A Brief History of Tattoos

From ancient tattoos to Modern Primitives

Throughout the history of tattoos and its practice the art of driving ink under the skin with sharp implements is common among almost all cultures. Tattoos have been discovered on mummified bodies thousands of years old. From the ancient Egyptian artefacts to the fashion conscious, tattoos have come a long way. An ancient art form - tattooing has now become a defined style.

Our word "tattoo" is derived from the Polynesian word tatao, meaning "to tap," and it describes the technique by which sharp spines laden with color were tapped into the skin to make tribal designs. Captain James Cook, the first white explorer to visit the Polynesian islands, brought the word back to Europe, along with, no doubt, some examples of the tribal art on the chests and arms of his sailors.

The first electric tattoo machine was invented by American Samuel O'Reilly in 1900, bringing with it a new age of popularity for tattoos in the United States and all around the world. Most tattoo artists were immigrants and their customers were largely outside the mainstream of society.

However the mainstream had a fascination with the art of tattoos as evidenced by those who lined up at carnivals and sideshows to see the spectacular body art of the tattooed man or lady.

Still, for all their fascination, most of the respectable members of the sideshow audience would never have considered getting a tattoo themselves; tattoos were low-class and associated with criminals, sailors, and drunks.

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Although tattoos may be applied to set the wearer apart from society, they may also affirm the wearer's membership in a group or tribe. Tribal tattoos, such as the 'moko' of New Zealand's Maori, are a sort of totem, a symbol of strength and membership in society earned through pain.

The practice of tattoos and tattooing means different things in different cultures. Some say it was done for magical purposes while others are thought to have used it for medicinal qualities.

These kinds of tattoos have been adopted by many groups on the fringes of society, such as prison inmates and gang members, who wish to symbolize their membership in a fraternity or sorority of outlaws. Tribal tattoos began to be reclaimed in the 1980s by those rebelling against the mainstream and have continued to gain popularity among those in the counterculture.

Some use tattoos along with piercings to make a statement that announces their alienation from society. Others choose tribal symbols in an effort to formalize their subculture, such as gays and lesbians who wear tattoos of pink and black triangles so that they will be recognizable to other gays.

Still others use tattoos as a sort of psychological ritual, using the pain of the tattoo to create a visual symbol of other pain. Tattoos are like an addiction. It really gets tough to stop once you have the first tattoo. The pain is bearable. In an era of fashion and style it seems tattoos are here to stay reaffirming that beauty really is skin deep.

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