2. Tattoos did not just start recently. The idea of tattoos dates back to many years
ago. Tattoos are a form of art that has existed for so many years only that it keeps
getting better with modernization (Arp, 2012). Back then in the year's tattoos were
mainly cuts which had charcoal powder put into them, right now tattoos are not
just cuts but they are drawn on the body of someone and rather than charcoal
powder being used to beautify them, ink is used.
The ink of any color can be used depending on one's preference. This makes
tattoos even more beautiful to be looked at.
3. Thesis
While some cultures may not be so much in support of tattoos, some others have
loved tattoos and do very much appreciate them as art.
4. Tattoo artists
Tattoos may not be just drawings on people's bodies. While some may be viewing
tattoos as such, we may want to take a deeper look at tattoos and why it is a great
art that should be appreciated rather than shunned (Arp, 2012). Some tattoos
carry deeper meanings, some people may have tattoos as an appreciation of
culture, others may have tattoos because of their love for something or someone
or others may just have tattoos because of their love if that particular form of art.
Not go forget that others may have tattoos because of curiosity or just because
of wanting to rebel especially the rebellious type of kids whose parents have a
general dislike for tattoos. All the same, all these are arts on a person's body
despite their significance to that particular person
5. Tattoos are art meaning that they can not be drawn by just anyone. They need a
specialist and in most cases, it is people with gifts of drawing these tattoos that can do
it. While there may be the training of specialists, people who are naturally talented in
the art are the best when it comes to this kind of art.
Training is basically for handling tattoo equipment in the right manner and maybe how
to treat these tattoos. In training not much is done on how to draw these tattoos, while
some art schools may teach this, those who have the gift find it easier than those who
don’t.
Given that this art is rare and is more of a gift gives us more reason to appreciate the
art. George Burchett is so far the best tattoo artist in the world. He is well known for his
great artwork (Burchett, 1958). Tattoos are more of a creativity to bring out the beauty
of things. George's work has the best creativity in it that is yet to be seen in any other
tattoos. His work gave him the title of 'king of tattooists'.
6. Maori tattoo culture
The Maori people had Tattoos to signify the specific tribes. The Maori people especially
Tattoos their faces depending on one's gender. Men had their full faces covered in
tattoos. Women, on the other hand, had tattoos on chins.
The tattoos on the people's faces had significance to them besides being a
representation of their origin (Starzecka, & Davidson, 1996). The tattoos were sacred
and had a meaning to the person who had them. Each tattoo marking had a meaning
which could be showing the family and also the background of the person bearing
them.
This culture was almost being abandoned with civilization kicking in but the Maori
people revived it with more pride. The Maori people now wear tattoos to remind them
of their origin (Fedorenko, et al. 1999). They have embraced tattoos to signify who they
are and what their ancestors took pride in. Although these traditions are changing,
they only keep getting better and the Maori people are accepting this change and
embracing it.
7. The Maori people had tattoos when they reached their adolescent years. Since the
head was viewed as the most sacred part of the body, they had tattoos drawn
them.
Besides culture, someone's achievements could be known by just looking at the
tattoos (Te Awekotuku, 2003). People who had no achievements could not easily
get Tattoos.
Getting the tattoos was a painful process considering it was done on the face.
Warriors had tattoos that attracted ladies to them and the more the tattoos the
tougher a warrior was seen.
8. The Maori tattoo culture has transformed how the rest of the world sees tattoos. Maori
people are proud of their culture. Tattoos in the rest of the world were not accepted
until a few decades ago. Previously tattoos were not accepted considering Christians
who according to the Bible viewed it as a sin.
The Quran, on the other hand, does not specifically say that tattoos are bad but some
people say that having tattoos is a bad thing especially when they are permanent.
However, other Muslims may not see any problem with having tattoos and get them.
The Maori culture has helped in boosting the courage of some people in embracing
tattoos. Previously some people would draw tattoos and hide them from parents
(Marczak, 2007). The way the Maori people have pride in their tattoos has helped some
people to stop seeing Tattoos as something sinful, it has opened the thinking of some
people and they are gradually accepting tattoos.
9. Conclusion
In conclusion, tattoos are art that should be embraced overlooking the cultural
differences. The least people can do is supporting this art instead of criticizing it.
This will go a long way in helping this art grow.
10. References
Arp, R. (Ed.). (2012). Tattoos-Philosophy for everyone: I ink, therefore I am (Vol. 57). John Wiley &
Sons.
Burchett, G. (1958). Memoirs of a Tattooist: From the Notes, Diaries, and Letters of the Late" King
of Tattooists," George Burchett. Crown Publishers.
Fedorenko, J. S., Sherlock, S. C., & Stuhr, P. L. (1999). A body of work: A case study of tattoo culture.
Visual Arts Research, 105-114.
Marczak, A. (2007). Tattoo world. Honors Projects Overview, 29.
Te Awekotuku, N. (2003). Ta Moko: Culture, body modification, and the psychology of identity. In
Tatau/Tattoo: Embodied Art and Cultural Exchange c. 1760-2000. Maori and Psychology Research
Unit, University of Waikato.
Starzecka, D. C., & Davidson, J. E. (Eds.). (1996). Māori: Art and Culture. Trustees of the British
Museum.
