Tattooing in a Constitutional Monarchy
Sailor Jerry, in 1969 the pioneer in American Tattooing.
In America, we are fortunate to have one of the purest forms of freedom in our democracy . Tattooing in The United States was outlawed in 1961 due to the hepatitis outbreak. The art form at this time was still associated with thugs, criminals, and bikers. In much recent news in 2006 Oklahoma became the last state to legalize tattooing. The open space of democracy allows for tattoos to exist, in its truest form allows the individual to express themselves without restriction. This form of self expression is no stranger to controversy, throughout history the stereotypes and stigma behind tattoos is seemingly always in the forefront of our minds. No matter what people (usually with no tattoos) will see the stigma before the art.
Only bikies and those affiliated with crime get tattoos
People with tattoos make bad workers
Only people from low social classes get tattoos
Tattoos are not professional.
Even though these stigmas are being dispelled, it is a reality that is very much real in our society which prides itself on freedom. In one of the countries that originated a style of tattooing, the fight to save the art form is in full force. In Japan, in order to become a legal tattoo artist you have to have a medical license. The Japanese government is restricting the freedom of tattooing because of the association of the Yakusa to the self expressive body imagery. An example of one of these restriction on tattoos is you may not be publically allowed to use their bathhouses. If someone with tattoos tried to use a public bathhouses they would either be charged with invasion of buildings or would be required by management to put stickers on to cover them up.
In Japan, a culture that embraces itself on “oddly” obsession with either their comic book characters or Japanese cartoons, we see that a culture that generally embraces the quirks are shunning an essential part of their cultural identity that allows the body to be worshipped. Here is the link to keep updated on what is to become of tattooing in Japan.
Tattooing in a Democracy
Tattoo is the magic word. It hits people in a way that no other visual medium does. And it is not simply visual, but visceral. Everybody has an opinion about it and everybody has a gut reaction. And because they are permanent, tattoos raise all these issues about life and death. Ed Hardy
Key Concepts.
Art
“Art thrives on nonconformity, exploration, expression, and the development of individuality” (Sommer 48)
This quote from Doris Sommer sums up completely the general vibe of 21st century Tattoo culture. The world of tattooing has evolved from the simple Pick-something-on-the-wall to extraordinary custom pieces that challenge the realm of possibility. In the words of one of the founding fathers of tattooing, Don Ed Hardy “ You put a tattoo on yourself with the knowledge that this body is yours to have and enjoy while you’re here. You have fun with it, and nobody else can control (supposedly) what you do with it. That’s why tattooing is such a big thing in prison: it’s an expression of freedom—one of the only expressions of freedom there. They can lock you down, control everything, but ‘I’ve got my mind, and I can tattoo my body—alter it my way as an act of personal will”
“Art in its form, unites the very same relation of doing and undergoing, outgoing and incoming energy that makes experience to be an experience”- John Dewey.
From a tattooist standpoint the relation between the artist and his art is one that flows, fluidity is essential with tattooing. It turns a stagnant image, and brings it to life. An example of this is from the practices of Japanese tattooist, Horiyshi III. The art of Japanese body suit, Shisei. Which means art and spirit. Traditional pieces are inspired by tattooing of legends and mythical beast is an experience because authentic Japanese tattoos are earned. In order to compliment the human body each needle stroke is planed out. Not in advanced but rather as the tattooing experience is being put from thought to skin. “Art is an endeavor after perfection in execution”- John Stuart Mill
Experience
John Dewey ” For in much of own experience we are not concerned with the connection of one incident with what went before and what comes after.”
This quote from Dewey resonates with me because when I get a tattoo usually its under the circumstances where neither of my parents know about. I don’t think of the consequences that follow these actions instead I view the experience as a journey. In many instances with each of my tattoos I can tell you where I got them, what I was feeling during that time when I got it, and why I got it. The Experience of getting a tattoo is one of mind and body, each of my senses are experiencing different sensations.
My eyes are usually closed or I’m focusing my attention else where and not on the needle hitting my skin I do this because I do not want to see the finish product until the last stroke of the needle.
My ears become comfortably numb to the buzzing of the rotary machine that moves the needle 30,000 time per minute.
The skin, my nerves, The pain. It’s an overdose of sensation that is both pleasurably painful. However much like life, the pain does not last forever, and then from a blank canvas you have a masterful piece of art that is forever apart of you.
“Tattooing should be Righteous”
This week I began to look at the individual aspects of tattoo culture. To do this I began to more in depth with two different yet very similar styles of tattoos. Black and Grey, and Traditional Japanese.
The Japanese are a honorable group of people who pride themselves in honor and traditional. This reflects in their tattoos as well. The Japanese view tattooing as a scared artwork that reflects year of practice and is often up to the artist to determine whether or not the client is worthy of the art work. A major part of this style of tattooing is that each tattoo is designed specifically for each body part so that it flows into a tattoo body suit. The stress to keep traditional Japanese tattooing honorable is something that true artist in this culture value. Horiyoshi III, is a Japanese tattooist, that believes that he, the artist is in full control of the tattoos and cares very little about what the client wants he doesn’t plan ahead and freehand most of his designs because he values the moment of tattooing. He views the spiritual bond of tattooing of art and the body as an entity that is righteous. The Experience of tattooing he relates it to life, by describing the moment. “Cherish each stroke of the needles and each second of life” 
Here is one of Horiyoshi’s full body sleeves.
Black and Grey Tattoos were originated in southern California and was brought to light by the Cholos and Chicanos, who began to tattoo in prison with DIY tattoo machines. Much like the Japanese, the Mexican American artist view this style of tattoos in a certain light. the Chicano style focusses heavily on Family, Religion, and the Streets. this style is one that Japanese as far earing your tattoos as a rite of passage, The Chicanos viewed tattooing as a personal experience and in the tattoo series on Viceland, titled Needles and Pins explores gang tattoos in LA where we see the personal side of tattooing. Countless artist in this episode, stressed the importance of the relationship between the artist and the client. The artist that were tattooing symbols and gang affiliated tattoos were cautious of who to tattoo. They became aware of who was real, and deserving of certain art illustrations, because if the wrong person saw it, it could mean death to owner
Boston Tattoo Convention 2017
Pure blissful excitement ran through me as I walked into the Heyman Center in Boston. As soon as I walked in I heard the buzzing of tattoo rotary machines everywhere. There were hundreds of booths lined up in rows of five with people of every shape, size , color, any other combination you can think of were getting inked. The Tattoo community, is one that seems rough from first glance, but that is because it is usually from people who have no tattoos.
While having little expectations of what the convention besides seeing great artist and artwork, I was able to a lot just in the couple of hours that I spent there. To sum up what a tattoo convention is in the simplest of terms . A convention is just giant tattoo shop. you walk around and if you want to get tattooed you get tattooed. While I was there I talked to one artist who specialized in Traditional Style tattoos. I was interested in getting a traditional owl. However due to me ballin’ on a budget, and the overall design it would not have worked out. I began to think of what would work with me.
My artist, Taylor Seller, he loved to do traditional eagles, so I was looking at his designs and decide to go with an eagle perching holding a sign which I then put the word INDO in.
All of my tattoos have meaning and this one is my first color tattoo as well as the first one on my leg. The meaning of this tattoo is inspired by my Oma and Opa who are natives of Indonesia, which is a part of me that I have tremendous pride in. Earlier, this week I talked with my Oma about living in Indoensia as well as other stories about my Opa. She told me about Garuda, which is the Indonesian Airline as well as the national symbol of Indonesia which is an eagle. My Opa, who passed away when I was three had on his uniform while he was in the Indonesian army. He is someone who I wish I had more time with. He truly was an interesting man from the stories my mom and Oma told me . The Indo is short for Indonesian and it was inspired from this symbol. The more I look at this tattoo the more love it. I plan on honoring my Dutch heritage on my other leg with my Owl with klogs, but that’s not for a while.
Overall this experience gave me glimpse of what a true democracy could look like. From my observant eyes, I could not see any form of discrimination. Everyone their was there for one reason. Tattoos.
The vibe of the convention was contagious people were checking out various artworks scattered all over the center, and for that moment I was completely in the moment. I recommend that everyone who likes tattoos go to at least one convention.
The aspects of Aspect
Extra, Extra, Aspect Magazine
While I was choosing my Aspect magazine to work on , I wanted to find something that spoke to me. I am a big proponent for everything happens for a reason and nothing is coincidental. It puts a twist on living in the moment. With that being said the Aspect magazine that I chose was the June issue of 1969. The reason why I chose this specific issue was because of two reasons.
- The time period at which this issue was printed, peaked my interest. After taking a 1960’s class last semester I have learned a great deal of the significance of that decade to American history because it holds relevance today.
- The second reason why I decided to choose this issue was because of the first piece of writing. The title immediately grabbed me; “Violence: The necessary tool” by Edward Hogan
So before I even started to dissect my magazine I began to read the first piece, by Edward Hogan, I found that the things he was writing were speaking from a place where he wanted to stress how the violent movement is a reaction to the lack of progress that the nonviolent movement was making. Hogan says
“The real tragedy is not that the negro is laying his own community to ruin when he riots in Watts, Harlem, or Roxbury but that he must bust break the law to fain recognition of his problem and stir concrete reactions”
Hogan later speaks on how the issue of to achieve racial equality that it is up to the white race. ” Therefore, the initiative is plainly up to the white people of America in bringing the Negro up to equality… in the future, a time will come when no Black man, or any man, will need help in this endeavor for he will have been born into a changed world in which a racist environment does not surround him… It is our duty to aid in this achievement of this day in any way we can”
Integrity: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness
Well, one survives that, no matter how… You survive this and in some terrible way, which I suppose no one can ever describe, you are compelled, you are corralled, you are bullwhipped into dealing with whatever it is that hurt you. And what is crucial here is that if it hurt you, that is not what’s important. Everybody’s hurt. What is important, what corrals you, what bullwhips you, what drives you, torments you, is that you must find some way of using this to connect you with everyone else alive. This is all you have to do it with. You must understand that your pain is trivial except insofar as you can use it to connect with other people’s pain; and insofar as you can do that with your pain, you can be released from it, and then hopefully it works the other way around too; insofar as I can tell you what it is to suffer, perhaps I can help you to suffer less. Then, you make — oh, fifteen years later, several thousand drinks later, two or three divorces, God knows how many broken friendships and an exile of one kind or another — some kind of breakthrough, which is your first articulation of who you are: that is to say, your first articulation of who you suspect we all are. James Baldwin
You must understand that your pain is trivial. You must connect to unify with others and base your connections on struggles. Baldwin is saying that we can unify through pain and hardship because everyone goes through pain and suffering. By looking at how we hurt and pain. He is telling us to look at the basic internal conflicts and basic human struggles and help each other hurt a little less.
He also talks about how there people who live there days in darkness, and the artist job is lighten up those people’s lives. This declaration connects well with what De Toqueville and Whitman has discussed in the first readings about the artist and literatures importance in a democratic society. I thoroughly enjoy listening to Baldwin and reading his literature because of how he articulates the true essence of living in America. He tackles the issue of unification by trying to turn a suffering into a positive. Throughout many of Baldwin’s work that I have read such as, ” The Fire Next Time” I have noticed that he maintains a spirit of optimism even through the struggle and inequality. However if you are talking about Baldwin to someone who may not be able to extract the same information out, you can turn to a 2016 author, Ta- Nehisi Coates who wrote “Between the World and Me”.
While reading Ta- Nehisi Coates who draws inspirations from Baldwin’s the Fire next time, it is crucial to consider how they both address the theme of safety when regards to being Black in America, the theme of bodies and protecting your body is something that unless you are conscious of you never really think of. Coates states.
“I love you, and I love the world, and I love it more with every new inch I discover. But you are a black boy, and you must be responsible for your body in a way that other boys cannot know. Indeed, you must be responsible for the worst actions of other black bodies, which somehow, will always be assigned to you. And you must be responsible for the bodies of the powerful.” pg 71
Poetry, Education, and History
The theme of safety is embedded in democracy…
While reading this piece called “Blood, Bread and Poetry” I became deeply invested in this reading because of the important issues that were addressed by Adrienne Rich. The discussion of poetry in a democratic society is one that I at first as a child, did not like because I did not get it, Or perhaps I did not want to. However in one of my course I took about Black Afromodernism. I had to write a Thesis paper on Black identity in a post modernal society through the lens of Poets such as Michael S. Harper. This paper required me to look at what I was traditionally taught throughout my public education and dive deeper. In doing so I became aware of the history that I was not taught in my public education, as Rich says in her piece ” I was white in a white supremacist society, I was being educated from the perspective of a particular class.”(241)
This quote resonates with me because of the information that I have learned throughout my college experience and throughout life. Reading, James Baldwin opens up a perspective that many white Americans do not realize exist. The theme of safety is embedded in democracy. In a Democracy people want to feel safe, it is a government for the people, where equal opportunities is a god given right to man.*
“The paradox of education is precisely this – that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated”.- James A. Baldwin
“*But like most Americans, taught a very specific version of American History… the version of the white propertied male.”(241)
In the education system of America, the history is being taught exactly like Rich stated. This bring into question the mindset of safety and how it can be both a luxury and a burden. Being safe is a feeling that everyone wants to feel and there is nothing wrong with that. However the danger with being safe is that you won’t want to leave the comfort of that. When you are able to see that getting out of your comfort zone is where you are able to learn you can become aware of the world around you in this democracy.
The American Scholar
The message of democracy being a complex being is one that I find to be divided up into pieces that are political, social and personal aspects to everyone. The pursuit of happiness is something that is created out of democracy and is something that people are striving to achieve along with rights and liberties. . Being a scholar means learning both with the education system and learning life lessons
In Emersons’s commencement speech, he targeted the minds of a scholar being two essential pieces of mind. ” The first in time and the first in importance of the influences upon the mind is that of Nature.”
I believe that Whitman is asking that the academic scholar must be one that looks towards the nature of his environment and is forced, to realize that the world around the individual is made up of individuals. It reminds me of the Buddhist theory I discussed in my Eco Psychology class, Sophomore year at Keene, where we discussed how everything in this world doesn’t have meaning. It is your experiences and the values you hold give things meanings. It relates to what Whitman is saying because it gives you a new perspective on the world and allows you to be conscious in the moment.
The next great influence into the spirit of the scholar, is, the mind of
the Past, — in whatever form, whether of literature, of art, of institutions,
that mind is inscribed.
Whitman’s second point is one that discusses how to a young scholar studying the texts of the past crucial in ones understanding of the present as well as the progress/lack of progress that has been made since then.
Tempest: “I came to understand through an education in the humanities that knowledge is another form of democracy, the freedom of expression that leads to empathy.”
“You were acutely aware of the complexities and hesitant to take sides before considering all the evidence before you.”
In Tempest commencement speech, she talks about how the journey of life is one that should be met with ambition and an open heart. That its okay, if you don’t know the answers but that everything will work out. She spoke of being understanding of everyone is crucial in figuring out how to be successful in the world.
Don’t worry about what you will do next. If you take one step with all the knowledge you have, there is usually just enough light shining to show you the next step.
technology is not rendered at the expense of life, but developed out of a reverence for life.
The message of democracy being a complex being is one that I find to be divided up into pieces that are political and social and aspects that are personal to everyone. The pursuit of happiness is something that is created out of democracy and is something that people are striving to achieve along with rights and liberties. Being an American Scholar on top of learning about yourself you are also learning about the world around you. Being a scholar means learning both with the education system and learning life lessons
Is Whitman Satisfied?
Whitman is writing from a place when American democracy as a whole is shook. The root of what the country has been on over the decade has been one that made a lot of people at the time question where America was heading towards. He wrote this critical literature when America was trying to pick up the pieces of its Civil War. He takes the time to criticize the American ideology and tries to dive into what America needs to progress into a thriving democracy that he knows it can achieve.
One point in Whitman’s essay that had me confused was the excerpt he had regarding women in their relation to men. He poses the questions of women comparative to men in a way that seems to support equality but at the same time it sounds as if he thinks there is not enough equality. Whitman also criticizes how democracy mustn’t use the old ideas of past worlds or ideologies but instead to progress must look at the new ideas and lay that into the legislations. Whitman talks about how the masses of America are not being represent as a whole when the term “We The People” is being addressed.
The People! Like our huge earth itself, which, to ordinary scansion, is full of vulgar contradictions and offence, man, viewed in the lump, displeases, and is a constant puzzle and affront to the merely educated classes. The rare, cosmical, artist-mind, lit with the Infinite, alone confronts his manifold and oceanic qualities — but taste, intelligence and culture, (so-called,) have been against the masses, and remain so. There is plenty of glamour about the most damnable crimes and hoggish meannesses, special and general, of the feudal and dynastic world over there, with its personnel of lords and queens and courts, so well-dress’d and so handsome. But the People are ungrammatical, untidy, and their sins gaunt and ill-bred.
While, Whitman is discussing women in a democratic society, He also discusses American Literature. I find it interesting when you compare his view with De Toquvilles on how new world Literature in America is.
What, however, do we more definitely mean by New World literature? Are we not doing well enough here already? Are not the United States this day busily using, working, more printer’s type, more presses, than any other country? uttering and absorbing more publications than any other?
Whitman states “The clues are inferential, and turn us to the past. At best, we can only offer suggestions, comparisons, circuits.” I believe that Whitman is stating that you have to acknowledge the past in order to understand completely.
Perspectives of a Democracy 