Tattoos_and_Why_People_Get_Them

Tattoos And Why People Get Them Lonnie R. Stare, II November 28, 2008 Tattoos and the reasons why people get them The world is home to many different people. There are many different personalities, cultures, and societies function in very different ways. And at times, we show our individualities through self expression. Usually this comes out through our personalities and develops as we grow. But sometimes, we can take a particular instance of expression and have it explode into something more. The way we identify with one another can be in many forms as well. Uniforms, gender, or skin tone identifies us. Religion and religious practices vary between cultures. Tattoos and tattoo art are ways people can express and identify themselves in many different ways. They can help identify different groups and body art is seen throughout religious history. But while some reasons for getting tattoos are trivial, other reasons are more significant. Religion and religions practices are the backbone for many cultures around the world. Entire societies in many parts of the world are governed by their religious beliefs and ideas. Body art and tattooing are a part of different religions groups. The tattoos may be a representation of their god, symbols for different family groups within the society, or be a way of displaying social status. By the early 18th century, European sailors encountered the inhabitants of the South and Central Pacific islands. There, tattoos were an important part of the culture. When a Tahitian girl reached the age of sexual maturity, her buttocks were tattooed black, a tradition that continues among some today. When in mourning, Hawaiians tattooed their tongues with three dots. In Borneo, natives tattooed an eye on the palm of their hands as a spiritual guide that would lead them to the next life. (National Geographic.com, 2004)Sometimes a tattoo will be worn to show an allegiance to their god, or the tattoo with cause the person to be a vessel for their god. Also, larger or more intricate body markings will tell of a higher or lower ranking status for a family or group. If a certain marking is placed on a person, they may be an outcast and asked to leave. Or if a family is considered to have a higher rank or place in the society, they may be marked in a display for the higher ranking. In each case, the design or selection of the tattoo is dictated by each group’s religious laws and beliefs. Tattoos come in many forms, styles, colors, and designs. For some people it has become a way of life. The tattoo transforms them into something completely different from what, as a human, we were born to be. A full body tattoo of an animal, thus that person thinking they are the animal for life. This Leopard Man is of course not an evil beast half-man, half-tiger who exists in the nightmares of children; he is the man who holds the record for being the most tattooed person in the world. He is a fact of life in Kyle, someone you don't want to hit with your fishing boat, the slightly odd man your children stare at. (bootsnall.com, July 2008) Sometimes, a tattoo may be used in a ritual as a rite of passage. The marking may not be permanent and just used to represent a stage in the ritual. Also, in death, a tattoo may be left for a final indication of closing or sealing of the soul. People may earn a living giving tattoos and body art. There are groups that simply love art and have found a passion in body art and tattoos. Tattoos are art, and there are many reasons for getting a tattoo. It's now just an everyday thing. An event like the International London Tattoo Convention can attract thousands of punters, queuing round the block to get tattoos and to witness the human canvasses covered in eye-wateringly intricate designs. (BBC News, October 2007) Even if the reasons are trivial, to each person, they are all significant. If art, expression, and its freedoms did not exist, what would be the vessel of expression' There are many examples ranging from music, building and sculpting, aquatic, and even the written word are all examples of self expression. Tattoos and tattoo art has become one of the most common and visible form of expression. It is just one of the many ways we differentiate and define ourselves as individuals. The tattoos may be for religious, acceptance, a display of affection, or simply because someone just wants one. How do you express yourself'