Tattoo's : A Permanent Mark on Pop Culture

The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian "tatu" which means "to mark

something." It is arguably claimed that tattooing has existed since 12,000 years BC.

The purpose of tattooing has varied from culture to culture and its place on the time

line. But there are similarities that prevail form the earliest known tattoos to those being

performed on people around the world today.

Tattoos have always had an important role in ritual and tradition. In Borneo,

women tattooed symbols on their forearm indicating their particular skill. If a

woman wore a symbol indicating she was a skilled weaver, her status as prime

marriageable material was increased. Tattoos around the wrist and fingers were

believed to ward away illness.

Throughout history tattoos have signified membership in a clan or society. Even

today groups like the Hells Angels tattoo their particular group symbol. TV and

movies have used the idea of a tattoo indication membership in a secret society

numerous times. It has been believed that the wearer of an image calls the spirit of

that image.. That tradition holds true today shown by the proliferation of images of

tigers, snakes, and bird of prey.

In recorded history, the earliest tattoos can be found in Egypt during the time of

the construction of the great pyramids (It undoubtedly started much earlier). When

the Egyptians expanded their empire, the art of tattooing spread as well.

The civilizations of Crete, Greece, Persia, and Arabia picked up and expanded the art

form. Around 2000 BC tattooing spread to China.

The Greeks used tattooing for communication among spies. Markings identified

the spies and showed their rank. Romans marked criminals and slaves. This

practice is still carried on today. The Ainu people of western Asia used tattooing to

show social status. Girls coming of age were marked to announce their place in

society, as were the married women. The Ainu are noted for introducing tattoos to

Japan where it developed into a religious and ceremonial rite. In Borneo, women

were the tattooists. It was a cultural tradition. They produced designs indicating the

owners station in life and the tribe he belonged to. Kayan women had delicate arm

tattoos which looked like lacy gloves. Dayak warriors who had "taken a head" had

tattoos on their hands. The tattoos garnered respect and assured the owners status

for life. Polynesians developed tattoos to mark tribal communities, families, and

rank. They brought their art to New Zealand and developed a facial style of

tattooing called Moko which is still being used today. There is evidence that the

Mayan, Incas, and Aztecs used tattooing in the rituals. Even the isolated tribes in

Alaska practiced tattooing, their style indicating it was learned from the Ainu.

In the west, early Britons used tattoos in ceremonies. The Danes, Norse, and

Saxons tattooed family crests (a tradition still practiced today). In 787 AD, Pope

Hadrian banned tattooing. It still thrived in Britain until the Norman Invasion of

1066. The Normans disdained tattooing. It disappeared from Western culture from

the 12th to the 16th centuries.

While tattooing diminished in the west, it thrived in Japan. At first, tattoos were

used to mark criminals. First offenses were marked with a line across the forehead.

A second crime was marked by adding an arch. A third offense was marked by

another line. Together these marks formed the Japanese character for "dog". It

appears this was the original "Three strikes your out" law. In time, the Japanese

escalated the tattoo to an aesthetic art form. The Japanese body suit originated

around 1700 as a reaction to strict laws concerning conspicuous consumption. Only

royalty were allowed to wear ornate clothing. As a result of this, the middle class

adorned themselves with elaborate full body tattoos. A highly tattooed person

wearing only a loin cloth was considered well dressed, but only in the privacy of

their own home. 1

The tattooed in the western world today include many people from various

walks of life including doctors, skateboarders, artists and teachers, punks and bus

drivers, lawyers,bikers, convicts, mothers, fathers, grandparents, gang members,

professors, students, street performers and even dentists. Tattoos today seem to

cross all boundaries, cultural, political and socio-economic. The act of tattooing, one

of but many forms of intentional body modification, has been enveloped by the

mainstream into the popular culture

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