Transcript Adolescents and their Artistic Expression

TATTOOS & PIERCINGS
A short trip into the history, growing of popularity, meaning and connection to adolescents
The UE team
•When did piercings and tattoos start
to become popular?
•How is tattoing connected to other
artistic expressions?
•How are teenagers related to
tattoos?
•Is piercing and tattooing a way of
asking for recognition?
Why do people get tattoos?
•Rebellion: Years ago, having a tattoo marked a person
as an outsider, someone who did not play by the rules.
•Rites of passage: A ceremony or event that marks a
change or turning point in someone’s life.
•Love: Having the names of their loved ones tattooed on
their skin.
•Sadness: A tattoo can be done to remember a sad event.
•No significance! People don’t always have a reason for
getting a tattoo done other than it looked good or felt
right.
Tattooing and its connection to other artistic
expressions
•Music: People can get passionate with their favorite artists and want to be like
them. In order to express their admiration, they get tattoos of symbols or lyrics
that stand for their favorite band or music style.
•Fashion: People don’t always get tattoos that stand up for something,
sometimes they just find it stylish.
•Painting: Many artists focus on making tattoo artwork.
When did tattoos start to
become popular?
• Tattoos started to grow
in popularity during the
1990’s, when people of
both sexes, all social and
economical classes and
all age groups got
tattoos. Remember that
before that time, tattoos
were a symbol of low
social status and were
therefore considered to
be an anti-social activity.
• Since the 2000’s tattoos
are considered to be a
fashion trend.
Is adolescence the right time to decide to have a tattoo
and what are important things to consider before
getting one?
This expression is usually a short lived phase, so
there are many issues that should be considered
before an adolescent decides to get a tattoo.
What to consider:
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It is just a trend that may fade
away with time.
People may view him
differently and react with
discrimination as not everyone
is cool with tattoos.
There is a great health risk
(allergies, infections, bleeding).
Blood donation cannot be made
for a year after getting the
tattoo.
Tattoo removal is very
expensive and hurts more than
getting a tattoo.
Healing time varies from weeks
up to year.
Do tattoos stand up for something or do
adolescents fancy them only because
they are “cool”?
•Tattoos are a form of self-expression.
•They are a means of marking ourselves in a society
that fosters.
•It is a means of asserting mastery and control over
our bodies in a phase that the only constant is change.
•For some, it is the rush of adrenaline in a moment of
physical pain.
How do tattoos affect
the social image of an
adolescent?
•There are companies where
visible tattoos are against
company policy.
•Sometimes you can’t work
in one of the more
conservative business
sectors.
•Better be safe than cited.
Is piercing and tattooing a way of
asking for recognition?
 Sociologists who study tattoing and piercing think of these
acts as a way of self-expression.
 However, they are sure that for young people, tattooing is a
way to confirm their indepence and to show that they have
control over their bodies.
 Also, some researchers believe that the main motivation for all
types of body art (tattooing, piercing) is rebellion.
 Last but not least, tattoos and piercings are symbols that
reflect memories and experiences that express what a person
has lived through.
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