The Social Evolution of the Tattoo
Issue date: 1/28/10 Section: Features
By Camielle Larrick
Staff Writer
Tattooing is becoming a growing phenomenon in today's culture.
In recent decades, it was viewed as something negative and avoided; today, we have at least three different television shows dedicated to tattoo parlors and their work. How did this happen? Society's morals, social standards, and culture have evolved away from conservatism and towards expression and individual choice.
Around 3000 B.C., tattooing was used to worship pagan gods, possibly relieve pain, and show status. Before, it was a way to connect with the gods; it later became viewed as "taboo." Why this change? Established religions, such as Christianity, were against it. This is partially due to Leviticus 19:28, which states, "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."
As most people know, in order to understand a statement made in the past, you have to look at it through the context in which it was written. Throughout Leviticus, God wants his people to set themselves apart from pagan customs. Some Biblical scholars, such as M.W. Thompson, suggest that Moses believed that the prohibition of tattoos applied only to Christians getting pagan imagery on their flesh. Of course, there are Scriptures that rival with the idea, in reference to the body being a temple and keeping it holy.
As a Christian and a lover of tattoos, my resolution to the matter for myself is this: I am Christian. What do I need to do in order to be a Christian? Spread God's word. Okay, since I need to do that, what's a way to start some conversation with non-believers? People love to hear about the story behind tattoos. If I get a tattoo that is known to be a symbol of God, I am displaying a symbol of my faith, thus triggering my evangelism when someone asks me about it.
It was thought as something bad before, but how did the once unthinkable become socially common? In the 1960s, society was going through many transitions in the way of rebellion. Tattoos were associated with society's undesirables like prisoners, pirates and gangsters; this soon changed though. A small population, the "hippies", became interested in pushing the limits on society's norm by anti-socially getting tattoos. Over the decades, tattooing has progressively become a fashion statement.
The evolution of tattoo popularity is largely due to new machinery, business opportunities, and the routinely exercised freedom of expression. It is very common amongst celebrities to have tattoos - from football players to musicians to models. The relevance is that celebrities are our idols and we tend to follow the trends they set; because of this, these idols are ushering the fad of getting tattoos.
What we have learned is that image is constantly changing. The public's opinion on what is "normal" is under construction. Although everyone does not like the thought of tattooing his or her bodies, it is becoming something casual. Just take a look around, body ink is everywhere and it does not seem to be going away any time soon.
Staff Writer
Tattooing is becoming a growing phenomenon in today's culture.
In recent decades, it was viewed as something negative and avoided; today, we have at least three different television shows dedicated to tattoo parlors and their work. How did this happen? Society's morals, social standards, and culture have evolved away from conservatism and towards expression and individual choice.
Around 3000 B.C., tattooing was used to worship pagan gods, possibly relieve pain, and show status. Before, it was a way to connect with the gods; it later became viewed as "taboo." Why this change? Established religions, such as Christianity, were against it. This is partially due to Leviticus 19:28, which states, "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."
As most people know, in order to understand a statement made in the past, you have to look at it through the context in which it was written. Throughout Leviticus, God wants his people to set themselves apart from pagan customs. Some Biblical scholars, such as M.W. Thompson, suggest that Moses believed that the prohibition of tattoos applied only to Christians getting pagan imagery on their flesh. Of course, there are Scriptures that rival with the idea, in reference to the body being a temple and keeping it holy.
As a Christian and a lover of tattoos, my resolution to the matter for myself is this: I am Christian. What do I need to do in order to be a Christian? Spread God's word. Okay, since I need to do that, what's a way to start some conversation with non-believers? People love to hear about the story behind tattoos. If I get a tattoo that is known to be a symbol of God, I am displaying a symbol of my faith, thus triggering my evangelism when someone asks me about it.
It was thought as something bad before, but how did the once unthinkable become socially common? In the 1960s, society was going through many transitions in the way of rebellion. Tattoos were associated with society's undesirables like prisoners, pirates and gangsters; this soon changed though. A small population, the "hippies", became interested in pushing the limits on society's norm by anti-socially getting tattoos. Over the decades, tattooing has progressively become a fashion statement.
The evolution of tattoo popularity is largely due to new machinery, business opportunities, and the routinely exercised freedom of expression. It is very common amongst celebrities to have tattoos - from football players to musicians to models. The relevance is that celebrities are our idols and we tend to follow the trends they set; because of this, these idols are ushering the fad of getting tattoos.
What we have learned is that image is constantly changing. The public's opinion on what is "normal" is under construction. Although everyone does not like the thought of tattooing his or her bodies, it is becoming something casual. Just take a look around, body ink is everywhere and it does not seem to be going away any time soon.
Be the first to comment on this story