Text 1.
”Is Tattooing a Form of Self-Mutilation” is an article written by Andy Carrington on his person website. In his article, he discusses different reasons to getting a tattoo across the world. In his introduction, he writes about some of the more traditional uses of tattoos. He shows how the tattoos symbolize religious and spiritual devotion while it also can be used as an indication of criminal affiliation. Afterwards, he shows an interesting psychologist study about that tattooing is self-harm. Here he comments whether tattoos can be used as a comfort for people feeling isolated or used as physical incision as an act of self-relief. Andy Carringston’s conclusion is that tattooing is a practice that represents a person’s thought processes at a particular time in life.
Text 2
“Tattoos were once a sign of rebellion – now they are evidence of craven conformity to cultural norms” is a blog post on the British newspaper The Telegraph by Brendan O’Neill. In the begging of the blog, Brendan O’Neill talks about a situation where the mayor of Osaka banned tattooed from working in the government because a city with employee with lots of tattoos had scared children’s at a welfare center. Later on, he comments on Huffington Posts who claim that hostility to tattoos is becoming a global issue. O’Neill says that it is wrong to think that tattoos are evidence of deviancy, and he believes that they rather are a symbol of conformism. He says that when more than a third of 16- to 44-year-olds have tattoos, it requires “Herculean” levels of self-possession to refuse to be tattooed. Brendan O’Neill concludes that while the mayor of Osaka might be justified in their old-fashioned dislike of tattoos, they should look to the tattooed if they wish to have conformist workers who comply with cultural norms.
Text 3
“In defense of Ink” is a fashion and lifestyle columnist post for the university paper The Temple News by Alex Sachdev. Alex Sachdev describes tattoos as a different type of accessory because just like fashion, it is a form of self-expression, confidence and originality. She says that tattoos is a artwork that should be cherished as a chapter in someone’s life rather than receive the bum rap they get from most parents today. Sachdev compares her own opinion to the one of many parents who believes that tattoos belong to street/hardened rappers. The parents deem it as a waste of money and a decision that they will regret later in life. In the end, Sachdev advises those seeking a tattoo to wait six months before going under the needle. In addition she adds that whatever decision one makes, it is important to cherish your tattoo.
O’Neill uses statistics to argue that non-tattooed are exercising deviancy in the 21st century. The use of statistics makes his text seem trustworthy. He also use statistic to argue on line 63-64 where he says “more than a third of 16- to 44-year-olds have tats”. He use logos argumentation to convince the reader of his opinion. O’Neill also uses exaggeration to explain why he thinks that the Japanese mayor is delusional. He over exaggerates how harsh the Japanese mayor or corporation bosses are on line 43-47 it says “who will one day have to enter the job marked and be respectable, not of any hotheaded tyranny on the part of Japanese mayors or corporation bosses”. He does this to remind the reader how critical Japanese mayors or corporation bosses are about tattoos. In his conclusion, he convinces the reader of his opinion by using statistics as said, being very firm, and by using exaggeration. So he seems very convincing to the reader.
Ink tattoos can symbolize a lot of things in today’s society. Some claim that tattoos are a modern form of fashion that expresses confidence and originality, and it has just become a natural part of many people’s lifestyles. According to Sachdev in text 3, this should the way that people view tattoos, as seen on line 42-43 “It is a piece of artwork to be cherished”. But how can one author claim that it “just is part of a lifestyle” when many are prevented to get a job. What are most important? Having a “lifestyle tattoo” or being able to get a job?
Further, in some cultures, tattoos are used to indicate criminal history. Although what your opinion on tattoos is, it is scary to think that other connects your tattoo with criminal history. But in the end, different cultures have different opinions on tattoos. So if you consider getting a tattoo, you should be careful as it may give others the wrong impression