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.
No comments:
Post a Comment