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CRUEL ANECDOTES |
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Is tattooing a cool fashion statement or a sign of threatening sub-cultures? |
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Appendix (or, Read it and weep!) Steward was one of Dr Alfred Kinsey’s (Kinsey Reports) “unofficial collaborators” (p.37) and was asked to “keep a daily journal to see what might be learned about the sexual motivation for getting tattooed” (p.3). He did this for six years in the 1950s and his book is based on that (unpublished) account. He concluded that “more than three-quarters of the tattoos applied were put on because of some aspect of sexual motivation” (pp.3/4) and identified 25 of these sexual motivations, as follows – Decoration – to attract the opposite, or same, sex Herd Instinct – because his friends or gang members had one Narcissism – although only a “pseudo-narcissist” would mark his body Exhibitionism – to show off their tattoos to peers and girls Possession – pride of owning, also sexual possession of woman Sadomasochism – sexual arousal from the pain Rivalry – wanting more tattoos than their friends Homosexuality – used tattoo shop for cruising, Steward guessed around 20% Crypto-Homosexuality – latent homosexuality, male bonding Manhood Initiation Rite – the arrival of adulthood, similar to tribal ceremonies Masculine Status – tattoo denotes tough, real, macho An Existential Act – “an act which once done is done forever” (p.59) Compensation – to counteract feelings of inferiority or a disability of some kind |
WORDS PICTURES |
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Imitation – saw bodybuilders etc with tattoos and wanted to be like them Compulsion – once one tattoo is inked, collector needs more ... and more Celebration – a small group and usually those who had been tattooed before Non-conformity and Rebellion – anti-intellectual, the sign of inarticulate revolt Gang Membership –Hells Angels etc, not the same as Herd Instinct Fetishism – tattoos of women with high heels, interest in tattooed women Pastimes – self tattooing, especially in prison, leads to mutual masturbation Utilitarian – identification tattoos in case of accident / alert on allergies Guilt and Punishment – self-mutilation, pain of tattoo as punishment Advertisement – sexual connotations, “any tattoo is an advertisement of some kind” (p.76) Sentimentality – hearts and roses, moms and dads, girlfriends’ names Bravado – being dared by their friends or girlfriends Magic/Totemism – good luck symbols, tattoos to ward off evil Religion, Consecration, Stigmata & the Messiah Complex – Christ, blood etc National/Ethnic Origins – patriotic tattoos
STEWARD, S. M., 1990, Bad Boys and Tough Tattoos: a Social History of the Tattoo with Gangs, Sailors, and Street-corner Punks, New York: Harrington Park Press. |
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