Tattoos are a thing of beautiful expression
The burning sensation of a needle throbbing into my skin as I hear the buzzing sound brings me to a state of serenity like no other thing on Earth.
Tattoos are a big part of who I am and I love the pain of the needle digging into my skin because they all have meaning to me in a specific manner.
I had an interesting conversation with my mother the other day about how tattoos are a form of art and they are a way to express who we are.
“Your generation is all about instant gratification and you don’t think things through thoroughly,” she said snidely. “What do you think they are going to look like when you are 80 years old? Do you think anybody is going to hire you?”
This is all stemming because I am getting my sixteenth tattoo, which I still think isn’t that much, but I am getting it on my neck. It is going to cover the entire left side of my neck, making it impossible to cover.
So I will politely answer my mother’s questions: No, I don’t care what they will look like when I am 80 years old, and yes, I think people will hire me because I think the general consensus of tattoos is more accepting than it used to be. And I robustly believe talent is insurmountable to what a person looks like.
I could care less what people think of my tattoos, and if they aren’t going to hire me because of that, then that isn’t the job for me. I am heavily pursuing a career in sports journalism, and my mother has the fear that I will not be able to be on camera.
Being on camera isn’t the goal I am trying to pursue, but I wouldn’t have any objection to being on camera. I have yet to see any sports personalities with a body full of tattoos on camera, but there is always a first time for everything.
As I stated before, tattoos are an expression of art laid on the human canvas in a beautiful method, if done properly, and by a certified professional. I trust only two places with the needle: one is Infinity Tattoo in Rochester, the other is New Tribe Tattoo and Piercing in Wilmar. I will not go to any other person no matter what.
I can’t stand people who look down on people with tattoos on their body, or automatically assume that they are criminals if they have ink all over. Some people like to express the way they feel in a variety of ways, and getting ink is the route many choose.
However, I do think that society as a whole is becoming more understanding and more accepting to tattoos because, let’s face it, everybody knows someone with a tattoo. The “social norm” is to conform to society and play by the rules, but that is no fun, and you are not being true to yourself.
Some of the negative connotations society has on tattoos to me are as follows: without doubt the term “Tramp Stamp” will be thrown around, assumptions about IQ, income level, gang affiliation, education, occupation and criminal record will shortly follow.
You can be sure that a hale and hearty dose of monotonous name calling and holier-than-thou attitude will be thrown into the mix just for good measure.
Yes, tattoos are stereotyped, but should they be? Does anyone know the history of tattoos? I have done extensive research on many different cultures and found some interesting findings.
In ancient Japanese culture, tattoos stood for middle and rich classes showing how much money they have accumulated. They also get them for achievements in martial arts and religious purposes.
In Native American cultures, they used the symbols of animals to show the power and personality of a person.
Tattoos are a major part of Native American culture. Moreover, Indian tribal groups have their own purpose for incorporating tattoos into its culture. However, the primary reason for tattoos was to identify different tribal groups and grant special powers to its members.
Leave it up to the individual person on if, and when, they want to get a tattoo. We have a tendency to look at the bad, but don’t look at the incredible work and significance a majority of people put into their pieces.
Tattoos are an expression of us; we have judged people for far too long and need to let it go and start looking beyond the ink and who the person is: a human being.
Ryan Fitzgerald
-Author