One morning in the 70's, after a particularly boozy night, a young man woke up to find his arms had been used as a practice canvas and he was now sporting some rather crude prison style tatts. Needless to say, he regrets them to this day and tried his hardest to convince his kids that tattoos are a bad idea.
In today's society, the negative connotations of tattoos have eroded away. Some may even say that they're the latest "fashion trend". So, what happens when (if) tattoos become unfashionable again? Commenter Gia from The Punch: Trendsetters aren't the only fashion victims sums it up nicely:
I have some wonderful friends and family whose choices in body art have really showed me that a tattoo so much more than a fashion accessory: they're deeply personal reflections of yourself. From names, to lyrics, to symbols of our childhood, it doesn't matter what it is and what others think about it. It is for yourself and no-one else. In many ways I am envious of people who have something they feel so passionately for that they find the inspiration for a tattoo. Sadly, as much as I want to take the plunge, such inspiration is yet to find me and so it's back to the drawing board, sigh.
"People who get tattoos as a fashion trend and picked some random flash off the wall of a mediocre tattoo parlour may well regret them. Those who choose to tattoo themselves in order to mark a significant event, collect amazing artwork and have well thought out, planned custom pieces will be unaffected by the changes in ‘trends’.Some people’s idea of beauty is more classic, others like to add some colour to their lives! I know quite a number of people in their mid/late 40s/50s who are just getting in the chair for the first time now. Some of them secretly wanted a tattoo for a long time but never did because of the social stigma, others getting ink now because of a significant moment in their lives. Some of these people used to have a revulsion for tattoos - often because it was only opinion ingrained from childhood, i.e the previous generation drilled it into them that tattoos are for easy women/bikers/criminals. Now that people from all walks of life are increasingly expressing themselves via art on their skin, it’s challenged such close-minded beliefs."
Neri approves of tattoos, regardless of what daddy thinks!
PS. Show me your tatts, tell me your stories in the comments! I need all the help I can get in the inspiration department!
After my wedding I felt a real loss of myself. I no longer had the same surname as my parents and my sister; and it shook me.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I got engaged I had thought I would probably feel this way but I couldn't find something that was significant enough to keep for the rest of my life. I didn't want a heart or bird or something random.
In the end I got the Latvian word for Family in my dad's handwriting tattooed on my right ankle as a birthday present from my husband. I chose my right ankle because I wear my Latvian ring on my right hand and my ankle because I would be able to cover it up if I needed to. It is very small and plain, sometimes I think I should get some flowers or colour around it, but then it would be harder to cover up. It didn’t hurt at all, and for the couple of months after I had the bug to get more done.
Patience is the key for tattoos, try drawing it on yourself to see if you still like it after a week, a month .
I have friends with sleeves of tattoos, and they love them which I understand, but for me personally, I still feel there is a stigma attached, hence I have a small one that can be easily covered up. I personally don’t want to have a tattoo of Edward and Bella with ‘Twilight’ underneath on my shoulder when I am 80.
1 golden rule I have discovered (not personally) is never get the name of a partner. Parents, brothers/sisters and kids seem to be ok, but your girl/boyfriend always seems to be a bad idea.
Can’t wait to see what you get ‘Neri’
xx
Well you know my passion for Jack's Mannequin, Andrew McMahon and his lyrics. As Lady Gaga would say, I've found my Jesus in the music. Oh yeah, you know this is going to get Jack's preachy.
ReplyDeletecant stop this story*
I originally wanted the rest of the lyrics, but it wouldn't fit on my foot.
"I've lost my place, but I can't stop this story.
I'll find my way but until then, I'm only spinning"
I got it on my right foot, because when I walk, use that foot first. Whenever I need to take a big step in life, I have that support.
The lyrics are from the second Jack's Mannequin album, and I used the font from the first album. As the albums are a continuing story, I wanted to represent that. In fact the original slogan for Jack's was "This is a story..." which I am seriously considering for my third tattoo.
The asterix was the original symbol for the band, and it comes from one of Andrew's tattoos "The River is Everywhere" It's a belief that everything and everyone is connected.
The grammar nazi in me dies a little sometimes, but I got it deliberatly without the apostrophe in "can't". When the band first came onto the scene, half of the publications (including press releases from Andrew) had no apostrophe in "Jack's".
The actual lyrics remind me that it's ok to not have a plan, or not to freak out when things are at their worst, because it'll all work out. Just hang in there.
I'm not going to even begin to go into why I chose a Jack's Mannequin lyric in the first place, Blogspot wouldn't be able to fit all those letters! PS Andrew started writing for a third Jack's album. (In August, my favourite month of any year. A sign it's going to be a fucking epic CD! and time for another permanent reminder :p)
my comicbook-owl on a tree branch
Nowhere near as much thought put into it, and an impulse on a work lunchbreak, but I still love him just as much.
I found this drawing online months ago and really liked it. I have always liked owls (I can relate to being nocturnal and solitary :p) but didn't want to break my "only have music tattoos" rule I somehow placed in my neurotic madness. So I used the picture as my laptop wallpaper. And it stayed for four months! (I get bored and change it once often)
Owls are meant to symbolise wisdom and transition. And seeing as though I have just dropped a major catalyst into my universe, I figured I might need some wisdom to guide me. (And maybe a tiny factor was that HP7 was coming, and I wanted to honour Hedwig :p)
I am still playing around with what was meant to be my second tattoo. It's the little red toy plane, pulling along a banner from the front cover of the first Jack's album. I just can't decide what is written on the banner. I'm thinking I am going to wait for the next album.
After throwing ideas around for 8 hours a day instead of working hard whilst down in Bunbury, those kids have given me some excellent ideas. Tonka as Puss in Boots? With perhaps a bow tie? Or wearing gum boots and an unbrella? Lluviana in her Bloodsail getup. A ninja-dinosaur fighting a pirate-robot over a comic book to combine my love of all? Allie Broshs' "I went and played with my toys, but I did not enjoy it"
Fun ideas to play around with, different story if it actually came crunch time. It took me almost four years to decide on my first. Don't rush it, it'll happen. Especially if you have me around :p
Sophomore year of college I directed my first full-length play. Not just any play; the first play I ever loved, which I saw on Broadway when I was 10. It's a musical (entirely sung) about gay New York Jews in the 80s, and it was a huge part of my upbringing, and really important to my whole family. The rehearsal process was amazing and intense, but about halfway through I got sad--I didn't want the sense of climax, I didn't want my relationship with this play to end once the show ended. So, on opening night, my stage manager drove me to tattoo parlor where I got a line from the play inked on my back. I unveiled it to my cast right before the show! Great energy.
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to get a second one for years, but I've "had ideas" as opposed to an idea seizing me and demanding its realization. Also, I wonder if I would've gotten tired of this tattoo if it were on a body part I could see all the time--if I get one on my foot or arm or something, will it start to get old? So, I'm keeping my ideas on file but waiting until something insists upon itself like the first one did.
Thank you all so much for your stories! You've all given me so much to think about. I'm much more comfortable to sit back and take the time to make sure what I come up with has a real significance in my life rather than let this impatience consume me and I end up with something I'll regret! Thanks again :)
ReplyDelete