I grew up as the son of an Anglican minister, not an environment conducive to getting a tattoo. I still got one though, and was quite happy when it was complete. My father blew up when he found out what I had done to my body. When I told him that I considered it a piece of art, he nearly threw me out of the house. "What are people going to think about you when they see your tattoo?" he asked.
My answer simply was: let them think what they want, I like it.
This is the ultimate reason behind the growing trend of "body mutilation" in the United States. The new generation believes in the expression of their own personality, not that of their parents. By digressing away from the trends of the older generation, the youth of today makes a stand. The labeling of the youths as, "Generation X" expresses a sort of uselessness; the common term applied, "slackers", also supports the lack of purpose in life for our generation. The body mutilation and tattooing is the 'come-back' attitude.
The tattoo culture seems to have made a complete circle. It's origins are from ancient cultures as a mark of privilege or royalty, as seen in the native Hawaiian culture. As it moves through the centuries, it becomes somewhat of a negative image, of something of the past, as something "pagan," for those that had tattoos were thought of as being savages. Later in it's progression, tattoo were portrayed as an expression of rebellious strength, in the sense of being a 'bad-ass'. Today tattooing has reached a point in our culture where it, once again, has become stylish and a symbol not so much of recklessness, as in our parents generation, but of conformity to certain ideas and beliefs, a symbol of belonging. Where once people who had tattoos were either powerful, like the ancient Hawaiians, or criminals, now everyday Joe's are walking around in their business suits with Tasmanian Devils tattooed on their hips. This isn't necessarily a male pastime either; some of the women walking around downtown in your own city are hiding intricate art works on their bodies. The people that have tattoos are the same ones taking your deposit at the bank or helping you at the local department store.
Tattoos are unique decorations in the sense that individuals can keep them with themselves until death. While rings, like paintings, may be destroyed or lost, a tattoo can not be taken away from the individual. The individual can ascribe personal values and meanings to the art work, without the fear of ever losing it. Each moment can is eternalized by tattooing, it remains as a mark of the emotions and happenings that the individual experiences when getting the tattoo.
Are tattoos a show of conformity? In many cases, yes. A majority of the people on the street today have the tattoos that only twenty years ago, scared parents. Yet, the reason for tattooing is not always for the appreciation of tattoos as works of art. Look at the music videos on TV today - the celebrities in the movies with their painted - on tattoos. Why are so many people getting tattoos? Peer pressure, the power of the media to influence our mind, these are parts of the reason that tattoos have become such a part of the mainstream culture in the United States.
We can also say, however, that the increase in the information available through TV and other aspects of the media, has brought about a new appreciation for tattoos as works of art. By being exposed to more types and designs, tattoos have become commonly seen decoration. Not only can tattoos be beautiful, but they can also be incredible, noble works of art, since those decorated by tattoos have gone through the pain to attain the beauty.
http://www.trincoll.edu/zines/tj/tj12.7.95/articles/tattoo.html
