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Fallon Long (Edison) Tattoos: Art of the 21st Century
I served tables for four years while making my way through high school and the beginning of my college career. I established regular clientele, two of which were a married couple that had moved to
South Florida to begin a peaceful retirement. Only, from my point of view, their retirement didn’t look so peaceful. Every time they came into the restaurant, they were greeted with stares and dropped jaws. The husband looked like your typical aging Baby Boomer, with graying hair and bifocal lenses. However, his wife was another story. She had a shaved head, and was covered almost head-to-toe in thick tattooed markings that resembled some form of tribal art. To see a woman styled in such a masculine way was shocking. As I got to know the couple, they shared with me that they had moved from
New York City. They were not degenerates, social outcasts, or dead-beats of any kind, as the other patrons in the restaurant assumed. The wife was actually the recently retired CEO of a successful company, and had worn a wig and a business suit to work every day for decades. None of her colleagues had ever witnessed her choice in appearance reserved for her personal time, and had the utmost respect for their conservative peer. Little did they know…
I think that it says a lot about today’s society when a person finds it necessary to cover up all tattoos to such a great extent, but I don’t blame her for choosing that deception. I have many friends that have decided to express themselves through body art to a great extent, and I never fail to notice and become slightly uncomfortable when the stares described above are aimed in my direction. I think this should change. Hair color, cut, clothing style, the adornment of jewelry: all of these are socially-acceptable ways to express one’s individuality. Why should tattoos be any different? Ink markings don’t affect a person’s ability to think or act as a rational, moral being. In our society, we are continuously told and conditioned from childhood to not judge “books” by their “covers”. Visual perception is not an accurate representation of a person’s worth, and that includes not only factors like race and gender. This open attitude should also apply to choices of clothing or the presence and design of tattoos. I would like to believe we are truly interested in a person’s abilities and personality over appearance, but I fear that is not the case. What kind of a hypocritical society are we living in?
30. March 2009 at 23:56
Today’s modern society still reals from the ultra-puritan views and philosophies under which this country was established nearly four hundred years ago. So steeped in religion were our founding fathers that not only many of our laws were established with Biblical principle, but also the acceptable norms of behavior. The Bible takes a very dim view on any type of body marking or dyeing, and on piercing of one’s body. They are attributed to pagan religions and beliefs, and ownership and servitude.
Over the years, this philosophy has evolved somewhat and was attributed to a certain class of people, and this class of people was deemed unacceptable and looked upon as outcasts. Although body art and piercing has gained more and more acceptance as it becomes more and more visible in the media (i.e. actors, athletes, etc.), many people, and especially employers who are concerned about their appearance and acceptance and wish to project these same views of appearance and acceptance to and through their employees, still must be sensitive the social stigma that continues to linger around body art.
2. April 2009 at 05:08
While the people of this country claim that they are open minded, in truth, when it comes to things such as tattoos, the opposite is the truth. Whenever it comes to anything that attacks the worlds of individuals, they respond with confusion, and sometimes fear. While the sense of individuality still pervades classic consciousness, humans are herd animals who seek to fit in. Admittedly, it’s not to the extent of some Asian cultures, but the problem still exists.
It’s difficult to say why this still occurs, but when it comes down to it it’s probably fear of the unknown. What people don’t understand causes them to flee, metaphorically speaking. When it comes down to it, it’s the basic fight or flight reaction. Tattoos are the same way, especially in the extreme sense.
1. July 2009 at 11:48
nice post, thx for sharing it