Inked Through out the pages of time, the second layer of human flesh became the first canvas for art. Today, this form of art is called tattoo. Just as a canvas is stroked by a paint brush, human skin is inked with a needle to create a permanent masterpiece. Loaded with as many meanings as there are global cultures, tattoos come in different sizes, shapes, styles, and designs. People wear tattoos like clothes that symbolize the runway of their life. Today tattoos are widely accepted across the world, and are even worn as signs of beauty. Whether exposed or concealed, tattoos were not always looked greatly upon, they have gained respect with time. The history of the tattoos is just as captivating and complex as the tattoo itself. The purpose of the tattoo depends on its place on the timeline of human history. This essay will examine the history of tattoos in the 20th century of the United States.
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People who had tattoos were either criminals, in the circus or served the military. People who had tattoos were labeled as freaks and savage-like. The Ringling Brothers circus enchanted sponsors with Miss Betty Broadbent’s body art at a time where tattooing was forced underground. Soldiers regularly visited New York’s Chatham Square and bought tattoos of military imagery. Towns with military bases often had tattoo parlors in the early 1900’s. When World War II came, tattoos were seen as the sign of a social outcast. The 1940’s began the emergence of bikers. In addition to their love for motorcycles, bikers united around their interest for tattoos that expressed anti-social attitude. Since bikers lived “on the edge” of society, tattoos became related to rebellious actions and detachment. Criminal gangs had tattoos as well. People’s knowledge of the Nazi practice of tattooing Jews in concentrations camps also contributed to the decline of tattoos in the United
People who had tattoos were either criminals, in the circus or served the military. People who had tattoos were labeled as freaks and savage-like. The Ringling Brothers circus enchanted sponsors with Miss Betty Broadbent’s body art at a time where tattooing was forced underground. Soldiers regularly visited New York’s Chatham Square and bought tattoos of military imagery. Towns with military bases often had tattoo parlors in the early 1900’s. When World War II came, tattoos were seen as the sign of a social outcast. The 1940’s began the emergence of bikers. In addition to their love for motorcycles, bikers united around their interest for tattoos that expressed anti-social attitude. Since bikers lived “on the edge” of society, tattoos became related to rebellious actions and detachment. Criminal gangs had tattoos as well. People’s knowledge of the Nazi practice of tattooing Jews in concentrations camps also contributed to the decline of tattoos in the United