out there to be viewed by others. Tattooing in a way is the most confident way to display artwork, it is basically permanent and people forever display the work they get done, not like a painting you can throw in the closet when you’re tired of looking at it.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is entitle to their opinion. But what those who say tattoos ruin ones image do not take into consideration that tattoos are a part of history. Like your example with the numeric markings given to the Jews in the Holocaust, there are the Maori of New Zealand. Back when they were known as a tribal community, when the sons would grow up to exceptional warriors they would have tribal markings tattooed on their face and body.
ReplyDeleteI also have a tattoo, and that tattoo tells a story. Another thing people overlook is that it is a way to express ones self, as well as tell a story. My tattoo is in memory of my grandfather, and the rest of the ink I plan on getting will be of great meaning to me.
To me getting a tattoo is a personal choice people make to express themselves. However they must be very careful and think through exactly what they want, because once you get a tattoo you’re basically stuck with it your entire life. Unless you get some sort or laser procedure to burn it off. That’s not to say that getting a tattoo is necessarily a bad idea. I personally think you can’t judge someone based on a tattoo because they have a right to express themselves as much as you do. Plus people who go through life or death situations will sometimes get tattoos of biblical quotes that they may have read before. Honestly tattoos like that shouldn’t be bashed since there in good taste.
ReplyDeleteI feel that tattooing like so many other things truly lies in the eyes of the beholder. Cultures have been using body modification for centuries to promote many different messages including strength, knowledge, and ferocity. Today many people attempt to do this by having frightening animals drawn on themselves, perhaps to show a kind of masculinity. Or many people use tattoos to show their opinion on something important to them. For example, I have a relative who got a tattoo on her shoulders to commemorate her mother's fight with breast cancer. In this sense I feel that tattoos can be used to promote something of real meaning and importance to someone.
ReplyDeleteSome people use tattoos to promote negative messages including racism. However, when discussing something as truly ambiguous as tattoos it is important that one does not generalize or stereotype the art of tattoos as negative. Rather I fee that people should develop their own opinions regarding tattoos and respect others' choice to tattoo themselves.
Tattoos represent different people in different ways. Throughout history people had tattoos to represent their status in many different ways. Tattoos in today's society are do not seem to be as rare. Tattooing is a personal choice, but there seems to be many different reasons for it now. Some people get a tattoo just to say they have done it or to feel in charge, others get tattoos to signify something important in their lives.
ReplyDeleteTattoos express a lot about people. There is a great importance for people to realize tattoos are permanent and time should be taken to find the correct design and correct artist. I personally do not believe that tattoos are graffiti, unless it is done by someone else or a person is forced into it.
I complete agree with Megan and how tattooing is an illustration of the person wearing the tattoo. It is very much art in that perspective. Tattoos tell a story of where people have been and it has more meaning for the person wearing it than it does the viewers of the tattoo. A tattoo can be a reminder for people. The example that Megan gave about the Holocaust Jews and how they were given tattoos and the survivors do have the option of removing it, I would think most of them did not chose that option. It tells them every day that they are a survivor and that no matter what’s going on in their life, things cannot get worse. Tattoos are more common than ever, and it’s more than just art whether you see it that way or not, it’s a way to tell a story, your story.
ReplyDeleteJeffrey says,
ReplyDeleteI agree with Megan Sowers to some point. Tattooing is a way of expression, as well as a story which has meaning to oneself. It is an inscription you will carry with you for the rest of your life. Tattooing though, in my mind, is a form of vandalism on the body. You are critiquing an image that was not created to modify. Take Lizard Man for example. He had a full body tattoo job, and his tongue slit; or the lady we looked at on Friday with horn implants. These people draw attention to themselves by, in my perspective, destroying their self image. Who wants to look like that forever? Do they not think about their future? Are they content with the image they portray for the rest of their lives? I mean these two examples are pretty extreme from just a regular tattoo, but they pretty much go hand and hand. I do not view someone differently who has a tattoo of some sort, I am not against tattooing. If it is something they enjoy and like, something which marks their personality or life, then so be it. But what I do believe is ridiculous is Lizard man and the woman with horn implants. Tattooing is an ever-growing form of art which illustrates meaning, but is a tattoo going to look as good as it does now in 70 years?
I believe that tattoos are a form of body art. If a person decides to get an amateur to do their tattoo, that is their fault. Many people think that tattoos are just becoming popular but they actually have been around for a long time. Personally, I like looking at the really nice tattoos. The ones that are symbolic are the nicer ones. I would not be offended my any one of my friends tattoos because it is an expression of THEIR feelings, not mine.
ReplyDeletePlus, I like Tattoos!
I too, like the guest speaker, had gotten a tattoo in a circumstance that wasn't very conditional. I was young and at that time, it was the "cool" thing to do. To this day, even though it is something I'm not very fond of, I do not regret my decision to get the tattoo.
ReplyDeleteMany people are very judgemental about tattoos, especially older adults. They feel that tattoos can destroy someone's appearance. I disagree completely. Take for example myself. I have been to many interviews for professional jobs, and I have gotten the chance to work in many different offices. At the one particular office, my collegues knew nothing of my tattoos for months. One particular coworker had mentioned many times about tattoos being distasteful in his mind. (He never knew I had any.) In a social event, outside of the office, he then discovered my fancy for body art. Eventhough he hated tattoos, he had already known me for me, not for what was drawn on my body. He admitted later that he has since changed his aspects on tattoos, and has since gotten one himself.
Body art is just that. Art.
I think tattoos are art, because they are expressive, but like art, some have been conceived of with meaning and deliberation, and some seem like their content was of less importance to the recipient than just getting a tattoo. I don't believe tattoos are graffiti because I think the term graffiti connotes that the undertaking of the work was nonconsensual, which 99% of tattoos are not. I can see how some would believe that tattoos are graffiti if they believe their body belongs to some higher power, but I don't feel this way.
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ReplyDeleteI feel that tattoos are art. All of my tattoos has a meaning behind it. I think if someone wants to get a tattoo they have their own reason for getting it. some people feel that its messing up your temple, to me its your body and if you want a tattoo you can get one. everyone is entitled to their opinion.I love all of my tattoos.
ReplyDeleteRachel said:
ReplyDeleteI believe that tattoos are a form of art. Who is to say what someone can and cannot do with their bodies? I believe that older adults that are against tattoos and think that they make someone a horrible person because they have one should try and re-think the way that they do. In this century so many people have tattoos that I believe that people shouldn’t be punished in the work place for having them because they may have used to mean that someone isn’t as hard of a worker because they have tattoos, but that is not true at all. I personally would have tattoos myself if I wasn’t afraid of needles.
Many people throughout the United States think that tattoos are inappropriate and unattractive. However, they fail to see the true meaning of the tattoo to the person who has it. In many cases, tattoos are gotten in remembrance of a late relative or friend. Every time the person sees their tattoo, they are reminded at the good times they had with that person. Also, people get tattoos to show things that are important to them. It is a persons right to get anything they would like on their body. When it comes to the lizard man and others like him, I believe that they also have to right to change themselves into this image. I also believe that the people viewing tattoos and people like the lizard man have the right to view these people the way they please.
ReplyDeleteI believe that getting a tattoo is a person's own decision. It is after all permanent and something that will be on your body for the rest of your life (unless you get it removed). I believe that the guest speaker truly had a meaning behind his tattoo, even if I personally didn't like it or agree with it. I think that is perfectly normal for people to have tattoos, especially ones that are for someone that has passed. I do not agree with people taking tattoos to the extreme though. A prime example of this would be lizard man, whom we spoke about in class. In my opinion there has to be something mentally wrong with this man. To be normal and function in society, you can not possibly walk around with your whole entire body tattooed. If you have children and get married when your older, aren't you going to be embarassed by making stupid decisions when you were young? Overall, it is your body and you are free to do what you want with it, but I strongly feel that you need to really take every aspect of getting a tattoo into consideration before you step foot into a tattoo parlor.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with this post. Tattooing is an art expression of the body. I plan on getting several tattoo's when iI have the money because I want to represent the things that matter in my life. I work with a man covered in tattoos and I don't even realize them anymore because if you actually know the people that get them the image of the person doesn't really matter anymore. Some people might be angry they got them later in life but those are the people that just think their cool and have no meaning behind them.
ReplyDeleteI Think tattoos are a way of expressing how someone feels about another person a group or about something that is or has gone on in their life. people that I know have gotten tattoos that are in rememberence of someone that passed away or gotten them for someone. A person I know got a tattoo when her grandmother passed away and it had an angel and the dates on it tattoos are not all bad.
ReplyDeleteI think that tattoos are a form of art and symbolizes a person's beliefs. Some see it as destroying your body but many see it as an art that has meaning behind it. If I were to ever get a tattoo, I would get something that would have some meaning behind it and that would be the only reason as to why I would get one.
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