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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 4 page paper argues that tattoos, although they still have a negative connotation, actually have a rich history in American culture going back to the founding of the nation. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
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4 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_HVAmTats.rtf
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history in American culture that goes back to the founding of the country. This paper argues that the perception of tattoos is changing, and that they are becoming more widely
accepted. Discussion The actual history of tattoos goes back centuries; in America, it is thought to have derived from the "ancient tribes of the British Isles" and was practiced mostly
by the aristocracy (Bell, 1999, p. 53). According to folklore, it was Captain Cook who coined the word "tattoo" in 1769 on his South Pacific voyage; he derived the term
"from the Tahitian word "ta-tu," meaning "to mark," also associated with the sound made by the Tahitian tattoo instrument" (Bell, 1999, p. 53). Bell writes that American tattooing is unique
from aboriginal tattoos done in other countries since it is "image-oriented, being primarily literal interpretations of things" (1999, p. 53). Most Americans tend to have a "variety of images (or
a single image) that stand alone against the skin" (Bell, 1999, p. 53). This is in contrast to the Japanese practice, for example, where the entire body is often tattooed
in what is called a "body suit" (Bell, 1999, p. 53). Historically, Americans who have gotten tattoos have been "military personnel, convicts, circus freaks, bikers, and other marginal people"
(Bell, 1999, p. 53). In addition, shows like "L.A. Ink" and "Miami Ink" have popularized them, and they are rapidly becoming popular with the middle class. This takes tattoos out
of the realm of the marginalized or the exotic and into the mainstream. However, traditionally people have used tattoos to identify themselves as members of certain groups, such as bikers
or hippies (Bell, 1999). While its possible to signal ones allegiance to a group through the use of clothing, a tattoo is permanent, and in Bells opinion is a "sign
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