Tattoos are one of the more provocative subjects in society these days. Shows like Miami Ink and MTV's Real Life have chronicled the lives of the artists, the tattooed and the regretful. I myself have partaken under the needle, and as a part of the journey I have come to grips with the many varied opinions of the masses regarding tattoos and tattoo culture.
Why get a tattoo? This is often the first question many people have with the presupposition that it is somehow unappealing or shallow. There are many reasons people have for getting a tattoo, but the underlying motive is always for the benefit to the person getting the tattoo. In a non-egotistical way, a persons tattoos are for that person, and if no one else sees them, or appreciates them, they are still worthwhile to the person wearing them. There is a beautiful metaphor in the tattoo process. When you get something tattooed, there's a physical and meta-physical way in which that thing represented in the tattoo becomes a part of you. And even tattoos without as much significance at conception become significant as they become part of your life. It's also a great ice breaker, and fun to talk about (definitely not the primary reason for getting a tattoo). People are curious about the stories behind tattoos, or find it common ground.
People often say that tattoos are addictive, and there are many reasons that this is so. A tattoo is relatively inexpensive compared to some addictions, it's beautiful artwork, it lasts forever, and it's usually intensely personal. After you get a tattoo, you experience one of two sensations: 1) A massive endorphin rush and the feeling of being the coolest person in the world. 2) A slowly mounting wave of regret combined with a make-do attitude. I've never experienced the latter, though I know people who have.
There are 3 main objections people have regarding tattoos. 1) They are old school (or maybe just old) and consider a tattoo a sign of rebellion. For them, only sailors, bikers and convicts get tattoos, and not their little girl or boy. Culturally this just isn't the case and hasn't been for most of the past two decades. 2) They are religious and genuinely believe their religious text forbids it. For more on this, check out ReligiousTattoos.net. Essentially, the only verses forbidding tattoo-ish sounding practices are found in Leviticus, which is ancient Israel's national constitution, and not legally binding for Christians. There are also a lot of other practices in Leviticus that no one upholds. For example, if you get mold in your shower, you have to replace your shower. That doesn't negate some of the principles found in it, but it does negate any type of strict 1 to 1 correspondence with levitical law and the practice of the Christian life. 3) They simply look at the practice as culturally absurd, and unwise. And depending on what you are going to do in your life, it is. I wouldn't reccomend getting tattoos on an area of your body that can't be concealed by professional atire. Certain jobs are out of the question if you have tattoos on the neck, hands, or even arms if you're required to wear short sleeves as part of your uniform (depending on the season, you might not be very comfortable in long sleeves). but even this trend, apart from military or civil service, is starting to change as tattoos become more and more common in our culture.
A fourth objection is often voiced by the potential bearer of a tattoo before they get it. If you think this about a tattoo you are considering, I would strongly advise against it. 4) Won't it eventually look like those military veteran's tattoos, all shriveled and green, or do I really want a big dark tattoo on my back when I'm wearing my wedding dress? Questioning the aesthetic of a tattoo is probably a bad omen for your reception of such a tattoo.
I usually respond that if that's how you think of tattoos, I don't think you should get one, because eventually you will find reason to regret having it, but in answer to the question: A) When you're as old as those veterans, you probably won't look that great, tattoos or not. The reason theirs have faded is because of UV exposure and lack of care. If you wear sunscreen, get your tattoo touched up every few years, and generally maintain it, it should still look great after 30+ years. Colors will fade more than black as well. B) If you don't think it looks great enough to show to other people, and that concerns you, maybe you should reexamine your reason for getting one in the first place. It's a non-issue for me since I'll have the option of wearing long sleeves should I ever get married, but if I did have an informal wedding, I would love wearing short sleeves, cause I think my tattoos are beautiful, and I like them a lot. They are 100% enhancement as far as aesthetic goes.
2 comments:
good stuff. i think this is the first essay i've read on tattoos that contains a realistic perspective.
Good read man. I found the whole thing about tat's looking bad later on and why not to get one to be particularly insightful.
I probably won't be getting a tattoo, but I do affirm you in your service of rooting out (helping) people who are fundamentalists about culture (things that don't matter) rather than the Word. There's few things that bring that out in people than a permanent quote from Lamentations.
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