Tattoos in Society- Then and Now
Updated: Dec 8, 2022
Hi All,
This time, I wanted to talk about tattoos in society- then and now.
From what I’ve seen on people walking around nowadays, tattoos have definitely blown up in popularity. You can see people from different backgrounds and all walks of life sporting ink on their bodies. I’ve also noticed many more older adults with fresh ink, now that it’s become more acceptable.
Only a few decades ago in the U.S., tattoos were looked down upon, only for people living outside the constraints of society- sailors, circus freaks, convicts.
Now, almost everyone has some kind of ink, and like people, the symbolism of tattoos are also changing.
Back then, certain designs had specific meanings. Like swallows for return, whether alive or the birds carrying a sailor’s soul back home. Or anchors, symbolizing stability and a reminder of that keeps you steady. But now, people have a much more varied selection of artists and designs to mark their bodies with. Self-expression is not just restricted through clothing or hairstyles, but now tattoos! It’s really fun and interesting to see the different styles of tattoos people put on their bodies as it also gives a hint to the kind of person they are.
That rise in demand also means a rise in the number of tattooers, which also means a rise in different styles of artwork! Especially in the last few years, a variety of different styles have popped up, such as linework, new school, pointillism, watercolor, the list goes on! I’m always blown away by the creativity of artists and their styles, it’s very exciting and has me excited to be working in a field where things are always changing.
I’m looking forward to the years to come, and to see what the world has in store for tattoos. I doubt that tattoos will become taboo in society again, so there’s nowhere to go but up! I’m just raving at this point.
Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you guys next week!
-Jane