Tattoos

Tattoos and Piercing Jeffrey Hayes Axia College of University of Phoenix Tattoos and piercing is a huge part of today’s society. Some people assume tattoos and piercing are new to the world, but they have been around for over five thousands years. I will expose the dangers of receiving tattoos and piercing and show how they relate to prison life. I will also explain the meanings of some tattoos and I will affirm who made the first tattoo gun. Skin decorating is nothing new, piercing and tattoos have been around for over five thousand years. Receiving piercing or tattoo is a form of altering a person’s body. The skin is the body’s ultimate protective barrier. (Lifescripts, 2006 p.2 para 1). When a person breaks his or her skin, infections and certain skin reactions can occur. These are some of the health risk of receiving tattoos and piercing: Allergic reactions are common; tattoo dyes can cause an itchy rash, particularly red dye, even years after the initial work. With body piercing, just like in the ears, jewelry that is made of nickel or brass can also cause allergic reactions. (Lifescripts, 2006 p 2 para 4) Infections are especially common with body piercing. Signs of a piercing infection include swelling, redness, warmth, and discharge. While naval piercing may look cute, especially on a toned tummy, they can take the longest to heal. (Lifescripts, 2006 p 2 para 5) Skin disorders can occur. Skin disorders from tattoos include keloids, raised skin with excessive scarring, and bumps called granulomas, both caused by the tattoo ink. (Lifescripts, 2006 p 3 para 1) Unsterilized needles can spread disease. The most serious risk is blood-borne diseases like hepatitis, tetanus and HIV/AIDS. (Lifescripts, 2006 p 3 para 2) Oral complications may also arise from tongue or lip piercings. The jewelry not only causes oral infections, but also cracked teeth and gum damage, which can lead to gum disease. (Lifescripts, 2006 p 3 para 5) When people decide to partake in tattoo or piercing, they do not factor in the life threatening consequences that take place. Tattoos are permanent, lasers and dermabrasions help to remove tattoos but they are expensive, painful, and can lead to permanent scaring, and they are not a one hundred percent guaranteed. If a person decides to receive a tattoo or piercing, make sure the person uses sterile equipment. The use of an autoclave, a heat sterilization machine regulated by the Food and Drug Administration recommended for the cleaning of all non-disposable equipment (Lifescripts, 2006 p 4 para 5). All equipment that cannot be clean by an autoclave should be cleaned with a commercial disinfectant or bleach solution (Lifescripts, 2006 p 5 para 1). A professional with gloves on opens the needles, tube, pigments, trays and containers. Piercing guns are not able to receive sterilization by an autoclave and may cause excessive trauma to the area (Lifescripts, 2006 p 5 para 4). The professional must wash his or her hands before every procedure and wear a new pair of latex gloves (Lifescripts, 2006 p 5 para 4). The artist should not have a problem answering any of the questions a person may have. Make certain that the individual hold the proper certifications. The artist must provide the person with written instructions on the care of the tattoo. (Lifescripts, 2006), states that for oral piercing, use an antibacterial, alcohol-free mouthwash each time after eating and refrain from kissing the significant other for a few weeks (p 6 para 3). Clean body piercing around the area with a gentle soap and water solution twice a day (Lifescripts, 2006 p 6 para 4). After washing jewelry, twist it back and forth to ensure the cleanser gets underneath the piercing (Lifescripts 2006, p 6 para 5). Remember to clean the area of the tattoo with antibacterial soap and use a moisturizer (Lifescripts, 2006 p 6 para 6). Avoid sun light and chlorinated pools for the first few weeks. If person decides to get a tattoo or piercing, do the research and make an accurate decision, and ensure the person applying the tattoo is certified, and licensed. I have explained the dangers of tattoos, now I will get into the history of tattoos. Tattoo comes from the word Tahitian “tatu” which means; “to mark something” (Tattoo You n.d.). People claim that tattooing has been around since 1200 BC (Tattoo You). Tattooing has played an important role in rituals and tradition. Tattoo You states that women in Bomeo, tattooed symbols on their forearm indicating their particular skill. If a woman had a tattoo indicating she was a skilled weaver, her status as marriageable material increased (Tattoo You n.d para 2). People wore tattoos around their wrist and fingers to ward off illness. Tattoos have signified membership of a clan or society. Groups like the Hell Angels today wear tattoos to symbolize their group (Tattoo You). A person believed that wearer of an image calls the spirit of that image. During the times of the building of the pyramids in Egypt, the first tattoo was born. Greek, Crete, Persia, and Arabia picked up and expanded the form of tattoos and in 200 BC tattooing spread to China (Tattoo You). Tattoo You states that, Greeks used tattooing as a form of communication among spies and tattoos showed their rank. Ainu people used tattooing to show social status and girls coming of age were marked to show their place in society, as were the married women (Tattoo You n.d. para 4). Ainu people introduced tattooing to Japan were tattooing developed into a religious and ceremonial rite (Tattoo You para 4). Women in Bomeo, were the tattooists. The women produced designs indicating the owner’s station in life and the tribes were he belonged. Tattoo You, states that, the women in Kayan had delicate arm tattoos which looked like lacy gloves. The tattoos on the hands of Dayak warriors gained respect and assured the owner’s status for life (Tattoo You). The Polynesians used tattoos to mark tribal communities, families, and rank. The Polynesians brought their art to New Zealand and developed a facial style of tattooing called Moko, which is still being used today (Tattoo You). In 787 AD, Pope Hadrian banned tattooing (Tattoo You). Until the Norman Invasion of 1066, tattooing still thrived in Britain (Tattoo You). Tattooing disappeared from Western culture from the 12th to the 16th centuries. Even though tattooing diminished in the west, it thrived in Japan. In the beginning, Japan used tattoos to mark criminals. The first offenses were marked with a line across the forehead. The second crime an arch is applied. Another line marked the third offence. These marks formed the Japanese character for “dog” (Tattoo You). This was the “three strike a person was out law”. The Japanese began to tattoo full body suits around the 1700 as a reaction to the strict laws (Tattoo You). In the privacy of the home, a highly tattooed person wearing only a lion cloth was considered well dressed. In the seventeen hundreds, Captain Cook made several trips to the South Pacific bringing with him a heavily tattooed Polynesian named Omai (Tattoo You). He was a sensation in London and the upper class started getting small tattoos in discreet places. The slow and pain taking procedure kept tattooing from spreading. (Tattoo You), states that, tattoos were done by hand puncturing the skin, then the ink was applied. In 1891, Samuel O’Riely patented the first electric tattooing machine. The pattern was based on Edison’s electric pen which punctured paper with a needlepoint (Tattoo You para 9). Tattooing had lost significant credibility by the turn of the century. People with heavy tattoos traveled with the circus and “Freak Shows”. Tattoo You, discovered that Betty Brodbent traveled with the circus for years, and was the main attraction (Tattoo You). Chatham Square in New York was the birthplace of tattoos in America (Tattoo You). Samuel O’Riely and Charlie Wagner set up shop there. When O’riely died, Wagner opened a supply business with Lew Alberts. Alberts was a trained wallpaper designer and transferred those skills to the design of tattoos (Tattoo You). I have showed the danger of tattoos and the history of tattoos, now; I will show how the art of tattooing reached into the walls of prison. Tattoo recognition and interpretation is valuable when dealing with state prison parolees. A convict’s tattoo will display certain information. Who he is, the crime he has committed, and where he has been (Prison Tattoos n.d. para 1). There are two methods of applying tattoos in prison, free hand using ink out of a pen, and a needle punching holes in the skin and prison made tattoo machine, consisting of a slot car motor, a hollowed out ball point pin, some guitar string, and a nine volt battery. If prison guards see an inmate, giving a tattoo the offence is serious. There are different meanings of prison tattoos (Prison Tattoos): Clock faces without hands – doing time Tombstones with numbers on them – the years they were inside Spider or cobb webs on the elbows or shoulders – doing time Eight ball – behind the eight ball or bad luck SWP – supreme white power Peckerwood or featherwood – white pride (male or female) Mexican Mafia – eagle with a snake in its mouth sitting on the letters EME Nuestra Famillia – NF or NS a sombrero covering a machete dripping blood Black Guerrilla Family – dragon attacking a prison gun tower Tattoos and piercing can be dangerous to people and the proper care is important. If a person decides to receive a tattoo, ensure the artists is a license professional and the equipment is clean, and sterile. Tattoos played an important role in history and some of the practices are continually active today. The meaning of tattoos varies depending on the culture use for tattoos. Prison tattoos has become an identification of what gang or group a person represents. The art of tattooing has been around for many years and will be around for many more. References Lifescripts. (2006). Retrieved July 19, 2009, from Body Piercing and Tattoos - The Facts Web Site: http://www.lifescript.com Tattoo You. (n.d). Retrieved August 21, 2009, from A Brief History of Tattoos Site: http://www.powerverbs.com/tattooyou/history.htm Prison Tattoos. (n.d). Retrieved August 21, 2009, from Recognition and Interpretation Site: http://www.francesfarmersrevenge.com/stuff/prison/index.htm