Tattoos in Visual Culture

Tattoos are a powerful discussion starter for a range of identity-related topics. They spur conversation about contemporary culture, fashion, and appropriated images. They show up in the movies my students watch, are front and center on muscled characters in video games, and are emblems of rebellion on the faces of music icons.

Tattoos also have symbolic significance akin to rites of passage, and can strike some people as being ethereal and mystical in addition to being aesthetically interesting. Some students might have relatives who got tattoos because they were in the military or in solidarity for a cause, a traumatic event, or for religious reasons. For these students, tattoos are a part of their family history.

My initial presentations on tattoos differ, depending on the mix of students I have in class, but I share the history of tattoos across cultures and centuries, their various purposes, and their long-term consequences.

Contemporary Tattoos & Culture
Students perform an initial search for imagery they find stimulating, and gather these photos in a folder for further inspiration. This is usually a good time to lead a class conversation on appropriation, copyright laws, and the integrity of the artist.

Next, we word-map first-impression connections with the word “tattoo.” We delve into more personal investigations as we move on to discuss the influence of music, sports, and the entertainment industry.

Students gain a new perspective on culturally appropriated imagery and designs that appear in many of the contemporary tattoos that they initially gathered. Conversations may touch on prison imagery, gang tattoos that mark territory and designate allegiances, and tattoos that are nonconsensual, such as tattoos acquired during the Holocaust or slave markings, for example. We discover historic rituals surrounding the use of tattoos representing rites of passage through puberty, social status, and spiritual beliefs in various cultures from Japan to Polynesia.

The layers of meaning that become apparent when studying the history and culture of tattooing lead students down a path of inquiry that is rich and diverse in imagery, history, and the social sciences.

It also lets students make connections with topics that might otherwise be intimidating or uncomfortable.

Project Prompts

Research if anyone in your family has a tattoo, and interview them about the story behind it. Create a portrait of this person, including references to their personal narrative.
Create an artwork that catalogs or illustrates modern tattoos that appropriate a method, ritual, or design from another culture. How can you create a graphic that informs and educates about cultural appropriation?
Research your own cultural heritage and ancestry. Design a self-portrait that includes tattoos traditional to those cultures through designs. The traditional designs could be on the skin, on the clothing or a mask, or on some other surface.
Juxtapose a traditional art form with the modern version of tattooing seen in contemporary culture.