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By infmom, December 5, 2009 9:08 pm

I put my name on the list for Dan Brown’s new novel at the library quite a while ago, and today I made it to the top of the list.

I have never considered Mr. Brown a world class novelist, although I’ve enjoyed reading his books.   But this time he’s lost me.   Oh, I’ll finish the book, but when you start off by having a character tattoo the top of his own bald head and then immediately slap makeup all over it…

If Mr. Brown wants to write about tattooed people again, I offer my services as a consultant!

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By infmom, October 26, 2009 3:02 pm

A reader recently asked if some tattoo placements were more masculine or feminine.   It’s an interesting question!

There’s no doubt that some tattoo placements seem to be associated more with one gender than the other.   The classic place for a man’s tattoo is on a bicep.   The “tramp stamp” (just above the butt crack) placement seems to be favored mostly by women.   Women seem to like bracelets and anklets while men like arm bands.

But as with everything associated with tattoos, where they go on your body is your choice.   My daughter has a fantastic arm band, an original design incorporating a red-tailed hawk (her great-grandmother’s totem animal).   I have seen men with great designs on their lower backs.   It’s all a matter of personal preference, and if some genders choose one place more than other, that doesn’t mean the other gender is out of luck.

As I’ve said before, one of the most important things you can do before you get a tattoo is to think about where you’d like to put it.   You have to take a lot of things into consideration.   Will the ink need to be covered by clothing most of the time so it won’t put employers off, or do you want it to be visible most of the time?   Do you want the ink on an area of the body that is known to be painful to tattoo?   Is your design so large that it has to go on a larger area of skin?   Those things, far more than any notion of “masculine” or “feminine” placement, are what you should be considering.

If where you want your ink is a place favored by the opposite gender, that’s your choice.   You are, after all, decorating your own body in your own way, so who cares if someone else thinks it’s in the wrong place?   Just get the very best tattoo you can, with personal significance, and then sit back and enjoy your beautiful decorations.

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By infmom, September 29, 2009 12:49 pm

I take an art class once a week at the local community college, and I get there on the bus.   I didn’t think it was necessary to buy a semester parking pass for a class that meets once a week, plus the fact that a bus pass costs $2 and a parking pass is up to $60 these days.   (Local city bus, half the time the fare boxes are broken, so the 10-ride $2 pass often lasts me for most of a semester.)

When I get on the bus at about 7am, it’s smashed full of high school kids.   I am not a morning person, so most of the time I don’t notice much about my surroundings.   I’m too busy trying to hang on as the lead-footed driver lurches from stop to stop (no chance of any kid actually getting up and letting the old lady sit down, believe me).   But last week I noticed something.

High school kids with really bad tattoos.   I mean REALLY bad.   Wavering lines, ugly pictures, gang style calligraphy that looked like it was done by someone who had lost their eyeglasses and was staggering drunk.   Girls with illegible writing on their necks that had already spread out and changed from black to blue.

I wonder how many of them will think that ink reflects who they are in five years.   Five years is not much when you get to be my age, but the difference between 18 and 23, yeah, that’s significant.

In five years, those kids are going to be paying for the tattoo removal clinic’s new offices.   They are going to be sitting there day after day getting that glop zapped off them.   No matter how cool they think that stuff looks now, when they’re out there trying to find a job, they’re not going to dazzle anyone with that kind of personal adornment unless they want work in a biker bar.   They probably won’t be hanging around with the same bunch of friends who thought that ink was such hot stuff.   There goes one major incentive to keep it.

I remember how sure I was at that age that what I wanted inked was what I should have, forever.   A cute little flower in green ink behind my left ankle on the inside.   I used to draw it on my skin with a green pen.   Now that I’m old enough to have a tattooed daughter who’s herself old enough to have children, I look back at my green flower and smile.   It wouldn’t have been a disaster to get that permanently inked (had there been such a thing as a tattoo parlor within 200 miles) but it sure wouldn’t have been something I’d show off with pride.   If I’d gotten some of the ugly junk I saw on the bus I’d be looking for someplace to buy a burka.

There’s a reason why people younger than 18 can’t legally get tattooed.   A very good reason.   But the problem is, as with so many other things in life, making people wait till they’re a certain age means that the minute they pass that birthday, off they go.   And these kids definitely went.

Have I turned into someone who ought to be yelling at kids to get off my lawn and get away from the tattoo parlors?   Do people not spend time planning what they want any more?   Is this the resurgence of the “if it feels good, do it” generation?

Ugh.
photo credit: GORGEOUSBOO

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By infmom, August 13, 2009 11:46 am

I suspect there are not too many other grey-haired ladies driving around town in geezermobile Buicks (OK, we inherited it, we didn’t buy it, honest!) and blasting the reggaeton station on the stereo.   Well, what can I say?   I like reggaeton (I’m amused that not long ago I was one of only a few Gizmodo readers who knew who Wisin & Yandel were).

Of course, that station is geared toward, shall we say, a younger audience than the classic rock station I also listen to a lot, and thus the products advertised are somewhat…   different.   The other day, in among the ads for acne products, boob jobs, trade schools and so forth I caught one for a product used to fade tattoos.   And when I heard the product name I could not believe my ears.

Wrecking Balm?   They want us to buy a product called     Wrecking Balm?   Ye gods.   No matter how much I wanted to get rid of a tattoo, I could not imagine putting anything called Wrecking Balm anywhere near my skin.

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By infmom, May 6, 2009 5:50 pm

I was watching the “Ancient Ink” show (for the third time) the other day, and musing about how we humans seem eternally determined to decorate ourselves permanently.

Some of the methods ancient people used to decorate their bodies were incredibly painful (for that matter, some of the methods modern people use to decorate their bodies must hurt just as much). Cutting the skin and rubbing ashes into it, sewing lines under the skin with sinew coated with soot, branding, pounding pigment into the skin… yes, people have to be very determined and very brave.

And yet there’s evidence that our ancestors did it on a regular basis. We don’t know for sure why, or whether the designs were purely decorative, ceremonial or or medicinal purposes. We don’t know why paint, beads, feathers, etc were not enough and why a permanent mark was the only possible choice. Speaking as someone who wanted a tattoo for 30 years before actually getting one, I can say that the urge to get these permanent decorations can be both strong and lasting.

People in the modern world get tattoos to decorate, to acknowledge life milestones, to show membership in a group, for protection and to demonstrate our spiritual beliefs. We don’t want temporary decorations–we want something that will for all intents and purposes last forever.

Watching the host of “Ancient Ink” and the other people in the documentary go through the most painful processes to pay homage to human tradition gave me the sense that as the old saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

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By infmom, November 5, 2008 3:50 pm

Now that we’re past Halloween and the Day of the Dead, I’d like to consider the use of death images in body art.

Skulls, skeletons, and other ancient images of death remain incredibly popular as body art.  In ancient times such markings would have been used as a symbol of power, or for protection from evil (archaeologists turn up such designs all the time, all over the world).  Today, at least in “western” society, those images are often used to convey a message.   Politely phrased it would be “Don’t mess with me.”

Gang tattoos are loaded with death symbolism, in an attempt to convey power, fearlessness and the disposal of enemies.  But the skull-and-crossbones motif once used to identify a pirate has long since passed into popular culture and adorns many bodies today as well.  Some body art explicitly displays the destruction of other living beings.   Some just conveys the threat.

As the old saying goes, “You are what you eat.”  To my somewhat mystical way of thinking, such toxic images would be poisonous to the soul of the wearer.  I feel that body art should represent something positive to its wearer–even if that image is in honor of someone who has died.  One of my tattoos is in memory of my grandmother, but it’s a bold and colorful dragon.  I would not put a tombstone on my skin.

What do you feel about images of death and destruction?  Are they just so much ink, or does their presence affect their wearer in some way?  Am I just too far over the moon?

NOTE: I have closed comments on this post due to a high level of spam.

photo credit: katie cowden

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By infmom, October 5, 2008 1:07 pm

I’ve written on the subject of religious objections to tattoos before (if you’re interested, you can read that entry here).   I was reminded of that by a story in yesterday’s local paper, on the subject of Jews and tattoos.

Before I begin today’s essay:   I had one Jewish grandfather, but he died before I was born, and I don’t claim any expertise on the subject of Judaism or the Law and the Prophets.   I am an interested outsider, with a nearly lifelong interest in Biblical history and comparative religions.   I belong to no sect, either by heritage or by choice.   All human theological traditions both living and past have an equal chance of being true, in my opinion.

Does Leviticus say no?

That said, it is widely believed that there is a prohibition against making any marks on the body in the book of Leviticus.   The various translations seem to agree that people should not cut themselves “for the dead” (it was a tradition in many cultures for the bereaved to slash their own skins).   But what follows differs depending on which translation one reads.   Some prohibit “making marks” or “printing marks” on the skin, while some use the word “tattoo.”   I can’t read Hebrew, so I don’t know exactly what the original Scripture said.   I am looking forward to Dr. James Tabor’s group’s future publication of The Transparent English Bible, so those of us who can’t read the original IN the original can finally get as close as possible to what it says.

Many Jewish people believe that the prohibition is against tattooing, which made the death-camp marks all the more horrible.   And that memory quite rightly lingers on, lending greater force to the present-day prohibition on tattoos.   Whether a modern tattoo becomes a matter of honor or horror is far beyond any outsider’s business to decide.   But according to the article, many modern Jews are choosing to be tattooed precisely because they value their heritage and wish to say so in a permanent way.

Does 21st century choice enter into it?

In an earlier post, I talked about choosing religious or spiritual designs for tattoos.   I believe those designs should have intense personal significance, and certainly people who choose to override religious prohibitions must have strong feelings on the subject.

Here is a link to the original story. If you do a Google search with “Jew tattoo” you’ll find plenty of opinions pro and con, with good reasons to support both sides.   Do you have an opinion?   I’d like to hear it.

photo credit: hometownzero

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By infmom, August 27, 2008 12:58 pm

Tattoos and other body art are becoming more popular all the time–just look at all the tattoo related showson TV these days. Even the National Geographic has gotten into the act. But the fact that something is popular doesn’t necessarily mean that it has widespread acceptance.

In what ways are multicolored people reminded that body art is still outside the mainstream? As I see it, there are three common objections.

Dress codes

I used to laugh when a friend who worked as a fundraiser for a fundamentalist college told me he would never ever EVER dare wear anything but a white shirt to work. The people he worked for wouldn’t tolerate anything else. And whether it was strictly true or not, he believed that the potential donors he went to see wouldn’t tolerate anything else either, and if his clothing offended them he could kiss their money goodbye. That was years ago, but it’s still pretty much the rule that employers have dress codes and employees are expected to follow them.

So, it’s practical to have your tattoos applied to areas that can be covered up by clothing. Not quite so easy to conceal piercings, unless they’re in intimate areas. There’s a market out there for clear or flesh colored spacers that can be inserted to keep a piercing open, but from my reading I gather they’re not entirely satisfactory. (Nor, despite what I saw at one previous job, is a bandage over a pierced ear going to fool anyone).

Conscious or unconscious aversion

Historically speaking, tattoos have been favored by the “upper crust.” All kinds of royalty had body art a hundred years ago. (Heck, Prince Charles was in the Navy, do you suppose he’s got ink where the sun don’t shine?) But, sad to say, most people don’t know diddly-squat about history, and their main exposure to tattoos often comes from gangbangers, bikers, sailors, soldiers, and other kinds of People We’re Not. Thus, tattooing gained an unfortunate reputation as being the provenance of People We’re Not, and anyone with a tattoo is therefore eyed with suspicion. (My father didn’t want me to get my ears pierced when I was 16, claiming it “looked cheap.” I’m glad I never found out what he thought of my tattoos.) The fact that this anti-ink prejudice exists is something multicolored people have to understand and deal with, no matter how irrational the basis.

Age and its issues

“What will happen when you get old and it sags?” It’s true that our skin changes shape as we get older. And it’s a common assumption that wherever the tattoo goes, the skin will sag, wrinkle, change color, and otherwise distort and deface the tattoo, so why even bother? Of course, the fact that humanity has a long tradition of art that gets better with age, despite the ravages of time upon the medium (the Mona Lisa ain’t what she used to be, and neither are the Lascaux cave paintings) doesn’t seem to apply to body art. It’s gonna sag! Don’t do it!

Of course, the idea that we can enjoy the ink till gravity takes its toll doesn’t seem to mean anything to the sag fanatics. And the fact that there are plenty of areas that don’t sag doesn’t change people’s minds, either.

What’s your story?

What kinds of objections and challenges have you faced? Did your family raise a fuss about your tattoos? Were you called too young or too old? Does your employer have even an inkling you’re covering up inking?

photo credit: Cassi Saari

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By infmom, August 17, 2008 1:26 pm

In my series of articles on getting your first tattoo (you can find the index to that series here) I talked about the issues involved in using Other People’s Art. (You can read that article here).

Besides the practical matter of getting permission to use artwork, there are other issues one should consider. Primary among them is whether the artwork you love will translate well into a tattoo. Many designs need to be simplified because the shadings and lines won’t work well on skin, and matching the colors exactly is not always possible (the combination of tattoo ink and your skin tone makes the match tricky). There are many artists who can do incredibly detailed fine line work, but the ink may spread out over time and the fine lines will merge together and blur the design.

Sometimes artwork in color translates better to skin in shades of grey, and this is often done when the tattoo is a portrait or reproduction of a photograph of a person. The artist can translate the photo freehand, or run it through photo editing software that will turn it into a “pencil sketch” to use as a basis for the tattoo.

And there’s also the issue of translating two-dimensional artwork into three-dimensional body art. What looks great on paper / canvas /etc might not do well when wrapped around your arm. Keeping the lines in the same relationship on a differently shaped surface is a challenge. And even the most precise reproduction of a two-dimensional artwork can alter over time as the body inevitably changes. (No, most tattoos don’t “sag” but skin loses its elasticity and changes color with time.)

My quest for real art

A few months ago we went to a gallery showing by our favorite local artist, Kythera of Anevern (you can see some of her work in her portfolio here). One small print called to me from clear across the room when I walked into the gallery and I bought it at the speed of light. In looking at it since I brought it home, I realize that in many ways it represents me and my mother, and it would make a great sleeve tattoo that could be coordinated with the “swoosh” of stars over my right collarbone. And of course I have the advantage of being able to commission the artist herself to adapt the work, so I know the changes would be with her approval.

If you select artwork by a living artist for your tattoo, asking the artist’s permission to reproduce the art should also include asking the artist’s permission for the tattoo artist to simplify the art if that is necessary. Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to commission the artist to do an adaptation, but the artist’s permission should always be sought. You wouldn’t want someone stealing something of yours and wearing it forever.

Do you have tattoo artwork that’s been adapted from another medium?

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By infmom, August 9, 2008 11:08 am

I saw a story on the news last night about a 9-year-old girl in Texas who is learning to tattoo. (Not anentirely new story, as I found out when I did a Google search today.) Watching it left me with mixed emotions.

While I’m all in favor of this girl going ahead (and of course having a father who owns the tattoo shop makes it spectacularly easy for her) I wonder if the widespread publicity won’t lead other people to believe that if a kid can do it, anyone can.

I read several boards and blogs devoted to body art and from what I’ve read there (I have no personal experience with this) it’s not easy to get an apprenticeship. I do know that the apprenticeship is vitally necessary, because there is a lot more to being a tattoo artist than the general public realizes. (We multicolored people are much more likely to understand.) It’s not just a matter of learning to color inside the lines with a buzzing needle–there are health and safety issues that are of vital importance.

And the girl herself isn’t quite ready for prime time. Her dad has to support the needle apparatus because it’s too heavy for her to hold, and her designs are about what you’d expect from someone her age. But she’s growing, and both her hand strength and designs will improve over time if she keeps at it (the nationwide publicity might well insure that she keeps at it, too).

So I’m torn between cheering for the girl who has already gotten a foot in the door (OK, if your dad owns the shop, it’s not exactly tough) and who may inspire other young people to consider tattooing as a profession, and wondering whether the publicity surrounding her will convince people that there’s nothing special about tattooing if a kid can handle it.

Have you seen the story? What did you think?

Here is about.com’s Karen Hudson’s common sense guide to becoming a tattoo artist.

photo credit: mborowick

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