| Throughout recorded history we find that humans | | | | others "this is what I am about." |
| have the innate desire to adorn themselves and | | | | For many, tattoos concretize their faith in some |
| their surroundings. A house isn't just a house but | | | | abstraction. Take for example patriotism, |
| a home that expresses the inhabitant's personality. | | | | freedom, or love. These human emotions and |
| A temple isn't just a structure for worship but a | | | | feelings cannot be properly articulated, but they |
| construction for those who attempt to reach | | | | can be expressed easily with a tattoo of the |
| God; just think of the Gothic cathedrals-point up | | | | American flag, the Liberty Bell, or bleeding hearts. |
| towards the heavens. A car isn't just a means of | | | | |
| transportation but a symbol of power or lack of | | | | |
| it. And so it goes. | | | | Tats and Aesthetics: |
| But tattoos? Being more personal than structures | | | | One can make the argument that a tattoo |
| and surroundings, we must look within to | | | | doesn't have to justify anything-but beauty. Many |
| understand their popularity. | | | | of the Celtic, butterfly, dragons, flowery, and |
| Tattoos in America: | | | | even weaponry tattoos are so designed and |
| Not all societies adopt tattoos as means of | | | | executed that evoke a feeling of awe and |
| personal and communal expressions. In many | | | | admiration. |
| cultures -especially illiterate societies-tattoos carry | | | | If a tattoo is well balanced, it is whole, and it has |
| the visual symbols, icons, and signals of collective | | | | a splendor of its own, then we can say that it is |
| consciousness and memories they wish to | | | | beautiful. Must one have to justify beauty? Of |
| preserve. | | | | course not, but keep in mind that quality must |
| In America, given their popularity today, we can | | | | prevail; if enough quality tattoos are shown, then |
| see that tattoos are a continuation of the earlier | | | | we are justified in calling this part of aesthetics: |
| generations' symbols of rebellion, of being | | | | "body art." |
| different, of presenting a contrarian attitude, of | | | | Generational Reactions: |
| the nonconformist. In place of long hair we now | | | | While the public in general are tolerant and |
| have long nails, body piercing, and tattoos. | | | | laissez-faire about tattoos, the generations in |
| Is it a fad? Given that the fad is lasting longer | | | | power (as in the power to hire, promote, and fire) |
| than a decade, we can say perhaps it is more | | | | are less inclined to accept the practice. |
| than a fad; may be a much longer wave. Young | | | | Tattoos will be viewed as a vehicle of |
| people imitate stars, celebrities, and other famous | | | | strangeness in an applicant; a visible sign that the |
| achievers. In soccer we see a veteran player like | | | | individual may not be a team player, someone |
| David Beckham sport very visible tattoos on his | | | | difficult to manage. This may not be true, but it is |
| neck; following Beckham's example, the young | | | | the way of corporate cultures. In fact, I've heard |
| striker Natasha Kai isn't shy about displaying her | | | | a human resources executive denigrate tattoos |
| countless tattoos. In boxing, tattoos are almost | | | | as "jail art." |
| mandatory -perhaps as weapons of | | | | Tats, Sense and Sensitivity: |
| intimidation-since most boxers wear them. The | | | | Common sense tells us to be sensitive to other |
| fiercer the tattoo the fiercer the appearance of | | | | people's feelings, history, and culture. Likewise, |
| the boxer: just take a close look at Mike Tyson's | | | | tattoos should not be worn as to offend others. |
| face. | | | | Political symbols and religious symbols are still |
| Tattoos are bridges between the body and the | | | | taboo in America. Cosmic and zodiac expressions |
| soul: | | | | have become universal symbols and are looked |
| For many individuals, tattoos are connectors | | | | on with sympathy. |
| between material reality and the spiritual realm, | | | | Conclusion: |
| much like prayers. While prayers are somewhat | | | | Like in any other human endeavors, taste, likes, |
| restricted for the most for worshipping, or for | | | | and dislikes, tattoos have caught the imagination |
| matters of extreme dangerous situations, tattoos | | | | of the younger generations and are here to stay. |
| being fixed and constant are reminders of our | | | | While some are critical of the practice, most |
| aloneness in this world. A glance at them can | | | | people are tolerant. And instead of looking for the |
| ameliorate that feeling of dread. | | | | negative, we should look for the positive gains |
| Sometimes it is difficult, if not impossible, to | | | | that they (tattoos) can yield to the wearer, and |
| externalize a personal inner quest. A graphic | | | | also for the beauty that some of them contain. |
| depiction can do that for us as a way of telling | | | | |