How times change. 50  years ago, walking down the street with a tattoo in plain sight was sure to invoke staring, gasping and judgemental tittering in passers-by. You could be sure of some reaction to your body art, whether it was angry, shocked, incredulous or awe-struck. Tattoos were for misfits and miscreants, prisoners and sailors – and not for up-standing members of society.

Image via Wikipedia

Perhaps it serves as one of the most remarkable examples of the growing de-sensitivity of Western society that tattoos, once viewed with suspicion and almost fear by the general public, are now practically de rigour. Instead of shock and intimidation, people are now more likely to respond to the sight of a tattoo with impartial acceptance or even genuine interest.

Of course, this development did not come about of it’s own accord. One of the major contributing factors to this turn-around in public opinion was the increase in celebrities choosing to get inked. Yes, as with other celeb-driven phenomenae such as ridiculous baby names and Hybrid cars, tattoos soon became a trend. From the early 1990’s on, well-publicised accounts of celebrity tattoos began to emerge, from the infamous Johnny Depp/Winona Ryder debacle to Angelina Jolie’s various inscriptions in Arabic, Khmer and runes.  Nowadays, Rhianna’s and Lindsay’s new ink constitute some of the most popular Google searches. Considering that celebrity is the new royalty, their faithful subjects across the world have accepted without revolt these changes.

Image via Wikipedia

The huge popularity of T.V’s ‘Miami Ink’, coupled with various spin-off shows such as ‘L.A Ink’ and ‘London Ink’, have no doubt played their part in de-bunking the myths surrounding tattoo artistry. There is no denying that the level of artistry and professionalism displayed on these shows is impressive. Whether or not it is indicative of the standard of tattooing elsewhere, I can’t say.

However we cannot give television and celebrities all the credit for these new trends in tattoos (now considered the 6th fastest-growing industry in Amereica). No, tattooing also fits into a growing culture of body modification, typically exemplified by plastic surgery and procedures such as gastric bypass operations. People are willing, even eager, to alter their bodies. It’s more than simply corrective, or even cosmetic: it’s fashionable. It’s not enough to be happy with your own appearance – the aim is to impress others, by any means possible. Of course, we can come full circle with this argument, right back to those celebrities who taunt us with their perfect physiques and often make no bones about the methods they used to achieve such results.

Image via Wikipedia

One can only wonder about the future of tattoos. As they gradually become integrated with ‘normal’ society, will they still appeal to the outsiders who first championed them?  Typically, extreme piercings and tattoos were the preserve of those who wished to demonstrate their taste for the dangerous, the outlandish, the dark. Yet as soccer moms endeavour to get ‘tramp-stamped’ (a tribal tattoo on the lower back) and accountants proudly display their new koi carp tattoos (a symbol of prosperity, don’t you know?), can the Art of Ink still retain it’s non-comformist sting? Tattooing is quickly becoming “our thing” not “their thing”.

Image via Wikipedia

As the old tattooists saying goes, “Think before you ink!”