Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Tattoos-A Social Mark For Outcasts Or A New Method Of Symbolizing Yourself-You Be The Judge

Teenagers who are afraid to get a flu shot from the doctor will sit for hours on a table and allow a stranger to pierce their skin repeatedly until a muti-colored picture emerges on their skin. The skin is swollen red and painful but the teen emerges from this operation with a smile and a feeling of pride?
Big strong men who refuse to go to a doctor for a checkup medication will allow an unknown person to use a needle to inject ink on to their skin for hours. Sometimes this ink is projected on very personal parts of the body. They leave the little tattoo shop beaming and proud.
What is the allure of enduring hours of pain in order to get a picture of your soon to be ex-girlfriend on you arm. The process will have to be repeated to change the name from Carla to Paula and then perhaps back again.
The purpose of getting a tattoo is as diverse as the symbols, signs and pictures that are available to adorn the body. At one time tattoos provided a non-status symbol for the radical members of society, hippies, motorcycle riders and prostitutes. The tattoo kept them apart from mainstream society.
On August 1, 1981, television changed forever. MTV devoted an entire cable network to a combination of music and video. MTV showcased musicians who were sporting tattoos. MTV exploded and so did the tattoo industry.
Tattoos have now became mainstream. People from all walks of life wanted a tattoo. Everyone wanted to be have a mark. Teenagers were allowed to get tattoos. Businessmen took off their shirts and got symbols or their favorite cartoon characters. Lawyers and doctors marked themselves with the symbols of their profession.
The reason for the need to have tattoos may be less to do with being rebellious and stepping outside the established status quo as it is an ancient custom that is older than the modern craft of body art.
Human have an intrinsic need to express themselves. If you have artistic talent you can express your thoughts and feeling using traditional methods. You can write a song, or write poetry. If you have a lot to say you may even write a book. Artist must Draw or paint to showcase their feelings. But if you have feelings or needs that you can not communicate in the standard formats, you may find the need to tell the world about you, your thoughts or ideas via a tattoo.
The act of getting a tattoo may be even more than the need of self expression. Some cultures believe Tattoos have magical powers. Other think that Tattoos offer protection against evil, sickness and Misfortune. In African cultures tattoos are used In some fertility rites
It is claimed that the art of putting symbols and pictures on the body existed 12,000 years BC. It is believed that The Egyptians created the art of tattooing. The theory is that Egyptians believed that amulets for protection. The Permanent protection that could not be lost Or stolen was a permanent adornment of the Body that today we refer to as a tattoo. protect them from evil. To insure the protection from the Gods the tattoo became a permanent adornment of the body. Although the word tattoo comes From the Tahitian “tatu” which means to Mark something
There are cultures that use tattoos as part of fertility rites, tattoos are thought to have magical and religious significance in these cultures.
The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian "tatu" which means "to mark something."
For more information on tattoos to include what to look for in a tattoo shop, how to pick the perfect tattoo design and how to choose the best tattoo parlor try visiting Tattoo-Shops.info
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Gorman

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Sunday, October 08, 2006

10 Things To Consider Prior To Getting A Tattoo

If you are thinking about getting a tattoo, take a moment to consider your answers to the following 10 questions. You will be glad that you did.
1. Is the tattoo artist experienced? This is perhaps the most important thing to consider before hiring any one particular tattoo artist. An experienced professional will be knowledgeable in the proper cleansing of equipment, which is an absolute necessity, and also how to create designs that the customer will enjoy.
2. Will the tattoo image be as important to you in the future as it is right now? For instance, if your tattoo will be in celebration of a love interest, are you absolutely certain that person will be there 10, 20 or even 50 years from now?
3. Why do you want to get the tattoo? Is it because you want to or because someone else wants you to? Is it to fit in with a crowd or possibly a love interest? If you are making any type of permanent marking on your body, including a tattoo, you will want to be sure that you are doing it for the right reasons.
4. Are you prepared to deal with possible consequences that may arise out of getting a tattoo? This may include an infection or severe soreness of the skin at the site of the tattoo. In addition, surgery will be the only way to later remove it if you should ever change your mind.
5. Do you have a design in mind? If you don’t, stop by the local tattoo parlor and ask to see some samples of what is available.
6. Can you afford the tattoo? The larger the tattoo, the larger the cost. Even the smallest tattoo can be expensive, especially if you are on a budget. Before deciding to get the tattoo, make sure that you know how much it will cost and make arrangements to have the full payment ready on the date of it’s application.
7. Do you have a fear of needles? If you do, tattoos may not be for you. Either this or you will have to find some way to put the thought of it out of your mind. A lot of people have a fear of needles and perhaps the best alternative is a temporary tattoo, which are made to look quite realistic these days.
8. What type of tolerance do you have for pain? There is no other way to say it, but getting a tattoo is painful. It does involve needles and you should really consider your level of tolerance before signing up for a tattoo.
9. What will you do if you ever decide to have it removed? Can you afford the cost associated with surgery? The only way to remove a tattoo is through surgery, which can be very expensive. Unless it is for medical reasons, most health insurance policies will not cover the cost of a tattoo removal. This means that the patient will often find themselves with 100% of the financial responsibility and, before getting a tattoo, you should make sure that you will be financially able to handle any future medical procedures that are associated with a tattoo.
10. Are you prepared to treat the area as recommended to avoid infection? This will likely involve keeping the tattoo site covered until it is able to heal properly and keeping it clean in the way that the tattoo artist or physician recommends.
This article is to be used for informational purposes only. The information contained herein is not intended to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice. Before deciding on getting a tattoo or having one removed, the patient must consult a licensed medical doctor for medical advice and/or to determine the best course of action for his/her individual healthcare needs.
Read about tattoo salons, tattoo experience and many other tattoo related subjects on TattooType forum http://www.tattootype.com/forum/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aurel_Radulescu