Downloadable version of research project
Here is a mini-essay I wrote for my J50 class. I am highly interested in body modification and I wanted to know a bit more about how the Internet has affected tattooing.
Influence of the Internet and media on tattoos
Tattooing originated from the southeastern Pacific islands of Tahiti, Polynesia and New Zealand. Sailors and explorers brought the practice, along with native designs back to North America. For many years, tattoos were viewed as exotic or freakish symbols of an outlandish lifestyle. This changed temporarily as tattoos became highly patriotic symbols between world wars. (1)
In post-war America, tattoos were viewed as a form of defiance for such marginal groups such as hippies and gangsters. Today, mainstream acceptance has been won through the exposure of tattoo artist's work in the popular media, and Internet newsgroups. (1)
The acceptance of tattooing has been helped by free advertising that comes from inked musicians to professional athletes, who are seen in person or on TV by millions of fans. Some, such Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson, seem to have tattoos everywhere. (3) The media has been a highly visible venue towards the mainstreaming of tattooing.
Successful athletes, most of the music industry, professional skateboarders and snowboarders all have some sort of body modification Youth are greatly influenced by these people in the magazines they read, the shows they watch, and the music they listen to. Teen magazines promote tattooing as the latest fad, with beautiful models sporting them. (4)
The rise in tattoo popularity has also been shown by the rise in Internet activity. In 1999 the word "tattoo" was among the top 10 search terms in most search engines. (2) Hits on Vincent Hemingson's web site, www.vanishingtattoo.com, skyrocketed to 3 million a month after its launch in June, 2000. One in seven Americans has a tattoo, a proportion that has doubled since 1990 People of all ages, both sexes and across the socioeconomic spectrum are getting tattoos. (2)
1. DeMello, Margo. Bodies of inscription: a cultural
history of the modern tattoo
community. North Carolina: Duke University Press, 2000
2. Henry, Fran. "Who Tattoos? You! Once Found
on Jailbirds and Sailors, Body Art
Goes Mainstream." The Plain Dealer, Nov. 5, 2000.
3. Winter, Abe. "As tattoos become upscale,
creativity has become premium." Racine
Journal Times. Feb. 2, 2003
4. "Tattooing/Body Piercing," Internet online, available at http://www.freeessays.cc/db/43/sxr41.shtml
Here
are some of the websites that helped me get a sense of the Internet's
influence in the
world of body modification.
Body Modification Ezine www.bmezine.com
Site has different sections for photos of tattoos
of all types, piercings of all kinds and descriptions of people's experiences
involving body modification. The site includes news from across the United
States that involves body modification. There is also a section where
the procedures and risks of various modification procedures are explained.
This site is also a great spot for tattoo enthusiasts to discuss their
tattoos.
Tattoos/Body Piercings http://tattoo.about.com/cs/tatart/index.htm
Site has many links to beginner's guides, tattoo
photos and various tattoo oriented websites available. A gentle introduction
into tattooing, without many photos on the initial page.
Tattoos and Body Piercing http://www.freeessays.cc/db/43/sxr41.shtml
It's an essay on the social aspects of tattooing and piercing, including how the practices have become more and more mainstream due to the media.
The Changing Cultural Status of Tattoo Art http://www.tattooartist.com/history.html
Site outlines the mainstreaming of tattoos in relation to the media. Site highlights articles from various newspapers referencing the rise of tattoo popularity.
The Vanishing Tattoo http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/links.htm
It is an exhaustive site outlining many tattoo establishments, photo galleries, history and anthropological links. A more in-depth web site; it has a lot of information on tattooing around the world and tattooing in America.
And here are some non-Internet sources that helped me with this research.
Two UNC-CH print sources:
DeMello, Margo. Bodies of inscription: a cultural history of the modern tattoo community. North Carolina: Duke University Press, 2000, Davis GT2346.U6 D45 2000
Delio, Michelle. Tattoo: the exotic art of skin decoration. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1994, UL GT2345.D45
Hardin, Michael. "Mar(k)ing the objected body: a reading of contemporary female tattooing." Fashion Theory, March 1999, 81-108. ARTbibliographies Modern database
Bell, Brian. "A Decade of Dunstable." International Tattoo Art, May 1996, 22-49. ARTbibliographies Modern database
Faber, Liz. "Trends: under your skin."
Creative Review, no. 4, April 1994,14. ARTbibliographies Modern database