Preview

Stereotypes Across Culture: Tattoos Across Culture

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
755 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Stereotypes Across Culture: Tattoos Across Culture
Tattoos Across Culture
Derek Eades
Cultural Anthropology
Caitlyn Placek
07/22/2013
Tattoos Across Culture
Body art and ornamentation have been a defining cultural representation for cultures since the beginning of time. In some cultures, such as South America, China and the United States, tattoos and piercing symbolize the physical and spiritual representation of many groups of people, ranging in meaning and authority. What some represent in one culture could mean the complete opposite it another. The interesting fact that differentiates the cultures is the way they are created, applied, and distinguished among themselves. The Unites States has a fascinating history of body art that began as a sign of vulgarity but has since evolved into less of a stereotype and more of a mainstream display of …show more content…
Reed p.361 http://www.jstor.org.proxy-library.ashford.edu/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=aos The New Tattoo by Victoria Lautman Review by: Virginia Wageman Page 106 of 106+108 http://www.jstor.org.proxy-library.ashford.edu/stable/777516?&Search=yes&searchText=america&searchText=tattoo&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoAdvancedSearch%3Fq0%3Dtattoo%26f0%3Dall%26c1%3DAND%26q1%3Damerica%26f1%3Dall%26acc%3Don%26wc%3Don%26fc%3Doff%26Search%3DSearch%26sd%3D%26ed%3D%26la%3D%26pt%3D%26isbn%3D&prevSearch=&item=3&ttl=1113&returnArticleService=showFullText W. Mark Gustafson Inscripta in Fronte: Penal Tattooing in Late Antiquity Page [79] of 79-105
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Role Of Tattoo In The Polynesians
    • 235 Words
    • 1 Page

    The Role Of Tattoo In The Polynesians

    One of the common cultural practices of the Polynesians was that of tattooing. Tattoo is the way the Polynesians delivered information of its owner or the person with the tattoo. It’s also a traditional method to draw spiritual power, protection and strength of the person wearing it. The Polynesians use tattoos as a sign of a person’s character, their position and their level in a hierarchy. The Polynesians also believe that a person’s spiritual power is displayed through their tattoo. Most every Polynesian man was tattooed in ancient times (Introduction of Polynesian Tattoo History).…

    • 235 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Role Of Tattoos In Polynesian Culture
    • 486 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Role Of Tattoos In Polynesian Culture

    Men without any tattoo were despised, whereas those whose bodies were completely tattooed – the to’oata – were greatly admired. Therefore chiefs and warriors generally had the most elaborate tattoos. Girls right hand was tattooed by the age of twelve. Only after that were they allowed to prepare the meals and to participate in the rubbing of dead bodies with coconut…

    • 486 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The Role Of Tattoos In The Polynesian Islands
    • 3567 Words
    • 15 Pages

    The Role Of Tattoos In The Polynesian Islands

    Captain James Cook was one of the first who brought tattooing back Europe (Thomas 17). As he traveled island to island he found that there were many forms of tattooing on each of the…

    • 3567 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Comparative analysis
    • 1639 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Comparative analysis

    Traditionally, tattoos were meant for sailors, soldiers, bikers and gangs. Along with several changes in the industrialized and technological society of the twenty-first century, the standard for getting body modifications have altered as well. Everyday, people are willing to get permanently marked as an individual choice rather than the customarily perception of belonging to a certain group. Tattoo and piercing shops are not seen as “the backstreet” of the commercial civilization today, it is somewhat an expected sight in all public places. Josie Appleton in “The Body Piercing Project” and Bonnie Berkowitz in “Tattooing Outgrows Its Renegade Image to Thrive In The Mainstream” successfully informs and argues with the purpose of showing how the view on body modification has changed.…

    • 1639 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    What Role Do Tattoos Play In Society Essay
    • 1247 Words
    • 5 Pages

    What Role Do Tattoos Play In Society Essay

    Imagine a time where a tattoo artists position was considered highly honorable. The idea of a current priest administering a tattoo for religious purposes would no doubt be quite a controversial topic. This was the case however within these societies. Priests were extensively trained with strict practices in order to administer and hold religious rituals. These rituals would be considered celebrations while friends and relatives participated in prayers while six to eight young men were tattooed. Given these ceremonies, it was evident how significant these practices remained within these cultures. (Porcella) These markings were used as a form of visual communication. Some tattoos would indicate an individual’s place in society, while others were indicators or “rites of passage” demonstrating the transition from adolescence to…

    • 1247 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Henna Tattoos In Ancient Egyptian Culture
    • 1453 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Henna Tattoos In Ancient Egyptian Culture

    There are so many ways for people to communicate their own individuality within their community, as well as, who they are as a member of their community. Communication is more than just words, but, symbols and signs, too. Even back with the Egyptians, who used seven- to eight- hundred different symbols, called hieroglyphics, communication and storytelling was primarily through symbols. Over the years, people have symbolized who they are through body art, specifically in the form of tattoos. Tattoos, today, are seen as a way to show who we are. They tell the stories of a person, and the customs, beliefs, and the life of their culture. Tattoos are a major form of nonverbal communication in the American culture and what they want to demonstrate.…

    • 1453 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Annotated Bibliography
    • 3893 Words
    • 16 Pages

    Annotated Bibliography

    This article covers the vast and colourful history of Japanese Tattooing and how it has transformed over the centuries…

    • 3893 Words
    • 16 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Stereotypes Choice Of Having A Tattoo
    • 371 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Stereotypes Choice Of Having A Tattoo

    The majority of the people who come across women who are tattooed often respond stereotypically. Shock is usually the predominant reaction to the women getting a tattoo. Moreover, some people judge the woman with the tattoo as a bad person while others believe it is demonic. The majority of the parents interviewed in the documentary are not happy with their daughters' choice of having a tattoo. They believe that the tattoos are not suitable for women. Additionally, the tattooed women in the documentary wonder whether or not their gender plays a significant role in their discrimination.…

    • 371 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Essay On Tattoos
    • 1170 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Essay On Tattoos

    For millennia, men and woman have permanently marked their bodies by applying simple or complex designs with ink. It started as an ancient cultural tradition, then a mark of dangerous associations, or a sign of rebellion. Nowadays tattoos have become a popular and commercialized body modifications. Many are the reasons why people decided and still go through a painful and permanent procedure to mark their bodies. In ancient times, tattoos were applied for medical or religious reasons, in modern era can be considered a rebellious act, a way to proof our own individuality, or to perpetuate a moment or a person in our lives.…

    • 1170 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    History of Tattoos
    • 1579 Words
    • 7 Pages

    History of Tattoos

    Did you know that the first sign of tattoos were discovered on the “Iceman” dating back over five thousand centuries? These tattoos were simple lines and dots, but the significance is unknown. The word tattoo is said to have two major derivations- from the Polynesian word ‘ta’ which means striking something and the Tahitian word ‘tatau’ which means ‘to mark something’. After reading this, one will know the background and history of tattoos, the evolution of the equipment used to give tattoos, and the medical risks involved with getting a tattoo. People that do not have or agree with tattoos are sometimes labeled as freaks or rebels. People get tattoos to express their personalities or religious beliefs. Religious tattoos and other symbols are nothing new, tattoos were actually discovered on mummies which dated as far back as 3000 B.C.…

    • 1579 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Tattoos In Society
    • 1636 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Tattoos In Society

    Tribal communities would often use tattoos to decorate a warrior and display his feats and things there were completed. In some tribal communities of people women tattooed themselves in order to be more attractive to the men. Tattoos haven’t always been that now tattoos are almost a standard in our society. But even today the reason and meaning behind and individual’s tattoos are still very personal but not as meaningful as before .Most people are getting tattoos to wear the names of a love one that they commonly regret getting get it removed ,or they get their favorite sport team or something that is deeply and meaningful only to them. Women ages 18 and older are wearing tattoos so all of the world can see. For women there tattoos are often subtle and symbolic. Tattoos are beautiful remarkable, symbolic and they are an artistic way of expressing yourself through symbolism and…

    • 1636 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Tattoo Differences In American Culture
    • 4851 Words
    • 20 Pages

    Tattoo Differences In American Culture

    Long considered a hallmark of American deviance, the tattoo has undergone drastic redefinition in recent decades. No longer the purview of bikers, punks and thugs, tattooing is increasingly practiced and appropriated by mainstream, middle class individuals (DeMello 41; Irwin 50). For many young Americans, the tattoo has taken on a decidedly different meaning than for previous generations. Estimates on the number of Americans with tattoos generally range from one in ten to one in five (Kosut 1036; Stirn, Hinz, and Bráhler 533).…

    • 4851 Words
    • 20 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Outline on Tattoos
    • 743 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Outline on Tattoos

    Bibliography: Lineberry, Cate. “Tattoos The Ancient and Mysterious History.” Smithsonian.com. 01 January 2007. 23 June 2013 <http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/tattoo.html?c=y&page=1>…

    • 743 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    History of Body Modification
    • 594 Words
    • 3 Pages

    History of Body Modification

    Two of the main reasons why body modification was started are religious and social. Few religions use tattoos as a sign of maturity. In ancient Catholic religion when a child, both male and female, reached puberty they were tattoo as a sign of adulthood. Other religions view tattoos as a sign of maturity. In the Italian Apennines tattoos were used as a way to reproduce the stigmata of the saint. The Aztecs, Maya, and Native Indians have used tongue piercings as part of their religious rituals. Ancient Egyptians used different kinds of piercings as signs of a person’s social status. The wealthier a person was the more elaborate the piercing. Only the Pharaoh could have the now popular navel piercing. In England during…

    • 594 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Discrimination Against Tattoos And Piercings
    • 352 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Discrimination Against Tattoos And Piercings

    Throughout society tattoos and body piercings are often seen as dirty, irresponsible, and disgusting. The “fact that tattoos were once reserved only…

    • 352 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics