In their late 90's hit, the Offspring tell a tale of a kid who rolls a pinto, pumping Vanilla Ice, trying to be everything popular and hot. Though his friends say he's not doing a very good job, he finds satifaction in hearing the girlies admit "He's Pretty Fly... For a White Guy."
The last adventure we follow him on is when he decides to get a tattoo. He orders a '13' but its botched and he gets a '31'. Despite the mistake, he still thinks in his own mind that "he's the dopest trip".
This story isn't just a witty, funny lyric written by the Offspring, but its a message about our character. He does everything to get the approval of his peers, but the result is just an attempt at what he wants.
Just like our overly confident friend's tattoo, tattoos send messages about the bearer, not just about what they are like on the outside, but who they are. Take Shoko Tendo, shown above. From this picture, she seems like most stylish Japanese woman. You may notice what seems to be a small tattoo on her wrist. But when Shoko removes her shirt, we get a bigger picture of not only her "small" tattoo, but who she is.
Shoko is the daughter of a leader in the Yakuza, the Japanese Mafia. Growing up in the Yamaguchi-gumi, of the largest clans in the Yakuza, she lived a posh life of fancy parties and expensive clothes but also infused with drugs and violence. Like many others, Shoko recieved these tattoos, which cover most of her body, as an initiation into the clan. If anyone in Japan were to see her in a bathing suit or at a public bathing house (which are very common in Japan... and very amazing, might i add) they would know instantly of her life as a gangster.
While here in the states, tattoos are not that much of a distinctive brand, I am convinced that peole get tattoos for the same reason. While there may be many sub-catagories, people get tattoos to show who they are. From the ever increasingly popular tribal tattoos to the cliche chinese characters, people brand themselves with tattoos to send the message "This is who I am!"
I have two questions for the class. First, to those in the class who do have tattoos (if there be any) what kind of tattoo do you have? Why did you get it, and what does it say about you? Feel free, in fact please do, post a picture of your tattoo and show it off to us!
For the rest of the class (which I'm assuming would be the vast majority) if you were to get a tattoo, what would you get and why? What would you have your tattoo say about you? PLEASE SET ALL MORAL (INCLUDING RELIGIOUS) INHIBITIONS ASIDE, and think about it as if you were in the tattoo parlor about to choose.
34 comments:
I never considered getting a tattoo until watching Miami ink a few years ago and realized that they can be a super awesome artistic form of self expression. I say if I weren't mormon I would have a tattoo, but I think that's because I know it'll never happen so I don't have to stand by what I say. I'd put a ton of thought into it if I got one. My grandmother has had an incredibly large impact on my life. She always encouraged me to do everything I've always wanted to do. She recently passed away due to breast cancer. I loved the idea of getting the ribbon, but it sounds a little obvious. I really love symbolism. It would take a lot of thought, but something as a tribute to her and the things she has taught me.
Great post idea. I honestly have no idea what tattoo I would get now. When I was in (I believe) the ninth grade, I wanted to get a tattoo of the Nike Swoosh on my right arm. I don't know what exactly it said about me, other than I loved the brand, lovd sports, and thought the swoosh epitomized coolness. Now, if I was forced to get a tattoo, I think I would get a portion of the lyrics from "Redemption Song" tattoed to my arm. "Emmancipate yourself from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our mind."
I don't have a tattoo and I don't think that I would ever get one. There's nothing in my life that is so important to me to put a tattoo on my body. If someone made me get a tattoo I think that I would get barbwire across my bicep! Just kidding, that's like the lamest thing anyone can ever get. I think that I would get something like David Beckham has. He has a tattoo sleeve down his arm. Although John Mayer got the same thing, and he made it a lot less cool.
If I were to get a tattoo, I would put in on my arm or leg, in a place that I could see it. I wouldn't get a tattoo in a place that I couldn't even see, cause then I wouldn't be able to enjoy it. Yes it would be an outward expression of who I am, but if it also an artistic expression, then I want to enjoy the art of it.
As for a design, I might do something with Chinese lettering because that usually looks cool. I don't know what I would want it to say, but it wouldn't really matter because nobody would be able to read it anyway.
I am fascinated with tattoos. I am an indecisive person, so I am always so intrigued when people can make such a lasting decision. I love the tattoos on USA women's soccer player- Natasha Kai, especially her arm sleeve deisign. They represent her Polynesian culture, and I think they are so rad.
http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tattoo/celeb-kai.htm
But I really have no idea what tat I would get...
Honestly that would take me forever to decide because of it's permanent nature and the fact that you can literally get anything you want, so the possibilities are endless. I really like the way arabic calligraphy looks though so I might get something that would use that but I have no idea what I woudl want it to say.
I'd get a tatoo of the modified german iron cross sported as the logo of my favorite skateboard company Independent Trucks. I'd get it on my shoulder. That was the tattoo i always wanted as a gromet skating in northern california. If I was really feeling adventurous, I'd get sleeves, too.
I've always thought a flaring sun would be cool, like on my chest or something. When I was younger, I liked getting one of those fake ones you can put on with a moist paper towel.
I guess I'd get a sun because it looks cool and well, I like warm weather. I'm typically an easy-going, happy person in a good mood most of the time. Maybe that's what it would mean.
I've never thought seriously about getting one and have grown up with such a negative outlook on them that it's really hard for me to even consider getting one. I think it's cool I guess when I see some polynesian people with tattoos, but that has a lot to do with their culture and I just don't have that same upbringing. Maybe I'd get one of a covered wagon...j/k.
I think that tattoos are so popular because it is fun and exciting to decorate your body and allow others to see that. The problem is, is that it is permanent and your view of what is cool changes and then you can't take it back. I don't have one but think some barbed wire on the leg would be cool.
Last year there was a tragedy in my town and a bunch of high schoolers went out to commemorate/remember what happened with tattoos. It seemed like everyone was getting one. I honestly thought about getting one too but decided against it. If I had done it, I wanted to get a very small white ink tattoo that just said "live laugh love." I think if you're going to get a tattoo, it should be personal, and that would have been really personal to me.
Good question! I've never been tempted to get at tattoo, I've seen some cool ones over the years. A lot of them would look silly on a normal guy like me - Those ones athletes with huge biceps get are cool, but only if you are ripped. I actually had to go to a website and browse designs, but probably a really cool looking tribal design on my forearm or (cliched?) some Japanese characters. Nothing splashy, I don't think I'd want it huge or low enough to be seen when fully dressed.
I'd get an comic-like angel holding a flower in her hand on my shoulder. Since my name means flower, it would be my guard angel
okay i just saw a girl the other day with a peacock feather on her foot and it was really really cool looking i dont know if id be brave enough to put it on my foot but i thought it was really pretty and still feminine.
also i saw on this thing on the history channel all about the history of tatoos and apparently they have a new black light ink so you can only see it with a black light which i thought was really cool.
im way to indecisive for any of that though. good thing we are told not too because if i ever did do it id totally regret it like 5 minutes later. :)
A Chaos Star.
A Cryxian Insignia. Or the Circle Orboros.
Maybe the Elder Sign from Lovecraft.
Yes these are all expressions of who I am. I am a gamer geek, and each of these things would look like some kind of strange symbol except to those initiated (other geeks) who would recognize this and its significance immediately.
at one time, i wanted a couple tattoos. granted that that would never happen though, i did think about which designs i would have done. i am into the classic car culture & and with that go vintage tattoo art with some mexican inspiration, so i would choose anything from a horse shoe to the virgin of guadalupe. i have also thought about getting my wife's name tattooed around my ring finger, so that when i wouldn't have my ring on people would know i'm still married.
I have never considered getting a tattoo and think I would look ridiculous if I did. But if for some crazy reason I was forced to get one, it would have to be small, and not have anything to do with gangsters, skeletons or nasty looking stuff. But honestly I have no idea, because the things most important to me in life would not make good tattoo designs.
What a cool question! I thought this was going to be another boring blog about why most "BYU'ins" think Tattoos are unique and cool but would NEVER get one! Seems kind of contradictory.
I would get a symbol of a great achievement... Say I completed the iron man I would get the 'M-Dot'. When you have achieved your dream I think it is great to have it be with you for the rest of your life!
I think I would get a picture of all the prophets tattooed on my back for sure! just kidding. I would probably think about it a lot before hand, just like everyone else said. But one time I drew an eight ball on my palm and thought it looked so cool. But it would probably get annoying trying to shake everyone's hand and have everyone worried my hands were dirty.
I don't agree with the premise of your question. You write as if moral or religious inhibitions are the only thing keeping a bunch of 20-somethings from getting a tattoo. I would never get a tattoo because I have never seen or even imagined a tattoo that I thought improved the physical appearance of a person. I can't help but feel sorry and embarrassed for the people I see with them.
But if the question were, "if you HAD to get a tattoo, what would you get?" I would get the words "I regret this mark of stupidity" put on my arm.
-Michael Williams
Oh I have thought about this a million times. I even have a sketch of the tatt that I'd love to get. If I ever do. Well, mine is a representation of my family-more like a tribute to my family. It has 3 of my initials. The A first, the R in the middle and the C last. The R would be in a love heart. Well, the A is also my dad's initial and the C is my mum's initial and the R is our family name-so it represents their unity and us, their kids, at the same time, it represents me. I know....AWESOME!!! It's just a tribute to them. That's all!
I would not get a tattoo because I have seen too many people who have tattoos and have grown old and now they just have ugly blotches on their skin. I have asked a lot of people behind their motivation for their tattoos and there has never been a good enough reason for me.
I loved this post, because one of my favorites things to tell people is what tatoos I would get if I were to get on. There are 2:
1. The Hawaiian Islands tatooed from the back of my left shoulder down into the middle of my traps. It's somewhat of a common tat in Hawaii, but one that I have always wanted...I would get it primarily for the same reason that I wear clothes that have "Hawaii" and "Maui" written all over them. I love people to know that I'm from the islands (I'll be honest, sometimes I think that clothes can be obnoxious about it), but I'm proud of where I'm from.
2. A Tahitian tribal tatoo on my right calf. For similar reason as the first, I would get it because of my heritage. I'm very proud of my polynesian heritage.
I've seen some interesting tattoos on other people but I have never wanted to get one for myself. There has never been anything really important enough that I would consider it as a permanent part of me.
I thought you would never ask! First of all I would get a fatty tatty on my chest of Mickey Mouse. Then I would get a ocean scene on my back, with me surfing a sick barrel! After that I would get on both of my flames cause I play ball I’ll burn you sucka’. Ok really, I would never get a tattoo and it has nothing to do with religion or values. I just don’t have anything in my life that I would want to put on my sick, definitely on a shirt, but never in ink.
Deciding what tattoo to get would be a very big decision for me because it's so permanent. I know I would want it to represent some aspect of me rather than something trendy. It is a matter of self expression though. I would definately want it to have a significant meaning to me.
I'm not a huge fan of tattoos but I do think some of them really do have an artistic side to them. I do think they really alter one's image and can have negative effects if not thought through completely. I understand why most people get tattoos that are part of their heritage because it seems to solidify their belonging and devotion to their ancestors. If I were to get a tattoo I would probably get something that would tie myself to my heritage like a basque lauburu on my shoulder or the Isle of Man triskelion on the inside of my bicep. I really don't understand people that get tribal tattoos that don't belong to the particular designs' tribal ties or chinese characters when they aren't chinese and sometimes don't even know what they say.
It's never been something I've wanted to do, all religious standards aside I just don't like the look of a tattoo... For the purpose of the post, if I were to chose it would have to be something meaningful and in a place that no one would see on the average day. I've sometimes seen the tattoos on women that are angel wings on their shoulder blades and liked that a little. maybe I would consider that, but I think the most important thing to me when getting a tattoo would be meaning, it would need to have significance to me if I were going to permanently mark my body
I don't think that I would ever get a tattoo...I've gone with a few of my friends when they got theirs but it just looked like too much pain to willingly inflict on myself.
If I were forced to get a tattoo I would probably just get something very small in an area where no one would see it.
So yeah, I think tattoos are cool in theory. BUT even before I joined the church I've always thought that I would eventually regret my decision if I ever got one...whether that be in 5 or 50 years. I think this came from seeing some of my older relatives with their tattoos which did not look at all stylish or attractive when they were in their late 50s, early 60s. However, if I did get a tattoo of some sort I would want it to be something truly meaningful to me. For example I have a friend who got a Methodist cross tattooed on her ankle. It's small, yet carries a lot of personal meaning for her. If I ever did get something permanently tattooed on my body I would want to be sure it was something that I would always like.
And I think I would want a tattoo on the inside of my wrist.
I would never get a tatoo even if I was able to, simply because I would never want somthing permenentally stuck on my body forever. But if I could get one that only lasted 5 years or so...I don't know, I probably would get somthing more meaningful than funny.
I would never get a tatoo even if I was able to, simply because I would never want somthing permenentally stuck on my body forever. But if I could get one that only lasted 5 years or so...I don't know, I probably would get somthing more meaningful than funny.
I have considered a tattoo and I think it has a lot to do with my artisticness, because I always am drawing on everything and I would love to have art on my body... the permanence is less appealing,but if i were to get a tattoo i would definitely want to have it mean something special to me. I would never just plaster something on my body without giving it a lot of thought.
I would have such a hard time deciding what to get. A decision like this is huge, since it would be a part of my body forever. I know I would regret it. I honesty could not pick. I have several friends who have gotten tattoos in high school, and now regret it. One of my friends at BYU got a tattoo while going through a "rebellious stage" and got it removed last year. It took 8 different procedures to get it removed, and you can still see it. This is terrifying (and painful) to me.
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