Tattoos

Essay by thebossladyCollege, UndergraduateB+, September 2008

download word file, 4 pages 3.0

TattoosThe word tattoo is said to has two major derivations- from the Polynesian word 'ta' which means striking something and the Tahitian word 'tatau' which means 'to mark something'. The history of tattoo began over 5000 years ago and is as diverse as the people who wear them. Tattoos are created by inserting colored materials beneath the skins surface. The first tattoos probably were created by accident. Someone had a small wound, and rubbed it with a hand that was dirty with soot and ashes from the fire. Once the wound had healed, they saw that a mark stayed permanently. Despite the social sciences' growing fascination with tattooing, and the immense popularity of tattoos themselves, the practice has not left much of a historical record. Tattoos and piercings are at the forefront of the body art movement in America and all over the world. While the concept of body modification for the purpose of personal expression has extended to encapsulate far more alarming practices (such as scarification and surgical implantation), tattoos and piercings are the route chosen by most enthusiasts.

Because of the increasing popularity of these types of body art, they have moved from being on the so called lunatic fringe and are now, to a certain extent, a part of mainstream society.

Tattoos are created by ink being injected into the skin. Tattoo artists use an electric tattoo gun to shoot the ink into the skin. This tattoo gun has a needle that moves at a rate of up to 2,000 punchers per minute. With each puncture, ink is put into the skin. The tattoo machine has several features. The machine has a sterilized needle, a tube system, electric motor, and a foot pedal. The function of the foot pedal is to control the vertical movements of the...