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.