The History of Tattoos free essay sample

While most people are not aware of how far back tattoos and their uses are dated in history, tattoos date back thousands of years and have a variety of uses. Tattoos symbolize everything from personal experiences, religion, or simply art. There are literally thousands of designs and styles that variety from black to elaborate colorful schemes. Rather flaunted or hidden, sought as art or bought out of a whim, the tattoo has left its mark on generation after generation (Krakow, 1994). Throughout history tattooing has had many purposes that vary from culture, to person, to a specific date in history. The word tattoo, a Tahitian word meaning â€Å"to mark something†, has existed since 12,000 B. C. According to â€Å"A Brief History of Tattoos,† women in Borneo tattooed their symbols on their forearm indicting their particular skill. If a woman wore their symbol indicting she was a skilled weaver, her status as prime marriageable material was increased. We will write a custom essay sample on The History of Tattoos or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In tribes, tattoos around the wrist and fingers were believed to ward away illness. The earliest record of tattoos, to date, was found in 1991 on the frozen remains of the â€Å"Iceman† scientist have named Otzi. His lower back, knees, ankles, and the foot were marked with a series of 57 small lines, made by rubbing powdered charcoal into vertical cuts. X-rays revived bone degeneration at the site of each tattoo, leading researchers to believe that Otzi’s people, ancestors of contemporary central and northern Europeans, may have used tattoos as medical treatments to reduce pain. Other than this were the tattoos found in Egypt during the time of the construction of the pyramids. As quickly as the Egyptians expanded their empire, so did the art of tattooing. The civilizations of Crete, Greece, Persia, and Arabia picked up and expanded the art form (A Brief History of Tattoos). The Greeks used tattooing for communication among spies by identifying them and showing their rank. Romans marked their criminals and slaves. This practice is still carried on today. The Ainu, of western Asia, used tattoos to show status. They also thought of being the ones to introduce tattoos to Japan where it developed into a religious and ceremonial rite. Dayak warriors who had beheaded someone, or â€Å"taken a head†, had tattoos on their hands. These tattoos garnered respect and assured the owner’s status for life. Polynesians brought their art all the way to New Zealand and developed a radical facial style of tattooing called Moko, which is still being used today (A Brief History of Tattoos). In the West, early Danes, Norse, and Saxons tattooed family crests (a tradition still practiced today). In 787 AD, Pope Hadrian banned tattooing, yet it still thrived in Britain until the Norman Invasion of 1066 tattooing soon disappeared from Western culture for four centuries (12th to the 16th century). In Japan tattooing still thrived. First they were used to identify criminals. The first offenses were marked with a line across the forehead. A second crime was marked by adding an arch. A third offense was marked by a second line. When put together these marks formed the Japanese character for â€Å"dog†. The wearer was shamed for life. The body suit originated around 1700 as a reaction against very stringent laws concerning conspicuous consumption. Only royalty were allowed to wear ornate clothing. As a result of this the middle class adorned themselves with these extremely elaborate full body tattoos. William Dampher re-introduced tattooing to the West when he brought a heavily tattooed Polynesian known Prince Giolo, the Painted Prince, to London in 1691. The Prince was put on exhibition and quickly became a hit. It had been roughly 600 years since tattoos had been seen in Europe. In the late 1700’s upper-class society members were getting tattoos in rather discreet places. What kept tattooing from becoming more widespread was its painful procedure, which was also very slow. In 1891, Samuel O’Reilly patented the first electric tattooing machine. This was based on Thomas Edison’s electric pen, which punctured paper with a needle. The basic design with moving coils, a tube and a needle bar, are the components of today’s tattoo gun. The electric tattoo gun allowed anyone to obtain a reasonably priced and readily available tattoo. This no longer made tattoos appealing to the upper class. By the turn of the century, tattooing had lost a great deal of credibility. Most heavily tattooed people traveled with circuses and â€Å"freak† shows. Tattooing went underground because of the view of tattoos became so poor. There were no associations, advertising, or schools to study the craft. In order to find out where to go and who to see for quality tattoos, one had to be familiar with the scuttlebutt and accepted into the then almost secret society. The birthplace of the American style tattoo was Chatham Square in New York City. This seaport and entertainment center attracted working-class people with money. This proved to be a perfect place for tattooing to grow new roots. Husbands would tattoo their wives with examples of their best work. It was as if they were walking advertisements for their work. At this time, cosmetic tattooing became popular (blush, colored lips, and eyeliner). In the 1920s, when Prohibition and the Depression, struck the center for tattoo art moved to Coney Island. In 1961, tattooing was sent reeling on its heels when there was an outbreak of hepatitis. Although most tattoo shops had sterilization machines, few used them. Newspapers soon started reporting stories of blood poisoning, hepatitis, and other such diseases. This is when a new health code violation went into effect and all the tattoo shops at times square and Coney Island were shut down. Tattoos started to regain reputation and very few people wanted anything to do with them. In the late 1960s, this attitude started to slowly change. Today, tattooing is making a comeback. It is more accepted now than it has ever been. This rise in popularity has placed tattooists in the category of â€Å"fine artist† garnering a respect not seen for over 100 years. Current artist combine the tradition of tattooing with their personal style creating unique and phenomenal body art. The 21st century is experiencing what some are already calling a second â€Å"Tattoo Renaissance. † Throughout history tattoos have signified membership in a clan or secret society. Today groups such as Hells Angels tattoo their particular group symbol. Tattoos have largely become a form of self-expression and individuality for many people of all ages and cultures.