The History of Piercings and Tattoos - 1070 Words

The History of Tattoos and Body Piercing The largest organ in the human body is the skin. Some people choose to express themselves through decorating their skin with tattoos, piercing and other kinds of body art. Its true origin, symbolism, variety, and modern day versions go way back in time. The first tattoo known to man, was found on Otzi, the â€Å"Icemanâ€Å", in 1991. Otzi himself is from around 4,000 B.C. Fifty-eight tattoos were found on him, they were all made of lines and dots. No real symbolism could be made out of the designs. But scientists have a theory that these tattoos were part of some sort of medical or spiritual healing process. The process of the first tattoos was long and painful. Some of the first tools used in†¦show more content†¦Ear lobe piercing is the most common and oldest type of piercing. This was also found on Otzi. He had pierced ears that had been stretched to eleven millimeters around. Roman soldiers and warriors would pierce their nipples for mainly two reasons. One was to show strength, courage, and bravery, and the second was for the use of hanging their capes off of their leather breastplates when in a battle. Nipple piercing in women started in the 14th century when the necklines of dresses dropped so incredibly low that practically half of the women’s breast would be exposed. So they would decorate the nipple with gold chains, diamonds, silver, and other stuff to make them more attractive. Other piercing were used to make the body more decorative and attractive to their personal liking. Reasons for piercing are different. One reason is that a person wants to decorate the ir body because they think it makes them beautiful, or it is a custom in their family. The most common piercing is piercing of the earlobe. Men and women are both seen with studs, or rings in their lobes. The second most common, believe it or not, is the piercing of the septum. Other common piercing are of the tongue, bellybutton, nose, and eyebrow. Body art is popular because it makes a person feel different, or special†¦.in a way. They can be reminded of a turning point in their life through tattoos. Piercing is popular because it can accent and draw attention towards certain partsShow MoreRelatedExpressing Identity Through Tattoos and Piercings Essay786 Words   |  4 PagesExpressing Identity through Tattoos and Piercings The rising popularity of tattoos and body piercing is more than just the latest fashion craze. This type of body art has been a part of this world for thousands of years. Tattoos and piercings have served as amulets, status symbols, declarations of love, signs of religious beliefs, adornments and even forms of punishment (Smithsonian.com). In the later years (1940 – 2000) tattoos and piercings were more common among teenagers and young adults, butRead More African American Interpersonal Communication Essay1310 Words   |  6 PagesInterpersonal Communication through Body Art Tattoos make an individual’s self definition more complete by visually communicating gang membership, status, rank and personal accomplishment (Phelan 277). Tattooing and body piercing has been practiced in almost every culture around the world, and for thousands of years. (Greif, Hewitt 367) The African American culture use body art as a method of nonverbal interpersonal communication. The word tattoo became part of the English vocabulary in 1769Read MoreIdaho Minor Body Art Regulations Essay1528 Words   |  7 Pagesexplains the overall key points of how parental consent is required for tattooing, branding, and body piercing for anyone under the age of eighteen (Idaho Code 18-1523. (2004). 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One man said he is in a heavy-metal band, the group then depicted what they envisioned him to look like, describing him to have long hair and possible piercings. Another man said he enjoyed reading and studying, particularlyRead MoreBody Piercings And Its Impact On Society1665 Words   |  7 PagesAccording to insurmountable sources, piercings, especially in the ear primarily, have been around since 2500 BC and have been worn not only by women, but by men as well all around the world including William Shakespeare and Julius Caesar. As body piercings become increasingly popular in modern culture, it has brought many researchers to the realization that this trend is a tragic insight into an individual’s psyche as well as their physical being a nd opportunities in the workplace even though it’sRead MoreWhat Determines The Perception Of Tattoos?1443 Words   |  6 Pages What determines the perception of tattoos? University of Hawaii at Manoa Cole Dante Introduction College students walk amongst each other every day, eyes wandering and constantly comparing each other. Comparing the physical appearances, attire, and how they carry themselves. A main trend that has become popular over the years are tattoos. Tattoos have long been viewed as a part of the deviant culture but that perspective has been evolving where many perspectives are emergingRead MoreBody Art and Ornamentation Essays1569 Words   |  7 PagesAND ORNAMENTATION Body Art and Ornamentation in Different Cultures Introduction to Cultural Anthropology ANT101 July 28, 2013 There is no culture in which people do not, or did not paint, pierce, tattoo, reshape, or simply adorn their bodies (Schildkrout, 2001). Throughout history, body art and ornamentation has become a worldwide phenomenon and has played a key role in our lives, yet there is a social stigma which we cannot seem to rid ourselves of. It is most commonly misunderstood andRead MoreEthical Discrimination On Tattoos1237 Words   |  5 PagesTattoos have been dated back to 5000 BCE. Tattoos have played the role of being badges of honor, ceremonial markings, signs off social rank, forms of punishment, and of course ways for people to beautify themselves (The Cultural History of Tattoos). Over the past years, tattoos has increased and continues to increase significantly in popularity. According to statistics, 36% of American adults in the U.S. between the ages of 18-25 and 40% of American adults in the U.S. between the ages of 26-40 have