Abstract
The art of tattooing has been embraced, and recognized as a topic of controversy for thousands of years. As a result, the art form has been transformed both technically and artistically many times over. From its primitive roots, tattooing has evolved into a quasi-professional media of artistic expression now being recognized in prestige museums throughout the world over. In being recognized as a legitimate form of artistic media, tattoos are a part of today’s society as a cultural staple of self expression now and for years to come.
The art of tattooing has been embraced, and recognized as a topic of controversy for thousands of years. As a result, the art form has been transformed both technically and artistically many times over. From its primitive roots, tattooing has evolved into a quasi-professional media of artistic expression now being recognized in prestige museums throughout the world over. In being recognized as a legitimate form of artistic media, tattoos are a part of today’s society as a cultural staple of self expression now and for years to come.
The Stigma of Tattoos: A Review of Literature and Observations of Tattoos from All Walks of Life
The subject of tattoos has been controversial all throughout its history. When we take a look at the general subject of tattoos, many questions arise such as: why do people get tattooed? What type of pain is involved with enduring the tattoo procedure? What kind of tattoo can an individual get done without being ridiculed? Many of these questions can start falling into the category of the stigma behind tattoos in modern society.
The stigma of tattoos can be traced back to the infamous markings associated with the criminal underworld. When reviewing the Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopedia (2009), it becomes apparent that the origin of the stigma of tattoos is described more in depth. For example, the career thief wears a tattoo of a cat to signify that he or she is quick and quiet like a cat in their crimes. This tattoo is among the commonly tattooed design for a career thief (Vol. 2, p. 141). The visual language of the tattoo can be revolutionary in a political perspective as well as a step into one’s personal journey. The encyclopedia’s depictions reference society in terms of how an individual that is submerged in the criminal underworld perceives it. The methodology that is used in the reading is a direct form. Many of the images that are used behind bars in Russia and the former Soviet Union are both graphical and bold. The depictions reference every significant historical moment in Russian history from political movements, down to basic human needs. One has to question whether the stigma of tattoos is relevant in modern society. In doing so, four important questions must be answered.
· How has society from generation to generation perceived the tattoo art form?
· How have tattoos evolved into more of an encrypted language utilized by criminals inside and outside of correctional institutions?
· How are tattoos in the correctional systems read in order to inform about a wearers life and achievements?
· How have tattoos evolved from a negative connotation associated with criminals to being embraced by people in professional occupations?
The following review will provide information on modern society’s views on the subject of tattoos, as well as offer an insight to how to read and distinguish certain criminal motifs within criminal tattoos.
The subject of tattoos has been controversial all throughout its history. When we take a look at the general subject of tattoos, many questions arise such as: why do people get tattooed? What type of pain is involved with enduring the tattoo procedure? What kind of tattoo can an individual get done without being ridiculed? Many of these questions can start falling into the category of the stigma behind tattoos in modern society.
The stigma of tattoos can be traced back to the infamous markings associated with the criminal underworld. When reviewing the Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopedia (2009), it becomes apparent that the origin of the stigma of tattoos is described more in depth. For example, the career thief wears a tattoo of a cat to signify that he or she is quick and quiet like a cat in their crimes. This tattoo is among the commonly tattooed design for a career thief (Vol. 2, p. 141). The visual language of the tattoo can be revolutionary in a political perspective as well as a step into one’s personal journey. The encyclopedia’s depictions reference society in terms of how an individual that is submerged in the criminal underworld perceives it. The methodology that is used in the reading is a direct form. Many of the images that are used behind bars in Russia and the former Soviet Union are both graphical and bold. The depictions reference every significant historical moment in Russian history from political movements, down to basic human needs. One has to question whether the stigma of tattoos is relevant in modern society. In doing so, four important questions must be answered.
· How has society from generation to generation perceived the tattoo art form?
· How have tattoos evolved into more of an encrypted language utilized by criminals inside and outside of correctional institutions?
· How are tattoos in the correctional systems read in order to inform about a wearers life and achievements?
· How have tattoos evolved from a negative connotation associated with criminals to being embraced by people in professional occupations?
The following review will provide information on modern society’s views on the subject of tattoos, as well as offer an insight to how to read and distinguish certain criminal motifs within criminal tattoos.
How
has society, from generation to generation, perceived the tattoo art form?
Society, as a whole, will see trends in popularity come and go, but the surge in popularity of tattoos has remained constant among certain groups in society. Professionals serving in the armed forces have embraced the tattoo since the modern tattoo era began. Many of the popular images that are currently being tattooed on the newer generations of enthusiasts withhold origins from the beginning of the modern tattoo era. Sparrows, nautical stars, anchors, and pinups all stem from the early era of modern tattooing. These tattoos symbolized a sense of home and safety for the people in the armed forces during times of war. Sparrows often represented a sense of travel. A sparrow was tattooed when a navel seaman reached 10,000 nautical miles in his career. A second sparrow would be added with the reach of another 10,000 nautical miles. Throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s, tattoos were becoming a staple of the criminal underworld for many reasons. One reason would be, criminals were becoming distinguishable through their encrypted tattoos. The biker era of the 1970’s ushered in a completely different type of criminal that wore their achievements for all of society to see. This era is where head and neck tattoos surged in popularity. Most of the people that wore these types of tattoos were often criminals. In the 1980’s, street gangs started embracing tattoos to define their allegiance to their neighborhoods. In the 1990’s, the shift started to move towards professional athletes wanting and getting tattoos. The main theme then was the armband tattoos and tribal tattoos became the most popular. With the start of the new millennium, many musicians began embracing larger scale tattoos. Today, some of the larger tattoos are seen on more professionals now more than ever. Tattoos are currently more accepted than they ever have been before because of that professional shift in popularity. Television and mass media is now seeing tattooing as a true form of artistic self-expression rather than as a way to single out delinquents of society.
In observance of a tattoo shop, there was a variety of age groups that went into the shop to get tattooed. Ages ranged from 18 to 50 and were men and women alike. While the tattoo process was underway, many professionals and members of society where enjoying their new piece of art being finished. Many people have their own reasons for getting tattooed, not just as a language but as a form of self-expression. With another observance, a young lady brought her mother with her to experience her first tattoo. A bond was formed between mother and daughter that were almost primal in nature. A mother tending to her young, just like in the animal kingdom, not through severe injury, but because of the discomfort that accompanies the tattoo process. This figure, shows the level of discomfort on certain parts of the body that is felt during the process of being tattooed.
Society, as a whole, will see trends in popularity come and go, but the surge in popularity of tattoos has remained constant among certain groups in society. Professionals serving in the armed forces have embraced the tattoo since the modern tattoo era began. Many of the popular images that are currently being tattooed on the newer generations of enthusiasts withhold origins from the beginning of the modern tattoo era. Sparrows, nautical stars, anchors, and pinups all stem from the early era of modern tattooing. These tattoos symbolized a sense of home and safety for the people in the armed forces during times of war. Sparrows often represented a sense of travel. A sparrow was tattooed when a navel seaman reached 10,000 nautical miles in his career. A second sparrow would be added with the reach of another 10,000 nautical miles. Throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s, tattoos were becoming a staple of the criminal underworld for many reasons. One reason would be, criminals were becoming distinguishable through their encrypted tattoos. The biker era of the 1970’s ushered in a completely different type of criminal that wore their achievements for all of society to see. This era is where head and neck tattoos surged in popularity. Most of the people that wore these types of tattoos were often criminals. In the 1980’s, street gangs started embracing tattoos to define their allegiance to their neighborhoods. In the 1990’s, the shift started to move towards professional athletes wanting and getting tattoos. The main theme then was the armband tattoos and tribal tattoos became the most popular. With the start of the new millennium, many musicians began embracing larger scale tattoos. Today, some of the larger tattoos are seen on more professionals now more than ever. Tattoos are currently more accepted than they ever have been before because of that professional shift in popularity. Television and mass media is now seeing tattooing as a true form of artistic self-expression rather than as a way to single out delinquents of society.
In observance of a tattoo shop, there was a variety of age groups that went into the shop to get tattooed. Ages ranged from 18 to 50 and were men and women alike. While the tattoo process was underway, many professionals and members of society where enjoying their new piece of art being finished. Many people have their own reasons for getting tattooed, not just as a language but as a form of self-expression. With another observance, a young lady brought her mother with her to experience her first tattoo. A bond was formed between mother and daughter that were almost primal in nature. A mother tending to her young, just like in the animal kingdom, not through severe injury, but because of the discomfort that accompanies the tattoo process. This figure, shows the level of discomfort on certain parts of the body that is felt during the process of being tattooed.
· Figure 1. This is a generalized pain chart for how a tattoo will feel on certain parts of the body. The intensity of of pain in different locations may vary from individual to individual due to pain tolerances. Retrieved from http://www.shockmansion.com/2012/04/30/nsfw-and-not-for-the-faint-of-heart-jay-reads-tattoo-pain-ratings/
How have tattoos evolved into more of an encrypted language utilized by criminals inside and outside the correctional system?
The stigma of tattoos has evolved from those who are willing to live outside of society’s established laws which have been apparent throughout history. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, tattoos were a form of body adornment throughout the European Kingdom for royalty, rulers and their family. During this time in history, tattoos were thought to be a luxury. However, in 1868, Japan outlawed tattooing in order to restore a positive relationship with western culture. During this period, tattooing went underground and was performed behind locked doors on individuals who understood the risks of getting caught by the law but threw caution to the wind. The main demographic that got tattooed in Japan during this time were that of the Yakuza; the Japanese mafia. Since the Yakuza were the main, if not the only, ones tattooed during this time up until 1945, the Japanese public was very wary about interacting with anyone that had tattoos. When reviewing the stigma that has skimmed from that period in time, the patterns of society’s reactions keep repeating themselves. In the correctional institutions, tattoos have become more of a road map to a criminal’s past, present, and future. Much of the encrypted images that criminals utilized in their tattoos are often earned, showing their allegiance to certain groups, morals, and beliefs.
How have tattoos evolved into more of an encrypted language utilized by criminals inside and outside the correctional system?
The stigma of tattoos has evolved from those who are willing to live outside of society’s established laws which have been apparent throughout history. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, tattoos were a form of body adornment throughout the European Kingdom for royalty, rulers and their family. During this time in history, tattoos were thought to be a luxury. However, in 1868, Japan outlawed tattooing in order to restore a positive relationship with western culture. During this period, tattooing went underground and was performed behind locked doors on individuals who understood the risks of getting caught by the law but threw caution to the wind. The main demographic that got tattooed in Japan during this time were that of the Yakuza; the Japanese mafia. Since the Yakuza were the main, if not the only, ones tattooed during this time up until 1945, the Japanese public was very wary about interacting with anyone that had tattoos. When reviewing the stigma that has skimmed from that period in time, the patterns of society’s reactions keep repeating themselves. In the correctional institutions, tattoos have become more of a road map to a criminal’s past, present, and future. Much of the encrypted images that criminals utilized in their tattoos are often earned, showing their allegiance to certain groups, morals, and beliefs.
· Figure 2: A memorial women’s tattoo. Different versions of this tattoo can also be found on men. The bearer was sentenced under Article 115 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR for infecting a number of men with gonorrhea. Retrieved from Baldaev, D.S. (2009). Russian criminal tattoo encyclopedia. (Vol.3, p. 286) London: Fuel.
A gentleman was observed and he informed that he was incarcerated for 18 years for murder. He stated that his allegiance to the criminal organization, “The Bandidos” motorcycle club was to blame for his incarceration. This gentleman was completely covered from head to toe in tattoos. He mention that his all time most profound tattoo was about 2 inches wide and about 1 inches tall on the back of his neck and was composed of a four-cornered diamond shape with the phrase “1% er” on the inside of the diamond. Beneath the diamond read “filthy few”. The 1% refers to the popular and ad campaigns in the 1960’s that stated, “99% of people you meet on a motorcycle are nice and friendly”. The remaining 1% of motorcycle enthusiasts lives outside the law. The “filthy few” slogan refers to a member that has taken the life of an opposing gang member for the club, hence the term “filthy few”. Ultimately this is the tattoo that he earned in his criminal career that had the most impact on his life as a whole. Figure 3 shows the symbol that the gentleman had tattooed on his neck, clearly these members also where these symbols on their clothing as well.
A gentleman was observed and he informed that he was incarcerated for 18 years for murder. He stated that his allegiance to the criminal organization, “The Bandidos” motorcycle club was to blame for his incarceration. This gentleman was completely covered from head to toe in tattoos. He mention that his all time most profound tattoo was about 2 inches wide and about 1 inches tall on the back of his neck and was composed of a four-cornered diamond shape with the phrase “1% er” on the inside of the diamond. Beneath the diamond read “filthy few”. The 1% refers to the popular and ad campaigns in the 1960’s that stated, “99% of people you meet on a motorcycle are nice and friendly”. The remaining 1% of motorcycle enthusiasts lives outside the law. The “filthy few” slogan refers to a member that has taken the life of an opposing gang member for the club, hence the term “filthy few”. Ultimately this is the tattoo that he earned in his criminal career that had the most impact on his life as a whole. Figure 3 shows the symbol that the gentleman had tattooed on his neck, clearly these members also where these symbols on their clothing as well.
· Figure 3. This figure shows the various insignia that the Bandidos Motorcycle Club utilizes. These patches are traditionally sewn onto the vests of fully fledged members of the club. These images are often tattooed on the members as well to show their allegiance to the club. http://www.abqjournal.com/245116/news/turf-at-center-of-biker-gang-conflict-in-nm.html
How have tattoos evolved from a negative connotation associated with criminals to being embraced by people in professional occupations?
Tattoos have evolved immensely from its indigenous roots to a full blown form of artistic self-expression. The constant progression of the art form in recent times has evolved in a rapid manner due to the media and professional world embracing the tattoo art form. In recent times, contributors to the rapid evolution of the art form include but are not limited to the materials in the manufacturing techniques of the tattoo equipment, composition of the materials used in the tattoo equipment, the recipes for tattoo ink has very much been refined for ease of use, and consistency from all of the above. The evolution of the art form has elevated this subject into the public limelight in ways that no one could have ever imagined. Television has played a big role in boosting the popularity of tattoos recently. The television shows the general public insight to the procedure, in time lapse. The boom in popularity has boosted the morale of the tattoo in ways that have never been seen before.
Another gentleman was observed entering the tattoo shop to get a tattoo. He was a football player for the UTEP football team and had a full scholarship to get his education and play football. This gentleman already had an extensive collection of tattoos and was there to add more. He was polite and respectful, just as the member of the biker gang, which shows an example of how people from different backgrounds share a common interest through tattoos. This general interest in tattoos among many different types of social classes has been attributed to the rise in popularity of tattoos in recent years. This broadening of the horizons has shown society that tattoos can be more of a form of artistic self-expression rather than more of a label for people. Television has introduced the reasoning to the masses behind the average everyday citizen getting tattooed. Much at the positive publicity that tattoos have gained throughout the years can be contributed to media that is readily available such as, magazines, television, websites, etc.
Tattoos have had a long rich history over multiple societies and have had a rise in popularity. These movements have had a more of a positive limelight on the subject of tattoos than they ever have had before. In the secondary research, a diverse group of people actually got tattooed in the shop. The stigma is still currently present but not to people that frequent a tattoo shop. Rich in history tattooing can be implemented and utilized as a secret language or more as a fashion accessory for some. Tattooing has had an interesting history so far and it appears that tattooing will continue to be part of people’s lives for generations to come.
How have tattoos evolved from a negative connotation associated with criminals to being embraced by people in professional occupations?
Tattoos have evolved immensely from its indigenous roots to a full blown form of artistic self-expression. The constant progression of the art form in recent times has evolved in a rapid manner due to the media and professional world embracing the tattoo art form. In recent times, contributors to the rapid evolution of the art form include but are not limited to the materials in the manufacturing techniques of the tattoo equipment, composition of the materials used in the tattoo equipment, the recipes for tattoo ink has very much been refined for ease of use, and consistency from all of the above. The evolution of the art form has elevated this subject into the public limelight in ways that no one could have ever imagined. Television has played a big role in boosting the popularity of tattoos recently. The television shows the general public insight to the procedure, in time lapse. The boom in popularity has boosted the morale of the tattoo in ways that have never been seen before.
Another gentleman was observed entering the tattoo shop to get a tattoo. He was a football player for the UTEP football team and had a full scholarship to get his education and play football. This gentleman already had an extensive collection of tattoos and was there to add more. He was polite and respectful, just as the member of the biker gang, which shows an example of how people from different backgrounds share a common interest through tattoos. This general interest in tattoos among many different types of social classes has been attributed to the rise in popularity of tattoos in recent years. This broadening of the horizons has shown society that tattoos can be more of a form of artistic self-expression rather than more of a label for people. Television has introduced the reasoning to the masses behind the average everyday citizen getting tattooed. Much at the positive publicity that tattoos have gained throughout the years can be contributed to media that is readily available such as, magazines, television, websites, etc.
Tattoos have had a long rich history over multiple societies and have had a rise in popularity. These movements have had a more of a positive limelight on the subject of tattoos than they ever have had before. In the secondary research, a diverse group of people actually got tattooed in the shop. The stigma is still currently present but not to people that frequent a tattoo shop. Rich in history tattooing can be implemented and utilized as a secret language or more as a fashion accessory for some. Tattooing has had an interesting history so far and it appears that tattooing will continue to be part of people’s lives for generations to come.