Snow Melt

Body Art: Tattoos

The April 11, 2013 prompt for "Blogging Circle of Friends Prompt Forum"  is
What's your take on tattoos? If you have one, is there some symbolism hidden there?

Tattooing is an ancient art form that can trace its origins back to the Neolithic age.1 The word tattoo believed derived from "ta", a Polynesian word meaning "striking something", and "tatau", a Tahitian word meaning "to mark something".2 In some cultures it was connected with criminals, while in other cultures it is associated spiritual, tribal, or magical beliefs.3 All though gangs still mark their members with tattoos, tattoos are becoming more popular among different social and age groups.4
What do I think of tattoos? I think some of them are beautiful and creative pieces of art, while others are curd and/or offensive. The quality of the tattoo depends upon the artist, whether or not the tattoo is offensive depends upon what the customer wants and where the tattoo is placed. At one time, I worked in a laundromat and one day a man came in without a shirt on (it was summer and this is Las Vegas), he had a well done tattoo cover his entire back. The problem with the tattoo was that it was a hand giving "the finger" to anyone looking at his back.

Do I have a tattoo? No, but I am not opposed to getting one. The main reason I do not have a tattoo is that for several years I suffered from trypanophobia ("fear of needles") also known as aichmophobia, belonephobia, or enetophobia (all of which refer to "fear of sharply pointed objects").5 However, like my arachnephobia/arachnophobia, I eventually overcame it; at least, I think I overcame it because I can get a flue shot without fainting or running out of the room screaming. If I did get a tattoo it would not be on my breast because eventually gravity sits in and distorts body decorations in that area, but this is just a personal opinion.

Beauty,
like a colorful tattoo,
is skin deep
and in the eye of the beholder.

Thought of the Day: "A tattoo is a true poetic creation, and is always more than meets the eye. As a tattoo is grounded on living skin, so its essence emotes a poignancy unique to the mortal human condition." ~V. Vale and Andrea Juno, Modern Primitives

Footnotes
1  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_tattooing
2  http://tattootemple.hk/history-of-tattooing
3  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_tattooing
4  http://www.essortment.com/history-tattoos-meaning-today-21173.html
5  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_of_needles