Tattoos: Self-expression or worthless fad?

Tattooing is an ancient practice. It began as early as the neolithic period. After all, Ötzi the Iceman had some fifty tattoos covering his body, and he lived in the 3300 BCs. Hundreds of cultures practice it is a mark of spiritual and social expression. Yet, the subdermal injection of ink in post-Roman Europe and the related nations has been icy. Because of Catholic Christian asceticism, and the Puritanical ideology that was born out of the Reformation, body modification was never taken likely. It didn't help that the Catholics attempted to conquer American tribes by claiming the natives to be savage cannibals in league with the devil, and thusly marking physical adoration as a sign of being part of such cultures...

So, I bring up this topic. In the growing prevalence and acceptance of tattooing in modern Western culture, is this just a fad? Or is this a unique form of self-expression that the Western world has been deprived of because of certain ideas? Mind you, this isn't a topic about tasteful tattoos versus tramp stamps, but tattoos in general among our culture.

It really depends on the tattoo. If you get a tattoo of something that is mortal and will soon be dust in the wind, yeah, stupid idea. But actual art is self expression.

Tattooing is an ancient practice. It began as early as the neolithic period. After all, Ötzi the Iceman had some fifty tattoos covering his body, and he lived in the 3300 BCs. Hundreds of cultures practice it is a mark of spiritual and social expression. Yet, the subdermal injection of ink in post-Roman Europe and the related nations has been icy. Because of Catholic Christian asceticism, and the Puritanical ideology that was born out of the Reformation, body modification was never taken likely. It didn't help that the Catholics attempted to conquer American tribes by claiming the natives to be savage cannibals in league with the devil, and thusly marking physical adoration as a sign of being part of such cultures...

So, I bring up this topic. In the growing prevalence and acceptance of tattooing in modern Western culture, is this just a fad? Or is this a unique form of self-expression that the Western world has been deprived of because of certain ideas? Mind you, this isn't a topic about tasteful tattoos versus tramp stamps, but tattoos in general among our culture.

Were you drunk when you wrote this?

Why can't people express themselves through worthless fads?

The "tattoo culture" is a worthless fad. TV shows, books, conventions. Its sudden appearance and national popularity has all the markings of a fad.

Were you drunk when you wrote this?

Why can't people express themselves through worthless fads?

People can express themselves through worthless fads. They can describe, by what they wear, what they get inked, and what they get pierced, their stupid little high school click. Their simple organization of social patterns that means dick when they actually graduate. I love watching Freshmen in College cling so desperately to these facts, and try so hard to relive their social circles.

But it doesn't say anything else about the person; the only deep thing we learn about them is their gag reflex.

And I will agree with on your second point; the moment it becomes commercialized, with publications and all, is when we see it suck.

So.

Were you drunk when you write this?

Alas, I am shamefully out of alcohol.

I would say some tattoo's are more of a fashion statement or a Fad as you call it, or feeling part of some thing.

Tribes used them to relate to one and another

Army team members would get similar tat's to show they are part of the same group

I wouldn't say this is wrong, it shows solidarity amongst people, a bonding if you like...

And that's the same with people placing their Kids names on them in Ink or Partners... It's not wrong to those people to do it, it's a form of expression, an extream one and may be a tacky one in most peoples eye's... But again I wouldn't say wrong, or worthless... To the people who have them it's a sign of how strongly they feel or how much they care about some thing...

I would say Self Expression for some is harder than for others and if tattoo's do that for them then it's an Art that deserves more credit !!

I have my tattoo's as I drew them my self, and for me plain skin is boring.

     Well look at it this way. Tattooing came about from as early as, as you said, 3300 b.c. or so. For one reason or another, people felt the tattoos had some sort of spiritual or religious meaning, or represented status in some shape or form. That's still very true today. My Uncle has a tattoo of his (ex)wife on his left arm, which he got while they were first seeing each other I think. He hasn't removed it. I think its because it reminds him of the horrible things she did to him, and to avoid making such mistakes again. (Please, no silly comments like, "What, he couldn't remember without it? Your uncle is stupid.", because they would be irrelevant.) Yes, you do have some people who just like the idea, and get a tattoo of whatever they feel like without having any real meaning behind the actual body art, but you can't just write off all tattoos as meaningless. There are tribal cultures today (I THINK, I can't say for certain, I'd have to look) that still use tattoos for the same purposes that Ötzi may have.

Well look at it this way. Tattooing came about from as early as, as you said, 3300 b.c. or so. For one reason or another, people felt the tattoos had some sort of spiritual or religious meaning, or represented status in some shape or form. That's still very true today. My Uncle has a tattoo of his (ex)wife on his left arm, which he got while they were first seeing each other I think. He hasn't removed it. I think its because it reminds him of the horrible things she did to him, and to avoid making such mistakes again. (Please, no silly comments like, "What, he couldn't remember without it? Your uncle is stupid.", because they would be irrelevant.) Yes, you do have some people who just like the idea, and get a tattoo of whatever they feel like without having any real meaning behind the actual body art, but you can't just write off all tattoos as meaningless. There are tribal cultures today (I THINK, I can't say for certain, I'd have to look) that still use tattoos for the same purposes that Ötzi may have.

Let me condense that for people who don't want to read your super-paragraph: some people might have tattoos because they mean something.

Ötzi had some of his tattoos to relieve the pressure and pain of arthritis. Apparently, it helped.

I had completely forgotten about that. Now I feel dumb.

Given, I saw the documentary on him a few years ago, but still, dumb of me to forget.

Yeah. It's quite interesting what people will do, and why do they do it. It's still not well understood if tattooing became an extension of pain relief, or if tattooing was used to relieve certain pains. Sometimes, we just don't know where it comes from. But there are plenty of MODERN reasons which don't involve pain relief.

To me it depends on the type of tattoo. There are many that are truly works of art.
There are also some that aren't. I feel that if someone gets a tattoo it should be an expression
of who you are, not to be cool or fit in. They can be memories that you can keep with you
at all times, or graffiti in a temple.

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I think this, like many other topics that somehow end up in the Debate section, is a matter of personal preference. I, for one, like some tattoos, but hate others.

I think this, like many other topics that somehow end up in the Debate section, is a matter of personal preference. I, for one, like some tattoos, but hate others.

I hate most tattoos, but sometimes they can look alright, however, I would never get one myself.

When i was small, i use to put tattoos which used to come free with chips.

I don't tattoo but dont mind if someone tattos, unless they like spread it over their body...thats weird.



Thats Zypher.

News to me that Ötzi had tatoos! I had a lecture on him a month back in my humanities class. Imo this topic was settled in the first post. Here is my two cents anyway.

Personaly I will never have a tatoo. I don't mind them, and I really think in America there's no reason to have them for health beneficial reasons like pain relief. These days mostly a social trent, a want to be different and express themselves.

I knew a guy who cut tatoos out of his arm, o man the scars are horrible.

Tats are hot. But....there is a fine line between sexy and just plain trashy/stupid/silly looking.

Source: Porn stars have tats! Porn is good...