Popular Tattoos at TLC

Mary L., Tiffany S., and Clarissa G.

                Regardless of the many centuries tattoos have been around, up until recently, they were considered very taboo in most countries. In this day in age, however, tattoos seem to more socially accpetable than they may have ever been in the past. Many teenagers at TLC have taken this in stride,  so as a means of recognizing our “tatted” students we are showcasing their very personal artistic expression on our blog.

                Tattoos originated as a means of expressing  tribal artwork, rites of passage, and rituals. But by interviewing some of our students, we have found that tattoos symbolize many different things today, and each person is impacted by them differently. Some people use tattoos as identifiers (whether it’s gangs, fraternities/sororities, military, or to recognize your significant other), as well for cosmetic reasons. We went around our school and took photos of students with tattoos. Whether they’re just to be flashy, have meaning, or are “just a random tat,” we wanted to see exactly what our student body was into.

So why are tattoos so popular in the society today? “I look at my body as a piece of artwork,” stated Josh M. and Casey C., who both have many tattoos and are interested in getting more. Motorcyle clubs have made them very popular due to their initiation rituals, as well as military personel. While it seems tattoos are popular because of rebellion, identity, beauty, and sex appeal, we have found most tattoos belong to people who have a story to tell.

For those of you considering getting your first tattoo (or your last) here are some things to consider:

Pros	Cons
·         Carries meaning, or is symbolic	·         It’s permanent and you may regret it later
·         Self-expression	·         Painful to get and remove
·         Stand out from others	·         Can be addictive
·         Can be shown off or private	·         Potentially harder to get a job
·         A well done tattoo is a thing of beauty	·         Could get infected
·         Sparks conversation	·         They can fade or migrate