Photo Project

Nia Bolden

9/25/12

Tatted

 

          The word tattoo derives from the Polynesian word ‘ta’ which means to strike something and the Tahitian word ‘tatau’ which means to mark something. To tattoo someone is basically inserting colored materials underneath the skin. Tattooing is over thousands of years old and was first introduced to the western world by the Polynesians during the era of European colonization. At first tattooing was done among some of the explorers as a way to remember their explorations. Then tattooing became popular with the aristocrats and elite. But back then people had to get their tattoos in concealed areas on their bodies. Rarely did one walk around covered in tattoos unless they were a part of some type of show or circus. Then, technological advancements in machinery lead to a unique style of tattooing in the United States. During the late 20th and early 21st centuries, tattooing slowly became a part of the American culture especially for sailors and military servicemen. But even with its newfound popularity, tattoos were generally viewed with great rejection in most of society. Many people who had tattoos got them in places that could be covered so they wouldn’t be shunned or deemed as of low class.  It was hard to be taken seriously because people looked at tattoos as destruction of the body not as a respected form of self-expression. The origins of tattooing in the western world can be traced back to indigenous cultures, so it was affiliated with being uncivilized. Tattooing has grown relatively popular over time, but still it has always been seen as negative because in a way it’s very rebellious. This view point about tattoos still holds steady in society today, but with the emergence of new generations the tolerance levels for body art seem to have increased. It’s becoming more and more common to see young people “tatted” (covered in tattoos). Tattoos aren’t just a fun rebellious thing to partake in anymore. They are becoming a new form of communication. And so in the future, tattoos will be accepted in society as valid art forms of self-expression and self-identification.

          The forms of visual rhetoric that I chose are filters over my picture, blurry focus, and locations of the tattoo on the person’s body. For a majority of the pictures I used a filter over them. I thought the filters made the pictures look cooler and the colors more vibrant. I really wanted my pictures to bring all the audience’s attention to the tattoo and nothing else. For this reason I used a blurred vision over many of my photos. Almost all of my pictures, especially the ones that have a lot going on in the background, have everything that surrounds the tattoo blurred out. I wanted the focus to just be on the tattoos to show the tattoos significance to that person. I also did not show anyone’s face in the pictures. I deliberately did this again to show the importance the tattoo has to the person. Tattoos are not just markings on someone’s body, they’re apart of the person like any other body part. They are the ultimate form of self-expression because tattoos are the most permanent. Tattoos mean so much more too people than others realize, especially for my generation. Tattoos are a way of controlling our bodies and finding pieces of who we are at a time in our lives where control and self-identity seem so unattainable. And that is why I used the filters, focuses, and no faces in my pictures to really hone in on the tattoo. I chose to take pictures of tattoos that I felt were in obvious places and not easy to cover up on the body. For example, a majority of the pictures within my set are pictures of people with hand and wrist tattoos. I chose these pictures and put them together on purpose because I feel like they help to prove my argument. These kids have tattoos in places that the whole world can see and too them, this is normal. It’s not out of the ordinary to see our generation with sleeves, wrist tattoos, hand, an even face tattoos. I think this says a lot about what the future entails and a huge possible shift in our society’s opinions of a tattoo’s true significance.

          As previously stated, the negative mindset about tattoos is going to change for the better in the future. As our generation gets older and the next generation comes along, there will be more middle-aged adults with tattoos and even younger kids with tattoos. In all aspects of everyday life, it will be common to see people with a lot of tattoos and in less discrete areas. From the workplace, home, Neighborhood Park, school, etc., not just in urban areas, tattoos will be seen more frequently than before. This means tattoos will not only be looked at as just damage to the body by society, but as actual artistic outlets as well. To dig deeper, this acceptance will also add to the types of communication. Tattoos are obvious forms of self-expression too some, but with a wider acceptance, new doors will open in terms of how we communicate with one another. Being tatted or having a tattoo uncovered will be acknowledged as a way of expressing ones inner feelings. Tattoos will no longer be shunned or seen as savage-like, but rather a new way for people to communicate their emotions with others. Tattoos will also be seen as normal ways of identifying one’s self. Rather than seeing someone that has a lot of visible tattoos as someone with no self-respect, that person will be seen as someone using their tattoos as symbols to make up part of their identity. They’re telling the world how they see themselves regardless of what anyone else thinks. The use of tattoo art as new ways of communication and self-identification is significant for us a culture because it shows progressions in our society. This is progression because it says that our society is becoming more open-minded as far as how people choose to express themselves. Tattoos aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, tattoos are taking part in freeing up the limitations of what’s acceptable and what’s not, thus moving toward a more modern society.

          It is often said that everyone is different and argued how important it is to hold on to our individualism, but never is this idea truly practiced. For a long time and even today people try so hard to fit in with everyone else. People are still afraid of being seen as different. Tattoo art is helping to break this pattern because it separates us from each other by displaying our inner selves. Also, by getting covered in tattoos one takes the risk of possibly being looked at as an outcast with no future. But with the popularity of tattoos and this movement among younger generations known as “getting tatted”, our society is definitely moving forward in terms of tolerance levels. We’re becoming less conventional when it comes to outward appearance and what are proper forms of self-expression. This time period and the influences of today’s cultural icons are the causes for this progression. The younger generations aren’t looking at getting tattoos as terrible, but instead as unique ways to convey their individualism. Having tattoos is just the cool thing to do now. And when this phase passes, having a lot of tattoos won’t be a huge deal in the future just another art form.

Link to set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nialenee/sets/72157631605280932/show/
Link to stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nialenee/show/