Blog Four: Final Post

I feel like the media hypes up celebrity tattoos almost like they are taboo. I remember when the singer Rihanna began to get tattoos there were in tabloid magazines and online tabloids with pictures of her new tattoos as if it was going to change the world. I personally did not see the big hoopla surrounding the importance of the fact the she decided to get tattoos. People forget that celebrities are still human beings. They make mistakes, they want privacy, and some of them even like TATTOOS!  It’s not a big deal these days to have a tattoo I don’t understand why it’s so publicized when a celebrity goes to get a new addition to their collection. But the media is one biggest reasons tattoos are as big as they are because to exposure like this. It seems that the media almost exploits the iconic figures that receive tattoos in order to influence their fans to get tattoos. It’s almost like the media gets a cut of the profit from the parlors. This publicity also has a negative side, a lot of young men think its okay to get tattoos on their neck and face before going to college not thinking about their chances of getting hired at a job. The media does not show how tattoos may influence your life and the jobs you will be able to have or not have because of this. A lot of companies do not allow visible tattoos, what are going to do if you have a sleeve in the summer time. The media does not show what these decisions can lead to.

The media portraying celebrities indulging in the tattoo world makes tattoos more acceptable in American Culture. The media made it okay for other people other than rebels and bikers to display ink. Thanks to the media and American obsession with celebrities tattoos are no longer bound to certain social groups. Because of the media we now have shows like Miami , New York and Los Angelos Ink. These shows display the woes of owning a tattoo shop and stories behind some of the reasons people get tattoos and the meaning of their tattoos. It’s almost like a sneak peak into the culture.
        I also feel like with the hype also comes the need for safe and clean environments for tattoos and piercings. I believe there needs to be more regulations for tattoo and piercing parlors as well as the equipment needed. I feel that parlors should have random inspections and receive sanitation grade to display to their customers just like restaurants. I feel like this would be beneficial to their customer and future customers. I also feel like there should be some type of official training or schooling for tattoo artist. After doing a little research about regulations I found that state health department sets the rules and regulations for these shops. To find out more about these search your local jurisdiction for rules.

          I would love to be able set forth a reform to have national regulations and have states enforce rules. The media could be used as a tool to promote the reform and get attention to the lack of rules concerning these parlors.

           From this research I have learned some of the American history of tattoos and why some of the stigmas existed. This research has allowed me to see another side of the tattoo world and inform others. I also wonder steps would have to be made to have tattoo parlors have sanitation grades. I feel like there would have to be a disease outbreak before another reform would be made, but that is too late. They should try to prevent history from repeating it’s self by implementing sanitation scores. I have questions about how tattoo artist become tattoo artist since there is not a school for tattooing which I feel there should be, you could get a degree in tattoos with concentrations in style or technique to display to your customers. These are things my research did not cover but question I still have.

Blog Three : Final Draft

       I found that I disagree with some of the points made by The Piercing Bible. On page seven Ms. Angel say that “younger people are frequently motivated by a desire to fit in with their peers or the need to establish their independence from their parents. I disagree with this statement because research, personal reasons and answers from peers that I have interviewed. I did not get my tattoo to fit on or rebel from my parents but because of my tattoos and piercings  I have made new friends because we share a common interest and now belong to a this community. I also find myself disagreeing with the author of Wearing Your Life as a Sleeve: Examining Tattooing as a Form of Postmodern Identity Expression". In this thesis the author states that “individuals are forced to place him or herself in a greater number of social groups and alter their persona in accordance with each, they strive to reclaim self-ownership by etching their bodies with symbolic representations of personally significant experiences, interest, and beliefs.  I disagree with the point the author of this thesis is trying to make because I do not feel that majority of the persons who get tattoos to define themselves from the social groups they feel attached to. I feel that people already belong to a group of people who share like interest. That’s how friendships and bonds form, if those people happen to get tattoos or piercings, so what. From having conversation with my peers I have concluded that your social group that you may identify with does not define who they are as individuals but that social group is a part of who they are as a person. My peers do not feel as though they got tattoos to create an identity outside of the social groups or culture groups that they identify with. I know that I am an African American female in college but there is more to me than just that aspect of my life and I don’t feel the need to get a tattoo to prove that point. I do agree that some of the tattoos received by young individuals have significance to their life.

        I do not feel that people get tattoos to stand out from a group of friends just to claim individuality although tattoos are a way to express individuality they represent much more than that. I feel as though the media has done a great job of allowing tattoos to venture past the rebels and into other regular social groups and release from previous stigmas surround the tattoo world. Tattoos can now be seen as more than just a drawing on a teenage rebel. Thanks to the media tattoos can be seen as works of art. This influence from the media in my opinion good press although we all know how one sided media can be. But with this one-sided media, the media fails to inform and help educate the public on the proper steps to take to getting a ink.

 Even when I got my first tattoo I was not in search of any kind of identity or to fit into a group. I got my tattoo because I wanted it. I wanted something to represent my journey. I wanted something that I could call my own and see every day as a reminder of how far I have come. Finding out who you are as a person should not be the reason one decides to get a tattoo. When searching for an identity I feel that one should soul search and try different things but getting a tattoo is something permanent and should involve serious deliberation. Even with the media influence of making these modifications the media fails to inform the public of seriousness and permanence of tattoos. Although more recently laser removal has become more popular but they do not inform the public of the scars that laser removal leaves behind and the fact that it takes more than one visit. The media fails to fully inform the public about the stipulations that follow many practices such as these.

      I do agree that tattooing is a form of self-expression for many individuals. I have seen in own interactions of people that have gotten tattoos that most of their tattoos mark special events of changes in their life. I would say tattoo are very personal and spiritual for some people. I feel that all tattoos should have some kind of personal meaning whether its explicit or hidden it’s up the Canvas to decide. Tattoos are very interesting to the fact the tattoo artist hears a story or an idea and creates a beautiful picture full of meaning. In my opinion that's what a tattoo should be. Tattoos should be more than someone saying I want to be different or I want to be a rebel so I'm going to go get a tattoo. Although I do understand someone wanting to be different from the rest of society, wanting to have something to call their own, and define them as an individual; but for me my tattoos are much more than that and I do not want me tattoos to define me as person. I want there to be more to my identity other than the fact that I have tattoos and piercings.

     But who am I to judge someone’s reasons for how they choose to modify their bodies. Tattoos and piercing are a part of the first amendment, freedom of expression.

     But who am I to judge someone’s reasons for how they choose to modify their bodies. Tattoos and piercing are a part of the first amendment, freedom of expression.

Blog two:Final Post

After reading The Piercing Bible I found out that I agree with a lot that the author is saying. Although the book is about piercing some of the same principles can be applied to tattoos. On page 16 of the Piercing Bible the author discusses the influence the media has on the prominence on piercings. According to the author, Elayne Angel, “Rock stars have had some of the greatest impact in bringing awareness of piercing to the public” (16). Just like the piercing world the tattoo world also has someone to thank for its popularity, Lyle Tuttle.  Lyle Tuttle is known to many American tattoo artists as the father of modern American tattoos. Mr. Tuttle brought forth the tattoo world by tattoo mostly women and celebrities such as Janis Joplin, Cher, and Peter Fonda in the 1960’s.Lyle Tuttle is credited for “presenting tattooing as an art form to mainstream and promoting safe and hygienic industry practices”(needles and sin (1). Thanks to Lyle Tuttle presenting tattoos in a new light and promoting hygienic tattooing institution there are regulations or owning and operating tattoo parlors and the equipment used. Before Lyle Tuttle tattoos had a bad reputation and were frowned upon because of the outbreak of diseases such as Hepatitis B and other diseases a lot of tattoo parlors were shut down and some states made tattoos illegal because of unsafe practices. But Mr. Tuttle made people see tattoo in a new light.

 Although there are regulations in place for tattoos because of the disease ridden past I feel that there should be more known guidelines to the public. I also wish that people knew about the diseases that can occur from unsafe tattoo environments such as prisons. Anyone purchase a tattoo gun or even make a tattoo gun. A lot of prison tattoos are done with homemade tattoo guns. I know some people find it hard to believe that inmates receive tattoos in prison I am here to tell you that it happens more than you think.  A prisoner can make a tattoo gun anyone off the street can as well. It is also easy to purchase tattoo ink, all you have to do is order ink from a magazine, online, or even make it from scratch. All a prisoner may need is a “motor taken from a cassette player, electric razor, electric toothbrush, or even a Walkman motor that can be connected to a guitar string (G is most preferred) or a sewing needle that vibrates up and down the barrel of a Bic pen. This whole contraption is hooked up to a 3-9 volt AC adaptor” ( Demello 10).  These can also be made at home and used as tattoo guns on people who do not want to pay the money for a well done sterile tattoo. Or for “tattoo artist” who refuse to buy real tattoo guns which are available to anyone.

I had all of my tattoos done in a respectable parlor except one, and that one tattoo I do not love as much as the rest of my tattoos. The “artist” did indeed use a real tattoo gun, but this goes to prove my point that anyone can buy a gun. I feel that you should to put in your license id or number to be able to purchase a tattoo gun to ensure that only certified artist are allowed to purchase tattoo guns and ink. The tattoo does not look how I imagined. Everyone else who has seen the tattoo likes how it looks, but it’s not their opinion that matters to me. Now I have to find a tattoo artist and parlor to fix what I consider mistakes. I do not advise anyone to receive a tattoo outside of a parlor for that reason and also for sanitary reasons.

The stigma and thought stereo-type of persons that have tattoos have somewhat diminished because the media has accepted tattoos because of the fact that celebrities have embraced the tattoo culture.  It is very important to follow the aftercare instructions given by tattoo artist, if you fail to follow these after care instructions you could possibly mess up the tattoo. Tattoos are going to itch and peel but that it’s a part of the healing process. Artist should give you a aftercare sheet to guide you at home when caring for your new tattoo.

"America has become a tattooed nation. if you turn on your television, open a magazine, or go see a movie, you will likely encounter a tattooed body"(Koust 1035). Koust is absolutely correct,I would even add walking on a college campus or through a mall, or even a grocery store. With the prevalence of tattoos in my generation I predict that by the time I am about 50 and my peers are the CEO’s of big companies tattoos will be more accepted in the workforce because of the growing popularity of tattoos during this time. I recommend The Piercing Book to anyone seeking a tattoo or piercing because most the same ideas apply to tattoos. This can also apply to tattoos because the social groups that began to display tattoos in America has changes. Bikers and rebels are no longer the only ones getting "inked". I am a witness to this change but people are still surprised to find out that I have tattoos. And I feel that they are surprised because I am small and people assume tattoos hurt and that I cannot handle the pain. But honestly I didn't even feel my first tattoo, my third tattoo on my ribs was the only tattoo that cause any kind of discomfort, but everyone has a different pain threshold and you will never know until you try.

From my research I came to the conclusion that the media has influenced tattoos have made them more popular and reduced some of the stigma's associated with these body modifications.

Blog One: Final Post

When this blog assignment was introduced I had no idea what I kind of topic I was going to choose. I began to think of topics that would interest me and things I was interested in. My first idea was to explore how gender roles were developed and defined in the hip-hop society. This was my initial choice because I absolutely LOVE music. But that idea came to a screeching halt due to the fact I would have to come up with a working definition of what I understood to be Hip-Hop. It was difficult for me to explain in words what I felt REAL Hip Hop is. And back to the drawing board I went, my next I idea was fashion. I am very into fashion, as a child I had a sketch book of clothing designs because I wanted to be a fashion designer. Although I do not currently keep a sketch book I am still interested in the fashion world. This led me to my next line of inquiry. “What is the media's role in youth fashion".... Well here we go again with creating working definitions and this idea would require me to put an age group on youth. Also I thought about the fact that a lot of parents dress their youth and have restrictions to what their child can wear. With taking this into consideration there would be more than one outside factor influencing youth fashion. This too flew right out the window. I began to get discouraged because I honestly did not know what I was interested in as absurd as it sounds; I was honestly lost until I had an epiphany to look in the mirror. I came to the conclusion to do something with tattoos and piercings, all thanks to a mirror I saw what was right in front of me. My line of inquiry came to be How has Media Influenced Tattoos and Piercings?  But the focus of my research was and is not to exemplify or prove that media made of a direct influence on why people choose to get tattoos or piercing. Personally I do not feel the media played a role in the choices I made to get tattoos and piercings. But I will agree that media played a role in where I placed my tattoos and piercings. The research I conducted led me to the conclusion that media has influenced tattoos and piercings by making them more popular and accepting in society.  After finding out about another project that would stem off of this current blog project I decided to change the focus of my inquiry question to How has media influenced Tattoos? 

 Final decision on my line of inquiry

        I am very fascinated with tattoos before I ever stepped into a tattoo parlor. As a child I watched Taboo on the National Geographic and I loved to see the episodes about tattoo and tribal rituals. On these episodes of Taboo they would show body modifications such as tattoos and body piercings from different cultures all over the world. From this I learned that tattoos and piercings have cultural meanings and also come from religious beliefs. Being raised in a Christian home it is a sin to mark and pierce the flesh, it was TABOO for me to see these body modification as spiritual backings that were not accepted in my "community".

Very often in my entries I will uses body modifications interchangeably with the terms tattoos and piercings because these practices are changes made to the body. One includes piercing holes into the flesh and another includes inserting ink into the skin thus changing or modifying the appearance of the flesh or body. Having a tattoo or piercing did not change the person I am but it may have had some effect on how others perceive me. I know that some people are very conservative and seem to be judgmental towards people go have tattoos or even piercings. I feel that it is ultimately up to the individual if their body modifications change them, but the point of these practices is not to change the individual but to be able to express yourself through these mediums. Piercings or tattoos can be seen as attractive but this is also a personal thing. Others may find tattoos or piercings unattractive but these are personal preferences.  

    As I have gotten older my fascination has grown and I have a few body modifications myself. I have three tattoos and nine piercings so far. Although I was slightly informed about  tattoos and piercings before receiving some of my own I don't feel as though I was informed enough about them. I knew cleanliness was a big deal but there is more to these body modifications than just a clean needle. I do feel more informed after doing this extra research, I hope that I am able to inform my audience about the media's influence on tattoos as well as the dangers that surrounds these practices. I hope through this I am able to show my audience there is more to getting a tattoo than only the appearance or being “cool”. There should be a lot of thought put into place before getting a tattoo or even a piercing.

      I especially identified with this topic because I am a part of this culture and proud to be.  I could lie and say that I haven't been influenced by the media but due to me research I found that I have been influenced. I say that I have been influenced by media because thanks the media tattoos are more accepted and more popular thus opening the door for me to be able to get my tattoos. The media made it possible for tattoo parlors to be a booming business and available to just about everyone from every walk of life. That one of the beauties of tattoos is that there is this huge culture being created because of the acceptance of tattoos from media.

Blog Four: Draft Three

I feel like the media hypes up celebrity tattoos almost like they are taboo. I remember when the singer Rihanna began to get tattoos there were tabloid magazines and online tabloids with pictures of her new ink. I personally did not see the big hoopla surrounding the importance of the fact the she decided to get tattoos. People forget that celebrities are still human beings. They make mistakes, they want privacy, and some of them even like TATTOOS!  
      But the media is one biggest reasons tattoos are as big as they are because to exposure like this. It seem that the media almost exploits the iconic figures that receives tattoos in order to influence their fans to get tattoos. It’s almost like the media gets a cut of the profit from the parlors. The media portraying celebrities indulging in the tattoo world makes tattoos more acceptable in American Culture. The media made it okay for other people other than rebels and bikers to display ink. Thanks to the media and American obsession with celebrities tattoos are no longer bound to certain social groups. Because of the media we now have shows like Miami , New York and Los Angelos Ink. These shows display the woes of owning a tattoo shop and stories behind some of the reasons people get tattoos and the meaning of their tattoos. It’s almost like a sneak peak into the culture.
        I also feel like with the hype also comes the need for safe and clean environments for tattoos and piercings. I believe there needs to be more regulations for tattoo and piercing parlors as well as the equipment needed. I feel that parlors should have random inspections and receive sanitation grade to display to their customers just like restaurants. I feel like this would be beneficial to their customer and future customers. I also feel like there should be some type of official training or schooling for tattoo artist. After doing a little research about regulations I found that state health department sets the rules and regulations for these shops. To find out more about these search your local jurisdiction for rules.

          I would love to be able set forth a reform to have national regulations and have states enforce rules. The media could be used as a tool to promote the reform and get attention to the lack of rules concerning these parlors.

Blog three: Draft Three

         I found that I disagree with one of my sources. Not because of research but because of personal reasons and answers from others that I have conversed with. I disagree with the author of Wearing Your Life as a Sleeve: Examining Tattooing as a Form of Postmodern Identity Expression"  I disagree with the author of this thesis because I  do not feel that majority of the persons who get tattoos to define themselves from the social groups they feel attached to. I feel that people already belong to a group of people who share like interest. That’s how friendships and bonds form, if those people happen to get tattoos or piercings, so what.

        I do not feel that people get tattoos to stand out from a group of friends just to claim individuality. I feel as though the media has done a great job of allowing tattoos to venture past the rebels and into other regular social groups. This influence from the media in my opinion good press although we all know how one sided media can be.

 Even when I got my first tattoo I was not in search of any kind of identity or to fit into a group. I got my tattoo because I wanted it. I wanted something to represent my journey. I wanted something that I could call my own and see every day as a reminder of how far I have come. Finding out who you are as a person should not be the reason one decides to get a tattoo. When searching for an identity I feel that one should soul search and try different things but getting a tattoo is something permanent and should involve serious deliberation. Even with the media influence of making these modifications the media fails to inform the public of seriousness and permanence of tattoos. Although more recently laser removal has become more popular but they do not inform the public of the scars that laser removal leaves behind and the fact that it takes more than one visit. The media fails to fully inform the public about the stipulations that follow many practices such as these.

      I do agree that tattooing is a form of self expression for many individuals. I have seen in own interactions of people that have gotten tattoos that most of their tattoos mark special events of changes in their life. I would say tattoo are very personal and spiritual for some people. I feel that all tattoos should have some kind of personal meaning whether its explicit or hidden it’s up the Canvas to decide. Tattoos are very interesting to the fact the tattoo artist hears a story or an idea and creates a beautiful picture full of meaning. In my opinion that's what a tattoo should be. Tattoos should be more than someone saying I want to be different or I want to be a rebel so I'm going to go get a tattoo. Although I do understand someone wanting to be different from the rest of society, wanting to have something to call their own, and define them as an individual; but for me my tattoos are much more than that and I do not want me tattoos to define me as person. I want there to be more to my identity other than the fact that I have tattoos and piercings.

     But who am I to judge someone’s reasons for how they choose to modify their bodies. Tattoos and piercing are a part of the first amendment, freedom of expression.

Blog Two: Draft Three

After reading one of my sources I definitely agree that there should be more regulations or owning and operating tattoo and piercing parlors and the equipment used. Anyone purchase a tattoo gun or even make a tattoo gun. A lot of prison tattoos are done with homemade tattoo guns. prison tattoo  If a prisoner can make a tattoo gun anyone off the street can as well. It is also easy for one to purchase tattoo ink, all you have to do is order ink from a magazine, online, or even make it from scratch.

I had all of my tattoos done in a respectable parlor except one, and that one tattoo I do not love as much as the rest of my tattoos. The tattoo does not look how I imagined. Everyone else who has seen the tattoo likes how it looks, but it’s not their opinion that matters to me. Now I have to find a tattoo artist and parlor to fix what I consider mistakes. I do not advise anyone to receive a tattoo outside of a parlor for that reason and also for sanitary reasons.
           I also read that the stigmas that often shadow tattoo and piercings has changed for both better and the worst. The stigma and thought stereo-type of persons that have tattoos have somewhat diminished because the media has accepted tattoos because of the fact that celebrities have embraced the tattoo culture. But on the other hand piercings are not seen in a better light. One source even goes as far to say that the problems that could arise with piercings are exaggerated. I personally have not witnessed this but I will say in my opinion the chance of infection and spread of disease is almost equal if you are not careful. Yes piercing are more likely to get infected but if taken proper care of the chance of infection is greatly decreased. It is very important to follow the aftercare instructions. Your piercer could have a used a clean needle and your piercing still gets infected because of failure to properly take care of the piercing.
    Stigmas that are followed with tattoos and piercings have changed for the better and for what worst. I also have judged people with piercings and tattoos because they have them even though I have them myself but before I got my eyebrow and lip piercing I found myself judging people with facial piercings.  I do not know what judgment passes through the mind of others when they see someone with a tattoo or piercing, I’m not psychic and I also try not to be a judgmental person but before I got my eyebrow and lip piercing I found myself judging people with facial piercings.  For a long time I said I would never get a facial piercing. I have two friend that said they would not get facial piercings and yet now they have nose and lip piercings but as I have matured as a person I have realized it was not the piercing that made me think bad about persons with facial piercings it was the manner in which they carry their selves I know that everyone in the world does not have the same mindset because if they did tattos and piercing would be more accepted in the corporate workforce aka white collar work. But I predict that by the time I am about 50 and my generation are the CEO’s of big companies tattoos will be more accepted in the workforce because of the growing popularity of tattoos during this time I recommend The Piercing Book to anyone seeking a tattoo or piercing because most the same ideas apply to tattoos. This can also apply to tattoos because the social groups that began to display tattoos in America has changes. Bikers and rebels are no longer the only ones getting "inked". I completely agree with this but people are still surprised to find out that I have tattoos. And I feel that they are surprised because I am small and people assume tattoos hurt and that I cannot handle the pain. But truth be told I didn't even feel my first tattoo, my third tattoo on my ribs was the only tattoo that cause any kind of discomfort. I often get asked if my lip and eyebrow piercing hurt, my response is no. The only piercing that cause pain was my industrial bar piercing, this piercing goes through two sets of cartilage and its like getting pierced twice. The needle didn't hurt it was the throbbing after the piercing had occurred that caused to most pain. I say all this to say to return to the rule of you can't judge a book by its cover. But everyone’s pain threshold is different.

From my research I came to the conclusion that the media has influenced tattoos and piercings have made them more popular and reduced some of the stigma's associated with these body modifications.

Blog One: Draft Three

When this assignment was introduced I had no idea what I kind of topic I was going to choose. I began to think of topics that would interest me and things I was interested in. My first idea was to explore how gender roles were developed and defined in the hip-hop society. This was my initial choice because I absolutely LOVE music. But that idea came to a screeching halt due to the fact I would have to come up with a working definition of what I understood to be Hip-Hop. It was difficult for me to explain in words what I felt REAL Hip Hop is. And back to the drawing board I went, my next I idea was fashion. I am very into fashion, as a child i had a sketch book of clothing designs because I wanted to be a fashion designer. Although I do not currently keep a sketch book I am still interested in the fashion world. This led me to my next line of inquiry. “What is the media's role in youth fashion".... Well here we go again with creating working definitions and this idea would require me to put an age group on youth. Also I thought about the fact that a lot of parents dress their youth and have restrictions to what their child can wear. With taking this into consideration there would be more than one outside factor influencing youth fashion. This too flew right out the window. I began to get discouraged because I honestly did not know what I was interested in as absurd as it sounds; I was honestly lost until I had an epiphany to look in the mirror. I came to the conclusion to do something with tattoos and piercings, all thanks to a mirror I saw what was right in front of me. My line of inquiry came to be How has Media Influenced Tattoos and Piercings?  But the focus of my research was and is not to exemplify or prove that media made of a direct influence on why people choose to get tattoos or piercing. Personally I do not feel the media played a role in the choices I made to get tattoos and piercings. But I will agree that media played a role in where I placed my tattoos and piercings. The research I conducted led me to the conclusion that media has influenced tattoos and piercings by making them more popular and accepting in society. 
 

 Final decision on my line of inquiry

        I am very fascinated with tattoos and piercings even before I had either. As a child I watched Taboo on the National Geographic and I loved to see the episodes on tattoos and piercings. They would show these body modifications from different cultures all over the world. From this I learned that tattoos and piercings have cultural meanings and also come from religious beliefs. Being raised in a Christian home it is a sin to mark and pierce the flesh, it was TABOO for me to see these body modification as spiritual backings that were not accepted in my "community".
        As I have gotten older my fascination has grown and I have a few body modifications myself. I have three tattoos and nine piercings. Although I was slightly informed tattoos and piercings before receiving some of my own I don't feel as though I was informed enough about them. I knew cleanliness was a big deal but there is more to these body modifications than a clean needle. I do feel more informed after doing this extra research, I hope that I am able to inform my audience about the media's influence on tattoos and piercings as well as the dangers that surrounds these practices.

      I especially identified with this topic because I am a part of this culture. I could lie and say that I haven't been influenced by the media but due to me research I found that I have been influenced. I say that I have been influence because of media tattoos are more accepted and more popular thus opening the door for me to be able to get my tattoos and piercings. The media made it possible for tattoo parlors to be a booming business and available to just about everyone.

         Very often in my entries I will uses body modifications interchangeably with the terms tattoos and piercings because these practices are changes made to the body. One includes piercing holes into the flesh and another includes inserting ink into the skin thus changing or modifying the appearance of the flesh or body. Having a tattoo or piercing did not change the person I am but it may have had some effect on how others perceive me. I know that people are very judgmental and there are still stigmas flowing piercings as noted in my research and from my own personal experience. I feel that it is ultimately up to the individual if their body modifications change them, but the point of these practices is not to change the individual but to express oneself through these mediums. Piercings or tattoos can be seen as attractive but this is also a personal thing. 

Annotated Bibliography

Annotated Bibliography

Adams, Josh. "Bodies of Change: A Comparative Analysis of Media Representations of Body Modification Practices." Sociological Perspectives 52.1 (2009): 103-29. Print.

This article from the Pacific Sociological Review explores how mainstream media presents and displays cosmetic surgery, tattooing and bodily piercings as methods of body modification. The article also explains how they are positively advertised as culture and consumer lifestyle options. The article even begins to juxtapose how media presents tattoos and cosmetic surgery versus piercings. This article explores how the media negatively construct s a picture of piercings by describing piercings as problematic, infection prone and unhealthy. The author of the article also found that there are indications that point to deemphasize of the risk associated with tattoos and cosmetic surgery. Although the author does recognize that tattoos are often seen as acts of deviance. The author also makes the point to say that the potential risks associated with piercings are exaggerated. The article also makes note to how gender plays a significant factor in defining the norm for expectations and appearance in media and culture. The author closes the article by arguing how the present foundations, views and current social understandings of body modification reflect the media’s influence while concurrently attempting to inform and give the public a broader picture.

This article was based off the research of the author. The author of this article pulled information from seventy-two news papers discussing tattoos, piercings and body modification. The newspaper represents a form of media for my research. Knowing that the author pulled a lot of sources gives me reason to believe that bias is eliminated outside of the fact of knowing that the author addressed multiple sides of the practice of media’s influence on body modification. This article is a peer-reviewed article and published in a peer-reviewed journal. The article was published in 2009 which solidifies the relevance of the times and the discussion is relevant to my question of the media’s influence on tattoos and piercings in America. The author of this article has a B.S., with Honors in Sociology and minors in American Culture and Recording Industry Management from Middle Tennessee State University. The author also holds a M.A., in Sociology from Ohio State University and a Ph.D., in Sociology from Ohio State University. This leads to make me believe the author is a well-qualified source with a deep background with studies of society and culture.

Angel, Elayne. The Piercing Bible: The Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts, 2009. Print.

The beginning of the book discusses the fascination and thrills of piercings. The book continues to explain how piercing has now become a trend of the 21st century whereas before it was shunned as a satanic worship.  Piercings are now turning up in the most unexpected places; people who one would never expect to where piercings such as teachers and policemen and women are now participating in the process of body modification.  The book is broken into different parts, the first part explaining the history and art of body piercings, the second and third part of the book are for people who want to get piercings and it explains what all considerations should be taken  before one gets a piercing.  Part four mainly breaks down the different types of body piercings one may be able to get. 

The Piercing Bible is based on the research and personal experience of the author. This source is beneficial to my paper because of its relevance to my topic discuses the stigmas and media influence of piercings. The book discusses a brief history of piercings and how piercings are now found on unexpected persons. This source is creditable because the author takes the time to thoroughly explore all the sides of piercings. This is also a published book and this also influences my decision of declaring this a reliable source. I would recommend this book to someone who is curious about piercing or someone who is thinking about getting pierced and I would encourage them to do some of their own research.

Cesare, Nina. "Wearing Your Life as a Sleeve: Examining Tattooing as a Form of Postmodern Identity Expression." Thesis. Ohio University, 2011.Print.

                In this thesis the author claims that perceptions of tattoo as dramatically changed in the past fifty years. The author states that tattoos were once seen as defiant behavior and characteristics of certain groups of people who fit into traditional stereotypes. The thesis argues that the tattoos present today are seen  amongst us does not fit the traditional groups of individuals but now constitutes a legitimate form of art and self-expression.  The author states that individuals are forced to place themselves into a number of social and change their persona to blend in with their social group. The author argues that tattoos are an attempt to reclaim their own personal identity. The author states that tattooing and the search for personal identity through this medium is seen in young individuals of high level of social and economic status.  The author attempts to analyze data collected from a survey distributed from Ohio University.

                This thesis was written in part of the requirements for graduation from the Honors Tutorial College with a degree of a B.A., in Sociology. I believe this source to be credible because it was used as a thesis to a university. The thesis was presented in 2011 making this source relevant in time for my discussion concerning of media influence of tattoos.  The fact that the author wrote the thesis for a sociology degree further leads me to believe this to be a credible source because sociology is the study of society. The author did not seem bias in their findings and representation of information.

Kosut, Mary. "An Ironic Fad: The Commodification And Consumption Of Tattoos." Journal Of Popular Culture 39.6 (2006): 1035-1048. Literary Reference Center. Web.

This article discusses tattoos as a popular art form in the United Stated and its prevalence in media. This source covers the mass culture debate on tattoos as an art form. The article displays the commercial showcases of tattoos in kid television in episodes of The Power Puff Girls and Sesame Street. This article explores the childhood of children growing up in a culture flooded with ideas of tattoos. The article also discusses the role of the media with popularization of tattoos and the growth of tattoos in America. The article covers pop celebrities and pro athletes embrace of the tattoo culture. The article displays the acceptance of tattoos by media and media’s acceptance influences the general population.

This article uses other sources as evidence of their position. This article is beneficial to my paper because it explains the influence of media on the popularity of tattoos in America. The article uses examples from celebrities, cartoons, pro athletes and even news host to explain the influence of media on tattoos. This is important because it does not narrow media down to only one source but multiple forces of influence. The fact that the author uses multiple sources leads me to believe that the author is not bias and can be trusted as a reliable source. The fact that I found this article in the Journal of Popular Culture also encourages my belief that this a reliable source for my research.

Roberts, Derek J. "Secret Ink: Understanding Contemporary American Tattoo Practices." Thesis. Michigan State University, 2009. Http://proquest.umi.com. Web.

The author claims that the past twenty year there has been dramatic increase of the American population that have tattoos. The author contributes most of the growth to the growing acceptability of tattoos especially among the younger population. The author states that the people who get tattoos have change but also the reasons for getting the tattoos and the behavior of the tattooed population. The author also acknowledges that tattoos are still not considered the normal behavior in American society.  The author argues that those with tattoos and considering tattoos do so with thoughts and influences from mainstream culture.

I believe this source to be credible because it is an dissertation at Michigan State University. The author was studying sociology, the study of society, so I feel that the author could be considered an expert in the field of people and society. The thesis is relevant because of the topic discussed and the year it was presented. The author did not seem bias in their writing or research for the thesis further encouraging me to be that this is a credible source.

Blog Four : Draft Two

     I feel like the media hypes up celebrity tattoos almost like they are taboo. I remember when the singer Rihanna began to get tattoos their were tabloid magazines and online tabloids with pictures of her new ink. I personally did not see the big hoopla surrounding the importance of the fact the she decided to get tattoos. 
      But the media is one biggest reasons tattoos are as big as they are because to exposure like this. The media portraying celebrities indulging in the the tattoo world makes tattoos more acceptable in American Culture. The media made it okay for other people other than rebels and bikers to display ink. Thanks to the media and American obsession with celebrities tattoos are no longer bound to certain social groups. Because of the media we now have shows like Miami , New York and Los Angelos Ink. These shows display the woes of owning a tattoo shop and stories behind some of the reasons people get tattoos and the meaning of their tattoos. Its almost like a sneak peak into the culture.
        I also feel like with the hype also comes the need for safe and clean environments for tattoos and piercings. I believe there needs to be more regulations for tattoo and piercing parlors as well as the equipment needed. I feel that parlors should have random inspections and receive sanitation grade to display to their customers just like restaurants. I feel like this would be beneficial to their customer and future customers. I also feel like their should be some type of official training or schooling for tattoo artist.

•  I was suprised that piercing are more frowned upon.

Blog Three: Draft Two

       I found that I disagree with one of my sources. Not because of research but because of personal reasons and answers from others that I have conversed with.I disagree with the author of  Wearing Your Life as a Sleeve: Examining Tattooing as a Form of Postmodern Identity Expression" to a thesis presented to the University of Ohio. I disagree with the author of this thesis because I  do not feel that majority of the persons who get tattoos to define themselves from the the social groups they feel attached to. 
      I do agree that tattooing is a form of self expression for many individuals. I have seen in own interactions of people that have gotten tattoos that most of their tattoos mark special events of changes in their life.
      Even when I got my first tattoo I was not in search of any kind of identity or to fit into a group. I got my tattoo because I wanted it. I wanted something to represent my journey. I wanted something that I could call my own and see everyday as a reminder of how far I have come.
      I would say tattoo are very personal and spiritual for some people. I feel that all tattoos should have some kind of personal meaning whether its explicit or hidden its up the Canvas to decide. Tattoos are very interesting to the fact the tattoo artist hears a story or an idea and creates a beautiful picture full of meaning. In my opinion that's what a tattoo should be. Tattoos should be more than someone saying I want to be different or I want to be a rebel so I'm going to go get a tattoo. Although I do understand someone wanting to be different from the rest of society and wanting to have something to call their own and define them as an individual. But for me my tattoos are much more than that and I do not want me tattoos to define me as person. I want their to be more to my identity other than the fact that I have tattoos and piercings.
     But who am I to judge someones reasons for how they choose to modify their bodies. Tattoos and piercing are apart of the first amendment, freedom of expression....

Blog Two: Draft Two

 After reading one of my sources I definitely agree that there should be more regualtions or owning and operating  tattoo and piercing parlors and the equipment used. Anyone purchase a tattoo gun or even make a tattoo gun. A lot of prison tattoos are done with homemade tattoo guns. If a prisoner can make a tattoo gun anyone off the street can as well. It is also easy for one to purchase tattoo ink, all you have to do is order ink from a magazine or online. I had all of my tattoos done in a respectable parlor except one, and that one tattoo I do not love as much as the rest of my tattoos. The tattoo does not look how I imagined. Everyone else who has seen the tattoo likes how it looks, but its not their opinion that matters to me. Now I have to find a tattoo artist and parlor to fix what I consider mistakes. I do not advise anyone to recieve a tattoo outside of a parlot for that reason and also for sanitary reasons.
I also read that the stigmas that often shadow tattoo and piercings has changed for both better and the worst. The stigma and thought stereo-type of persons that have tattoos ahve somewhat diminished because the media has accepted tattoos because of the fact that celebraties have embraced the tattoo culture. But on the other hand piercings are not seen in a better light. One source even goes as far to say that the problems that could arise with piercings are exaggerated. I personally have not witnessed this but I will say in my opinion the chance of infection and spread of disease is almost equal if you are not careful. Yes piercinging are more likely to get infected but if taken proper care of the chance of infection is greatly decresed,
Stigmas that are followed with tattoos and piercings have changed for the better and for wht worst. I also have judged people with piercings and tattoos because they have them even though I have them myself. I recommend The Piercing Book to anyone seeking a tattoo or piercing because most the same ideas apply to tattoos .
Going back to stigmas that surround piercings, before I got my eyebrow and lip piercing I found my slef judging people with facial piercings. For a long time I said I would never get a facial piercing.! But as I have matured as a person I have realized it was not the piercing that made me think bad about persons with facial piercings it was the manner in which they carry theirselves. This can also apply to tattoos because the social groups that began to display tattoos in America has changes. Bikers and rebels are no longer the only ones getting "inked". I completely agree with this but people are still surprised to find out that I have tattoos. And I feel that they are surprised because I am small and people assume tattoos hurt and that I cannot handle the pain. But truth be told I didn't even feel my first tattoo, my third tattoo on my ribs was the only tattoo that cause anykind of discomfort. I often get asked if my lip and eyebrow piercing hurt, my response is no. The only piercing that cause pain was my industrial bar piercing. This piercing goes through  two sets of cartiladge and its like getting pierced twice. The needle didn't hurt it was the throbbing after the piercing had occured that caused to most pain. I say all this to say to return to the rule of you can't judge a book by its cover. But everyones pain threshehold is different.
I especially identified with this topic because I am aprt of this culture. I could lie and say that I haven't beem influenced by the media but due to me research I found that I have been influenced. I say that I have been influence because of media tattoos are more accepted and more popular. The media made it possible for tattoo parlors to be a booming buisness and available to just about everyone.
From my research I came to the conclusion that the media has influenced tattoos and piercings have mad them more popular and reduced some of the stigma's associated with these body modifications.

Blog One: Draft Two

When this assignment was introduced I had no idea what I kind of topic I was going to choose. I began to think of topics that would interest me and things I was interested in. My first idea was to explore how gender roles were developed and defined in the hip-hop society. This was my intial choice because I absolutely LOVE music.But that idea came to a screeching hault due to the fact I would have to come up with a working definition of what I understood to be Hip-Hop. It was difficult for me to explain in words what I felt REAL Hip Hop is. And back to the drawing board I went, my next I idea was fashion. I am very into fashion, as a child i had a sketch book of clothing designs because I wanted to be a fashion designer. Although I do not currently keep a sketch book I am still interested in the fashion world. This led to the me to my next line of inqury."What is the media's role in youth fashion".... Well here we go again with creating working definitions and this idea would require me to put an age group on youth. Also I thought about the fact that alot of parents dress their youth and have restrictions to what  their child can wear. With taking this into consideration there would be more than one outside factor influencing youth fashion. This too flew righ out the window. I began to get discouraged because I honestly did not know what I was interested in as absurd as it sounds; I was honestly lost until I had an ephipany to look in the mirror. I came to the conclusion to do something with tattoos and piercings,  all thanks to a mirror I saw what was right in front of me. My line of inqury came to be How has Media Influenced Tattoos and Piercings?

 Final decison on my line of inqury

        I  am vert facinated with tattoos and piercings even before I had either. As a child I watched Taboo on the National Geographic and I loved to see the episodes on tattoos and piercings. They would show these body modifications from different cultures all over the world. From this I learned that tattoos and piercings have cultural meanings and also come from religious beliefs. Being raised in a Christan home it is a sin to mark and pierce the flesh, it was TABOO for me to see these body modication as spiritual backings that were not accepted in my "community".
        As I have gotten older my facination has grown and I have a few body modifacations myself. I have three tattoos and nine piercings.Although I was slightly informed tattoos and piercings before recieving some of my own I don't feel as though I was informed enough about them. I knew cleanliness was a big deal but there is more to these body modifications than a clean needle. I do feel more informed after doing this extra research, I hope that I am able to inform my audience about the media's influence on tattoos and piercings as well as the dangers that surrounds these practices.

Blog 4: Draft 1

• the media hypes up tattoos almost like they are taboo.
• the biggest resons tattoo are becoming more socially acceptable are celebraties.
• there need to be more regualtions for owning equipment as well.
• I feel like parlors should have more sanitation grades like resturants.
•  I was suprised that piercing are more frowned upon.

Blog 3: Draft 1

I found that I disagree with one of my sources. Not because of research but because of personal reasons and answers from others that I have conversed with.

I disagree with the author of  Wearing Your Life as a Sleeve: Examining Tattooing as a Form of Postmodern Identity Expression" to a thesis presented to the University of Ohio.

Blog 2: Draft 1

• I have discovered and agrre with the fact that there needs to be more rules and regulations concerning tattoos and piercing parlors.
• Stigmas that are followed with tattoos and piercings have changed for the better and for wht worst. I also have judged people with piercings and tattoos because they have them even though I have them myself.
• I find myself judging some people by their facial piercing although I have two, after doing this research and getting my facial piercings that how people carry themselves plays alot into how others may percieve them.
•  I would like my audience beware of their surrounding when getting a tattoo or new piercing and the possibility of infection.
•  I would reccomend the Piercing Book to anyone that is thinking about getting a piercing and a tattoo because the same things apply.
• I felt closely with this topic because I am part of this media influenced culture. I could lie and say that I haven't beem influenced by the media but due to me research I found that I have been influenced.
• From my research I have concluded that the media has made tattoos and piercings more popular.

Blog 1: Draft One

Intitial Interest

• how are gender roles defined in the hip hop society?
• what is the media's roles in youth fashion?
• what is the media's role youth with tatttoos and piercings?

 Final decison on my line of inqury

• How has media influenced tattoos and piercings?

•  I am very interested in piercings and tattoos, i have a few my self.
• My fascination with body modification does have limits.
• I have three tattoos and 9 piercings with two of them being facial piercings.
• Before i began to research for this topic I was not as informed as I should have been while recieving tattoos and piercings.
• Now that I have  done research I feel more informed.
• I feel that people are not as informed about the culture surrounding tattoos and piercings or the dangers that surround theses practices.