Body art and ornamentation have been a defining cultural representation for cultures since the beginning of time. In some cultures, such as South America, China and the United States, tattoos and piercing symbolize the physical and spiritual representation of many groups of people, ranging in meaning and authority. What some represent in one culture could mean the complete opposite it another.
The interesting fact that differentiates the cultures is the way they are created, applied, and distinguished among themselves. The Unites States has a fascinating history of body art that began as a sign of vulgarity but has since evolved into less of a stereotype and more of a mainstream display of individuality. “It wasn’t until eighteenth century voyages of Captain James Cook that the practice of tattooing became established in the West. ” (Ululate, p. 106) In the Victorian American period, tattoos represented criminality and immorality.
They evolved during WI as soldiers began coming home from the war with them. They were heavy, black outlined tattoos of shapes or images filled with red or blue ink. These became known as “traditional” ND one of the most well known artists during this time for traditional tattoos was Norman Collins, also known as “Sailor Jerry. ” During the late sass’s and early sass’s, “tribal” tattooing became popular. Tribal tattoos originate from cultures of Polynesia and New Zealand, and soon became the new social context for the appeal of tattoos.
In today’s American popular culture, tattoo culture is magnified in reality shows such as LA Ink. It is common to see them displayed in an everyday occurrence, and they do not retain the cultural stigma that once plagued them centuries ago in America. In South America, piercing and tattoos have cultural and relational beginning not found in the likes of the United States and other cultures. Historically, tattoos were a sign of courage and bravery because of the pain that was involved in receiving them.
In some tribes they signified cultural markings such as leadership, control, and marital and cultural status because the markings commonly discriminate the social status with the tribes. Bodily representation in South America quite differentiates from that of North American ideology. Whereas South American cultures look upon tattoos with cultural significance, modern North American representations are more commonly attained for self satisfaction and appeal. Body symbols and art also hold a different representation in the likes of historic China.
Although similar to America’s tattoo history in the beginning, China ‘s history claims they were originally “one defining characteristic of a people different from the majority population, tattoo as punishment, tattoo of slaves, tattoo as facial adornment, tattoo in the military, and figurative and textual tattoo. ” (Reed p. 361) People bearing them were “stigmatize as impure, deviant, and uncivilized. (Reed p. 361) Chinese still do not have a general consensus as being culturally accepted Walking around Shanghai today would suggest that there is still a modest stigma when it comes to displays of body art.
The younger generation is evolving into the idea as Western Civilization continues to have a modern influence on this generation. However, tattoos are hidden under clothing or small so as not to cause a discriminatory opinion from others. Tattoos have always been an important part in Chinese tribal culture, such as the Dulling. They tattoo women’s faces because it was thought it made them ugly, therefore protecting them room being raped by neighboring tribes. It is still a common practice today, but more for rites of passage than for protection.
Among the various histories of tattoos and their voltmeter, the “predominantly negative reactions which tattoos often elicit from the untenanted- and which seem based primarily on a lingering, perceived association with degradation, criminality, and deviance- persist, while at the same time tattoos may, for the same people, exert an irresistible fascination and arouse latent voyeuristic tendencies. ” (Gustafson, p. 79) Regardless of their origin, the “fascination” tends to be a growing trend in more noncreative environments, and tattoos are becoming generally accepted or less acknowledged by those that do not approve.
