History And Aesthetics Of Tattooing

Throughout recorded history we find that humans have the innate desire to adorn themselves and their surroundings. A house isn't just a house but a home that expresses the inhabitant's personality. A temple isn't just a structure for worship but a construction for those who attempt to reach God; just think of the Gothic cathedrals-point up towards the heavens. A car isn't just a means of transportation but a symbol of power or lack of it. And so it goes.

 But tattoos? Being more personal than structures and surroundings, we must look within to understand their popularity.

 Tattoos in America:

 Not all societies adopt tattoos as means of personal and communal expressions. In many cultures -especially illiterate societies-tattoos carry the visual symbols, icons, and signals of collective consciousness and memories they wish to preserve.

 In America, given their popularity today, we can see that tattoos are a continuation of the earlier generations' symbols of rebellion, of being different, of presenting a contrarian attitude, of the nonconformist. In place of long hair we now have long nails, body piercing, and tattoos.

 Is it a fad? Given that the fad is lasting longer than a decade, we can say perhaps it is more than a fad; may be a much longer wave. Young people imitate stars, celebrities, and other famous achievers. In soccer we see a veteran player like David Beckham sport very visible tattoos on his neck; following Beckham's example, the young striker Natasha Kai isn't shy about displaying her countless tattoos. In boxing, tattoos are almost mandatory -perhaps as weapons of intimidation-since most boxers wear them. The fiercer the tattoo the fiercer the appearance of the boxer: just take a close look at Mike Tyson's face.

 Tattoos are bridges between the body and the soul:

 For many individuals, tattoos are connectors between material reality and the spiritual realm, much like prayers. While prayers are somewhat restricted for the most for worshipping, or for matters of extreme dangerous situations, tattoos being fixed and constant are reminders of our aloneness in this world. A glance at them can ameliorate that feeling of dread.

 Sometimes it is difficult, if not impossible, to externalize a personal inner quest. A graphic depiction can do that for us as a way of telling others "this is what I am about."

 For many, tattoos concretize their faith in some abstraction. Take for example patriotism, freedom, or love. These human emotions and feelings cannot be properly articulated, but they can be expressed easily with a tattoo of the American flag, the Liberty Bell, or bleeding hearts.

 Tats and Aesthetics:

 One can make the argument that a tattoo doesn't have to justify anything-but beauty. Many of the Celtic, butterfly, dragons, flowery, and even weaponry tattoos are so designed and executed that evoke a feeling of awe and admiration.

 If a tattoo is well balanced, it is whole, and it has a splendor of its own, then we can say that it is beautiful. Must one have to justify beauty? Of course not, but keep in mind that quality must prevail; if enough quality tattoos are shown, then we are justified in calling this part of aesthetics: "body art."

 Generational Reactions:

 While the public in general are tolerant and laissez-faire about tattoos, the generations in power (as in the power to hire, promote, and fire) are less inclined to accept the practice.

 Tattoos will be viewed as a vehicle of strangeness in an applicant; a visible sign that the individual may not be a team player, someone difficult to manage. This may not be true, but it is the way of corporate cultures. In fact, I've heard a human resources executive denigrate tattoos as "jail art."

 Tats, Sense and Sensitivity:

 Common sense tells us to be sensitive to other people's feelings, history, and culture. Likewise, tattoos should not be worn as to offend others. Political symbols and religious symbols are still taboo in America. Cosmic and zodiac expressions have become universal symbols and are looked on with sympathy.

 Conclusion:

 Like in any other human endeavors, taste, likes, and dislikes, tattoos have caught the imagination of the younger generations and are here to stay. While some are critical of the practice, most people are tolerant. And instead of looking for the negative, we should look for the positive gains that they (tattoos) can yield to the wearer, and also for the beauty that some of them contain.

How To Determine The Best Tattoo Placement

People spend a lot of time thinking about and discussing tattoo designs but few hardly give much thought about where to place that beautiful tattoo on their body. Tattoo placement can be as important and beautiful as the tattoo itself. There are many things you might like to consider when having a tattoo engraved on your body.

 The first thing you might like to think about is the reason you are having the tattoo. Some people get a tattoo as a symbol, something that reminds them of an event, of a reality they have lived or a dream that they have had. This might be personal. If you are having a tattoo for personal reasons, you may not necessarily want it to be showy. You might want to place it where it is not obvious for people to see.

 The part of the body that has much importance to you, like the chest or breast area, the arms, the lower part of your back just above your hips, or the shoulders are places that you might think about when getting a tattoo. When considering options for tattoo placement you might want something that is sexy or suits your fancy.

 You will need to ask yourself if the tattoo is meant to be shown or to be kept hidden. If you are a discreet person, you might like to place your tattoo in an area of the body where not just anybody can see it. This can have a very intimate dimension.

 The size of the tattoo can determine the tattoo placement also. Smaller tattoos can be placed anywhere on the body while large tattoos are suited for larger, flat areas like the back or the chest. Small tattoos can fit well on the back area of the neck, the upper part of the arms and even around the most intimate and hidden areas of the body.

 The tattoo design is also important. Some tattoo designs speak more eloquently when placed in certain parts of the body. Larger designs will definitely need space. But designs like small symbols, icons, or a flower can fit anywhere. The most common areas where people place tattoos are the lower back, the shoulders, the chest, the legs, the hips, the arms, the stomach and the ankles.

 Besides the previously mentioned issues to think about when getting a tattoo, you will also have to consider the general feeling it gives you and what you want to communicate with it. Where you place your tattoo can also be as meaningful as the tattoo itself. If you place your tattoo on the best spot, it will not only give a beautiful, sexy look but will make you feel good when you look at it.