Unveiling the Meaning and Motivation Behind Modern Tattoos

Abstract

Essay on Tattoos In today's world, there has been an increased number of people getting tattoos yet a complex social phenomenon. The origin of the term tattoo dates back from the Tahitian word ‘tatu’ which means marking something and is defined as a deliberate form of scarification, alteration of one’s body (quote in Tsang). Tattoos make people authentic, identifiable, vocal, and novel about their beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes. They tell a story and bear a symbolic representation in the skin. This essay explores the motivation and meaning attributed to tattoos in relation to life events, pop culture, cultural orientation, and symbolic representations. Tattoos in a cultural context represent pride and identity. They define culture and manifest how different ethnic groups are distinct in their attitudes, norms, values, and behavior. Culture unveils how cross-cultural comparisons of tattoos differ significantly in their meaning. Having tattoos has been a distinct ritual and tradition of the Hindu and Buddhist communities. It is also controversial to some religious groups such as Christians who are unwelcoming when it comes to tattoos. Some communities consider tattoos outside the mainstream taboos and individuals who have tattoos are seen as morally irresponsible. Tattoos have an inner perspective to the owner but the observer has an outward perception of tattoos which is sometimes unpleasant. In the past in the 19th century, tattoos in Western society were associated with criminal gangs, incarcerated criminals, soldiers, and marginalized cross-cultural groups (Roggenkamp et al. 148). It wasn’t a good picture in society. Although it was considered as deviance and psychopathology, today tattoos have become a mainstream phenomenon and societies are starting to accept it. In the Western world today, tattoos are a mark of individuality and attraction. People choose to embellish their bodies for various reasons purporting to their intuitions. Most people do it for human expression and to enhance creativity. People come up with unique tattoos that they choose to adorn their bodies with showcasing their creativity, uniqueness, and individuality. With the many forms of tattoos that individuals brand their body with it is difficult to identify their meaning. Popular culture in Western culture has fed people of different groups and ages to get tattoos. The various forms of media, traditional and new media popularize tattoos putting it as a contemporary and fashioned culture in Western society. The internet has become a platform for the dissemination of tattoo-related information. Musicians, actors, and...