The practice of tattooing means different things in different cultures. In early practice, decoration appears to have been the most common motive for tattooing, and that still holds true today. In some cultures, tattoos served as identification of the wearer's rank or status in a group. .
The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian "tatu" which means, "to mark something". Finding information about Tahitian tattooing I found difficult. The little knowledge of Tahitian tattooing in pre-contact times is quite limited. There are only a dozen or so descriptions of the art and even fewer illustrations. The art of tattooing has been around for centuries. As far as we know, the history of tattooing starts in ancient Egypt and the most well preserved examples are ancient Egyptian mummies. There is no word for tattooing found in ancient Egyptian, but lines of text have been found referring to tattooing as "inscribing" which can also be translated as "etched" or "engraved." .
I found another part of history that I found interesting, which is about an Iceman named "Ötzi-. In 1992, at the very border of Austria and Italy, high up in the Alp Mountains, the body of a man was found, and as they realized that he was more than 5000 years old. Ötzi the Iceman has been under ice for all those years, so his body, clothes and equipment was extraordinarily well preserved. 59 tattoos have been counted on his body. His tattoos were only simple dots and little lines. .
Scientist was even more surprised that the back and leg tattoos were on or near typical acupuncture points for treating back and leg pain. X-rays showed evidence of arthritis in Ötzi that might have responded to acupuncture. But there's a problem with this theory: Acupuncture is believed to have originated in China 2,000 to 3,000 years ago. But because of Ötzi, some scientists now think that acupuncture (or at least an acupuncture type of medical system) was practiced 5,300 years ago a long, long way from China.
Their body art was used to express a part of who they were. ... The art of tattooing in Egypt developed from the Nubians. ... Beyond Egypt, tattoo art was popular in Japan and other Asian cultures. ... At one time, tattooing was an expensive art form, out of reach to the common people. ... Flower power was permanently placed as body art and proudly displayed. ...
TATTOOS: BODY ART OR MUTILATION The word "tattoo" was derived from the Tahitian term "tatau", which means "to mark something". ... Then the Ainu tribe located in western Asia began using tattoos as a sign of social status, they have also been credited with introducing this art to Japan where it became a religious and ceremonial right. ... With the Norman invasion of 1066 A.D. the art of tattooing disappeared from Western culture from the 12th to the 16th centuries. ... Moreover, the art of tattooing is more socially accepted than it ever has been. ... Tattoos are no longer just an a...
This is my favorite, though it is yet to be colored in, it is a great work of art. ... Then, it will be my prettiest work of art that I designed, imprinted in my skin forever. ... Some people say that tattoos are not a legitimate form of art. ... I think that tattoos are the most legitimate form of art, because they are almost living inside your skin, and are very unique. ... The tattoo world is growing and changing every day, and I can't wait to see what new ways of tattooing that they will come up with. ...
Something in our community that tends to create a lot of controversy is a tattoo. Tattoos can range from nearly every shape and size imaginable as long as it can fit on the human body. ... However for some a tattoo is just the thing to express themselves, such as your undying love for someone, hence tattoos that say something like BUBBA LUVS MAMA are not an uncommon sight. Some people see tattoos as a form of art, they are sort of moving pictures that can depict a persons true personality, in this sense a tattoo is almost a form of poetry. ... The truth is, tattoos have many different meanings...
Tattoos have popped up through out history as ritual art, pagan decoration, art to mark a rite of passage, and numerous others. ... The flower child generation brought back the popularity of tattoos and gave a rebirth to this ancient art form. ... As the years began to pass, we began to see body art in the limelight. ... There are still many out there that associate body art with immoral character, but the numbers have significantly decreased. ... Flash, are pieces of art that people do and sell to tattoo supply companies. ...
Can I get a tattoo? ... For most people to truly understand body art then they must understand the history and that it has been around for centuries. ... All tattooing should be done in shops with expierenced tattoo artists with clean equipment. ... The negative side of tattooing is the part parents are most worried about because of the dangers involved in getting a tattoo. ... Customizing The Body: The Art and Culture of Tattooing. ...
"Tattooing is the peculiar art of injecting inks into the living parchment that is called the human dermis"(Johnson13). ... What started out as a simple system of identifying, differentiating, and classifying people, has turned into just another cool fad, a form of today's body art. Tattoos use to have meaning; they had purpose, and the most important people had reasons for getting their tattoos. ... Do todays tattoos have real meaning? ... Masters of Tattoo. ...
Maori Tattoos The practice of tattooing has been around for as long as mankind. ... The Maori people have ancient traditions and art forms that are precious to them, but their most prominent art form is their tattoos. The Maori developed an unusual style of tattooing. ... Ancient tattoos convey much the same messages as tattoos do today. ... And even though some people still object on tattoos being an art form of self-expression, it is now more accepted than ever before. ...
Tattoo Taboo The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of tattoos have on society today. I will present views from both the tattooed, liberal, and the un-tattooed, common, person. ... It is an art form, an expression, a passion and a way of life for most; but this isn't normal expression to most people today. This expression of feeling and of art is shown on skin using needles and ink instead of a canvas, brush and paint. ... Tattoos and tattooing are still regarded by most as "taboo" or a regretful passing phase of life. ...
