Body Art

One Friday, while watching our sons practice football, a group of middle class Peewee moms sat together engaged in a conversation when an unexpected topic came up: tattoos. It came to light that quite a few of the moms had tattoos. There was a variety of art but most of the tattoos were either a flower or heart of some kind. The surprising realization came to me that tattoos are no longer only for the traditional stereotype but there is a new trend that is changing the way people with tattoos are viewed in our society. Tattoos have been traditionally looked upon as a sign of rebellion and nonconformity. This tradition of tattoos is being challenged by the new trend of fashionable body art.

Mainstream America has conventionally looked upon people with tattoos in a derogatory manner but this new trend of body art is giving a new face to the tattoo image and stereotype. In the past a person with tattoos was judged based on the stereotype. This stereotype consisted of the assumption of an alternative lifestyle, and someone who does not follow the invisible rules that govern our society. These people have been thought to be part of the criminal element or at the very least shady in character, and they have typically been bikers, inmates or sailors. The new trend of body art has pushed the old tattoo stereotype aside and now includes soccer moms and high powered business men and women. The list is endless of the type of person that might have a tattoo on their body as evidence of this new trend; the list includes teachers, lawyers, doctors, bankers and so on. Teenagers are participating in this trend of body art and are even getting permission from their parents.

Tattoos have always been a form of self expression but the ideas that are now expressed have changed and have evolved from the traditional skull and bones to the current trend of a portrait of a loved one. I think that this change is a result of Americans wanting to pay tribute to those they respect and love in a public and permanent way. After 9/11 there were many people who got tattoos of the twin towers with the firefighters representing those who died trying to save others. In the past a person could get the name of a person tattooed on their body as a symbol of honoring their life or death. With the change that body art has brought, along with new technology, the tattoo artist can do more than just the name. Now tattooists can tattoo an actual life like portrait, of the person being honored, with great detail. There is a similar artistic expression that is described in the essay by Jenn Shreve who talks about the new trend of wearing a commemorative t-shirt to a funeral instead of the traditional suit. Jenn relays the significance of the t-shirt to her audience by saying “Obviously a memorial t-shirt isn’t meant to replace the stone monument on a plot of green grass, the engraved urn, or scenic bench. It simply adds a new dimension to the traditional memorial”. (Shreve) This same principle applies to tattooing as it is the current trend to tattoo the face of a loved one that has passed away onto the body as a way to commemorate the death.

This change in artistic expression has opened up the doors to include those who typically would not have gotten the traditionally themed tattoo but would get one that is modern in theme. I am one of those people who would not typically be expected to have a tattoo. I grew up middle class in a strong religious family, I am married with three kids and after ten years of marriage my husband and I decided instead of giving each other an anniversary gift we would get matching tattoos. We got them on our shoulder blades where they are discreet and only a handful of people know that we have them. While we were sitting in the waiting area I was watching the type of people who walked through the door and there were mostly people who would not typically be expected to have a tattoo. Two women walked in, who looked like they were probably professionals in the work place, and wanted tattoos on their feet. One got a flower the other got a humming bird but both were more of a modern design.

The people creating tattoos were traditionally looked at as creating graffiti type writings or pictures instead of being given credit for making actual pieces of art. A cultural assumption that tattoo artists are not really artistically talented is being challenged and a change that has come with the evolution of body art is the general acknowledgement that these people are artists in their own right. One aspect that appears to have remained the same is the physical appearance of tattoo artists. Typically tattoo artists are tattooed from head to toe and live the life style of late nights and late mornings. While my husband and I were getting our tattoos the tattooist was telling us all about the crazy lifestyles that they have. He joked that they were like vampires by staying up at night and hiding during the day.

A conservative stereotype would not traditionally have a tattoo but with the change of image with the new trend of body art there are main stream conservatives who are going to a place where they would never have gone before, a tattoo parlor. They are getting a tattoo that they would never before have gotten and society is not looking down on them as they once would have. Conventionally having a tattoo could have resulted in limiting a tattooed persons employment options because of the stereotype that was attached to them but society’s new acceptance has opened the door for these people to not be judged on their tattoos alone. The exception to this new acceptance is if a person has multiple tattoos and especially if they are on the face. This appears to have the traditional effect of these people being judged on the stereotype rather than their individual qualities.

There is an acceptance of people with tattoos more today than there was fifty years ago. The tradition of the stereotypical tattooed person is being challenged by the diversity of the type of people now getting body art. At one time it was obvious who might have had a tattoo but not anymore. So before offering up an opinion in public of whether tattoos are right or wrong make sure it is known who is and who is not part of this new age trend of body art.