Feature Story - INK

I did not get my first tattoo until I was 20 years old. I did this on purpose. After first getting my ears pierced at age six, I became hooked on the adrenaline of piercings. That was not how I wanted tattoos to become. Even though I have a number of ideas, the permanence of ink is enough to make me wait until I know I really want a specific design. With tattoos becoming more and more commonplace in America, previously imposed stigmas are lifting. It is not just burly old bikers or Vietnam vets who have a tattoo gun scratch some ink into their flesh. Today, you can see Helen Housewife sporting a discreet butterfly on her ankle representing her first born or Charissa Cheerleader showing a peek of her lower back’s ink at a football game. At the gym or on the beach the addiction of an entire generation to skin-art is displayed. This has its benefits and drawbacks.

Personally, I love the idea of expressing myself through the artwork on my body. Many of my friends also sport sentimental symbols, inspirational or pivotal phrases, and beautiful pictures across the canvas of their bodies. The normalcy of tattoos allows us to express ourselves without having to deal with a negative or judgmental reaction from the majority of our peers, as well as American society. I doubt my mother will ever love that I enjoy going to a tattoo parlor whenever I have an excess of cash, but at least she has accepted the fact that I have good judgment and would not put anything on my body unless it meant a whole lot to me. A long time friend has “Live & Learn” written in calligraphy on her left wrist to remind her of the pain she went through after breaking up with her boyfriend of multiple years. The strength she learned from that situation has made her the wonderful woman she is today. What is life but one continuous lesson? One of my best friends has eight beautiful tattoos across her body, and although the number of visible ones may raise a few eyebrows, she has never had to defend her choices. Except to her mother, of course…



With the loss of such stigmas, the permanence of tattoos can sometimes be disregarded. For the number of friends who still adore their tattoos years later, I know just as many who point one out and say, “This one? I don’t know. I guess I just liked how it looked in the book.” My youngest brother’s ex-girlfriend is only 16, but she is dead set on having “Love kills slowly” etched into her lower back. Forever. I know… She plans to do it for her 18th birthday. I can only hope that someone manages to change her mind, but not everyone is that lucky. A close friend of mine moved to Germany right out of high school and went wild with his newly found freedom and access to a tattoo artist as a friend. His half sleeves, tattoos that cover the arms from wrist to elbow, may have seemed like a badass idea at 18, but now he looks at the designs with disdain and wishes he had not been so impulsive. No matter how he feels about them, they are with him for the rest of his life. He has the option of getting them covered with darker colors and filled in designs, but that option comes with a staggering price tag, not to mention pain. Red and blank inks are very difficult to cover, regardless of the talent your tattoo artist possesses. He recently started looking into employment at government agencies, but even with his qualifications, if he lands a corporate job he will have to wear long sleeves year round to cover his impulsive rebellion.

No matter how an individual feels about their ink, most times it is their personal regret that plagues them, not society’s guilt. Since the artwork being etched onto people tends to represent something of importance to them, the regret usually only comes after the symbol loses importance. As long as the image is not offensive, most people respect the importance of the imagery as yet another representation of one’s individuality. Just as people dress differently, people also choose different images to have displayed on their bodies. The exception to this philisophy is shown below. These two men clearly made awful choices in their permanent skin art.


I interviewed Jesse, an apprentice at Marlowe Ink, and he provided a great deal of insider information. Jesse has been tattooing for nine years, but he only recently started working at Marlowe’s. He gave himself his first tattoo at the tender age of 15 with a needle and thread. His first professional ink was done at 16 at a convention. They had to sneak him in after hours since he wasn’t legal yet. Today, in his mid-twenties, he sports 25 tattoos. When asked the most common tattoo he sees done at the Marlowe Ink, he said, “Luckily, we are a custom ink shop so we don’t accept too many over-done tattoos. I guess the most common style is lettering or words though.” When I brought up bad tattoos he laughed, “Yea, we try to talk them out of it. People want what they want though, so it doesn’t always work.” The most unique body art he watched someone get was done on a girl. She got cherry blossoms from the back of her neck, down her side, all the way down her leg. It took multiple sessions, and hours of work. Jesse’s favorite style of body art is influenced by oriental cultures, especially Japanese based artwork. This could also contribute to his vivid memory of the girl with cherry blossoms.


Some cultures use tattoos as a rite of passage or demonstration of one’s faith.
For instance, Coptic Christians often have a small cross tattooed on the inside of their right wrist. This symbolizes their dedication to their faith and identifies others who share their beliefs. The Maori people of New Zealand use tattoos to symbolize manhood. They make these markings by tapping a small tool coated with pigment or soot into the skin. This method is extremely painful. Since the tattoos are all over the upper legs, buttocks, and face, it is no wonder that they signify a real man! Native American tribes tattooed as well. They used a bone needle and thread coated in soot to make their designs.


The art of tattooing has been around for ages. Literally! Scientists have found an iceman dating back to 3300 BC with 58 skin markings believed to be tattoos. Also, in Ancient Egypt, the heir to the throne might have his cartouche (name or symbol) tattooed onto him at birth so he could be identified as royalty for the rest of his life. Body ink in Japan goes back tens of thousands of years. It was actually the last country to do away with identifying criminals by tattooing them for their crimes. The most famous Japanese form of skin-art is the full body tattoo, associated with the Yakuza (Japanese mafia.) Today, it is illegal to show any body art in the public bathhouses of Japan, but the tradition of full-body tattoos still lives on behind closed doors.


I am only 22 years old, and I realize I have my entire life ahead of me. I don’t know what the future holds, but I do not want my choice of expression to ever hold me back from anything. Because of this, I have chosen to get my tattoos in places that the world doesn’t often see. Most of my work will be done on my torso, a rose etched into my side as a memorial piece or a peacock feather on my hip to represent wisdom. The only visible tattoo I have so far is the word “Inspire” on my right wrist. I got this to celebrate the completion of my first book during the summer before my senior year in college. To personalize it further, the tattoo is even in my own handwriting. During a few job interviews, I am sure a potential employer caught a glimpse of something there, but I easily cover it with a thick or chunky bracelet. Even if an employer did realize what the mysterious bit of lettering they caught over my bracelet was, the chances of them having ink of their own are rising steadily. Three of my most recent employers have had tattoos, and after discovering our shared affection for them, it has even spurred a few interesting conversations.

Certain fields still frown upon expression through body art. The judicial field associates it with criminals, so any lawyers wishing to express their wild side must do so in ways that are not visible while they are working. “You would be surprised how many highly paid lawyers and CEOs come in here, drop a huge amount of money, and get full body suits done! They just make sure the ink ends where their suits do so no one knows.” Jesse witnessed. Hardcore on the down low!


Jesse contributes the growing social acceptance of tattoos to reality TV shows that are based on tattoo parlors. “It’s about the only positive thing those shows do for the industry.” He remarked. The more people are exposed to the idea of body ink, the more normal it seems. Not to mention the large number of celebrities sporting flashy designs on their bodies! Angelina Jolie, a huge supporter of tattoos, proclaimed for news reporters, “The tattoo is a strong reminder to live fully in the moment and never have regrets.” Though she has some questionable art, she clearly does not regret the decision to get them.


Social norms are constantly changing and evolving, one of the amazing aspects that comes from living in such a diverse world. Though tattoos may have been regarded as threatening or trashy in the past, they are quickly becoming casual ways to show the things you value in life. The quality of artwork is improving and reality TV shows like “LA Ink” are adding glamour to the industry. It does make me curious to see what my grandchildren will be doing to themselves, but by the time their generation rolls around I hope to have accepted whatever taboo they will be embracing.