Tattooing Is An Art Form Example

Tattooing Is An Art Form Example Tattooing Is An Art Form â€" Essay Example > Tattooing is an Art FormIntroductionTattooing remains to be one of the greatest human artistic expressions with the longest history. Background information provides that tattooing is a story for global cultural exchange that was started as an art. While scholars have attempted to argue that the term came from ‘tatau’ (denoting ‘art’ in Samoan and Tahitian), the history of tattoo as an art stretches beyond these views. Perhaps conceptualizing periods when the islands of the Pacific that European sailors met the body art. Research studies that have attempted to interview tattooed people have indicated that decisions for tattooing were because it is a fascinating art (Timming 2015). On the other hand, the socio-genesis researches that have surveyed the aspect of tattoo with regard to art and cult found that the practice did not only originate as art but were considered as artistic expressions done through body markings (Atkinson 2003). The historical perspectives of tattooist s have provided different approach in which studies have conceptualized the aspect of tattoo. Research surveys on background information of tattoo have realized that tattooists considered their works as an art for museum treasures---an art intended to make humankind in touch with the universe’s creative impulse. On the other hand, there have been arguments that some tattooing elements are not fit enough to be associated with art. These arguments have often associated tattoo with cult. While the arguments on the artistic nature of tattoo remains multifaceted, this study critically assess the extent to which tattoo is indeed an art. Premised on the thesis statement or contention that indeed tattooing is an art, the essay will review contemporary studies that have argued for and against the contention. Tattooing has a Long History as ArtJust like any other art, tattooing has a long history for many centuries, which has delivered different meaning in each country. Researching on “ The Sociogenesis of a Body Art” Atkinson (2003), the scholar interviewed tattooed individuals and tattooists and his conclusion on the data collected likened the history of tattoo to any other form of art. His case study is centralized on elements such as cosmetic surgery and body piercing. For as long as body piercing and cosmetic surgeries share the same history as tattooing, there is paucity of comprehensive research that have contested the artistic nature of tattoo. The point of argument Atkinson (2003) attempts to develop is that body piercing is already considered an art not because of its uniqueness or resemblance with other forms of art but because it shares the same sociological origin with other forms of art. Additionally, just like cosmetic surgery and body piercing, Atkinson (2003) finds through evidence based literatures that tattooing is an art made to represent one’s personality and social backgrounds. Conversely, there is an indication, from tattooed individual s and tattooist that for many decades, tattooing has delivered different meaning as an art. These meanings have been conceptualized differently depending on social set up of each country. The empirical findings by Atkinson (2003) have also been supported by Baumann, Timming and Gollan (2016) who have shown that the long history of tattoo qualifies it as an art. According to results from their surveys and interviews, every country has unique expressions of tattoos as artistic symbols that represents or resonates well with a given cultural belief. The scholars observed that historically, American had considered tattoo as ‘undesirable’ class, what was once linked with biker or criminal milieu slowly transformed, over decades, to be regarded as one of the artistic expressions used to communicate personal style. Indeed, the history stretches to the period when artists who travelled on the voyages sketched different designs on their bodies that were later found on the island; this wa s perhaps the origin of the creative artwork.