Expository_Essay

Tattoos For over thousands of years, people all over the world have tattooed their bodies. The reasons behind making these significant marks on the body differ from person to person. This essay will provide detailed information that highlights the specific nature of the fascination of tattoos and why people choose to get them. Times have changed over the decades and the different generations that have emerged continue to use the art of tattooing as a means of expression. People often ask; why do people get tattoos' This is a question that can not easily be answered. The love of the art of tattooing stems comes from many reasons. The expression of personal messages provides an outlet for those who want to use this type of art to make a statement. Story telling is also common with tattoos. When an individual has experienced something in their lives that they want to carry with them always, they chose a tattoo to define the image. The history of tattoos dates back thousands of years. According to Lineberry (2007) humans have marked their bodies with tattoos for various reasons. These permanent designs, sometimes plain, sometimes elaborate but always personal have served as amulets, status symbols, declarations of love, signs of religious beliefs, adornments and even forms of punishment (para. 1). Tattoos are now part of everyday society with over 60% of all North Americans aged 18 to 30 years old having at least one tattoo (Tattoo Museum, 2009). The word tattoo derives from two different cultures, the Polynesian word “ta” that means striking something and the Tahitian work “tatau” that means marking something (Designboom, 2009). There is much diversity in the people who wear tattoos. The culture, national origin or even race is not a factor when a person has a tattoo or the reasons behind choosing to get a tattoo. Tattoo culture is about the rituals and social significance of tattooing in many cultures around the world. The record of human history shows that tattoos have served in many various and diverse cultures as rites of passage, marks of status and rank, symbols of religious and spiritual devotion, decorations for bravery, sexual lures and marks of fertility, pledges of love, punishment, amulets and talisman, protection and as the marks of outcasts and convicts (Tattoo Culture, 2009). Many groups or affiliations use symbols to identity them, having a symbol tattooed on the body is very common today. Gangs, motorcycle clubs and even brotherhoods and sisterhood affiliations, chose tattoos as a way to show that they belong to a particular group. The ultimate symbol for a gang member is to get a tattoo. Getting a permanent mark is a sign of showing their total commitment to their gang. Gang tattoos reveal a lot of things like; who you are, what gang your in, how many years you have spent in jail and even things like how many you have killed (Designboom 2009). The most common reason for getting a tattoo is still religious beliefs. The cross is one of the most tattooed symbols in the world. Regardless of a person’s Christian denomination, the cross is a symbol of Christ dying on the cross and is used to show alliance to the church when wearing this symbol. The art of the tattoo has become extremely popular with the younger generations in most recent decades. Although the style reasons and the way of tattooing is different from place to place, the symbolic nature of an individuals reason behind the tattoo, whether it be devotion or some other know reason remains the same. The younger generations of children are not the only ones getting tattoos however you see younger people displaying tattoos readily. Modern tattooing that has become such a fascination is very widespread in the United States. Tattoos have become a statement of style. From rock stars, to athletes a tattoo can also be spotted on teenagers. Tattoos being very popular in the younger generation promoted a study amount students and business people in the United States. Instead of calling it tattooing, these students choose to call it body adornment. A study was performed on over 1,400 students and 581 business people in three states. The study reviled that the students felt it was important to express who they are with body adornment and felt they should not be looked at differently because of it. The business people maintained that the students needed to understand the business world and the perceptions that would be formed about them when have tattoos. The business people in the study reviled that having tattoos could hurt the student’s changes of getting a good job with a reputable company. The study is just another way to assess the attitudes that surround tattooing. Memorial tattoos have become very common in people of all ages. The most common of these types of tattoos are shown with the date and name of the loved one, along with an inscription such as “In loving Memory. Generally these tattoos are a simple way of honoring a loved one. The memorial tattoo is also one of the most personal tattoos a person can get. The personal nature of this tattoo and the permanent tribute to a person or an event makes it a sacred symbol for those who chose to immortalize their feelings. Most recently since the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Memorial tattoos have heightened. American pride tattoos have gotten so large that many tattoo shops have had to find different pictures to copy from. These tattoos are very heartfelt and the most common being a flag or butterfly alongside the flag with the date of remembrance. Memorial tattoos have also been used for pets. Pet’s are family to many people and when a pet passes away this can cause devastating heartbreak. Pets are seen as loved ones and these beloved animals have also been memorialized with a tattoo. A memorial tattoo for a pet can be done in the same way that one would get for any other member of their family. Depending on the person, a picture of the pet is also tattooed for lasting memory. Paying tribute with a tattoo is similar to a memorial tattoo in that it is designed to remember a person, place, or event. In most cases, military tattoos fall under this category. Men and women who have served in the armed forces and their family members pay tribute to their experiences with tattoos. Many people find the history of tattoos fascinating and are very interested in how the tattoo culture has evolved over the years. The days will come when tattoos are no longer looked upon in a harsh way or people are judged for having a tattoo. Learning the reasoning behind it, whether it’s cultural, spiritual or memorial is important prior to judging those who choose to have them. There controversy that surrounds the culture of tattooing like many other types of fads. The most significant would be whether or not tattoos cause cancer. The different types of dyes that are used in the tattooing process are not always healthy for the skin or body. Studies have shown that there is a considerable amount of cases reported that involved allergic reactions to the ink as well as skin rashes. The study also indicated that having tattoos on the body makes it more difficult to see skin cancer. This is to say that the tattoos caused the cancer; just that identifying skin cancer is more difficult if the body is tattooed. According to Doremus (2009) patients who are diagnosed with melanomas in the colored area of a tattoo present a clinical challenge because of the inability to see changes in color, shape, and pigment of the lesions. The other studies done on tattoos and skin cancer indicate that tattoos can mask skin cancer as well as been mistaken for skin cancer in areas of the body. It is safe to say that people interested in getting a tattoo should know all the pros and cons prior to committing. There are many tattoo shops to choose from. It is important that anyone seeking to get a tattoo chose a reputable person to do the job and that they are aware of any consequences that could occur in terms of allergic reactions or skin rashes. Having a friend do an in home tattoos is never safe. The needles and equipment used must be sterile and care should be taken at all times not cause skin irritation. The best way to ensure that the tattoo is being done correctly is to use a licensed person in that field do the tattooing. In conclusion, a tattoo is a permanent mark or design on the body that has significant meaning for those who chose to receive them. The sentimental value of what a tattoo means to a person can only be explained by that person and in most cases it is a deep rooted event or life experience that is never to be forgotten that prompts the need for a tattoo. Based on all information provided in this essay, tattoos are here to stay. References Jackson, B. (2007). 5 Reasons Why People Get Tattoos. Associated Content.-_ Retrieved October 24, 2009, from http://www.associatedcontent.com Lineberry, C. (2007). Tattoos The Ancient and Mysterious History. Retrieved October 25, 2009, from http://www.smithsonianmag.com Designboom. (2009). A Brief History of Tattoos. Retrieved October 25, 2009, from http://www.designboom.com/history/tattoo_history.html Tattoo Culture. (2009) Think before you ink! Retrieved October 25, 2009, from http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tattoos_culture.htm The World’s Largest Online Tattoo Museum. (2009). Retrieved October 25, 2009, from http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tattoo_museum/index.html Doremus, A.R. (2009, April). Can tattoos cause cancer' Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, p.231(2). Retrieved November 13, 2009, from Gale PowerSearch database. Dale, L.R., Bevill, S., Roach, T., Glascow, S., Bracy, C. (2009 Jan) Body adornment: A comparison of the attitudes of businesspeople and students in three states. Academy of Educational Leadership Journal, 13.1 p. 69(9). Retrieved November 14, 2009, from Gale PowerSearch database.