Preview

Tattoos: a Brief History (Speech)

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
787 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Tattoos: a Brief History (Speech)
How many people here have at least one tattoo? Anyone have multiple?
Well, According to the American Academy of Dermatology 24% of Americans have tattoos. That’s almost one out of every 4.
Well, personally, I have over 100 hours of tattoos. I have worked many hours with my tattoo artist and the tattoo process has become almost second nature to me.
Well since many of you have tattoos, or have thought about getting a tattoo, I will speak about a brief history of tattoos, and a basic overview of the tattoo process from start to finish.
In the not so distant past, most people associated tattoos with bikers, sailors, criminals, or carnival freaks. I’ve even been called a shady character before. Nevertheless, tattoos have become more popular in recent years, and the people who get them are as diverse as the designs and styles they choose.
Tattoos themselves have existed for over 5000 years, perhaps even longer. A "caveman" named Otzi The Iceman, who lived around 3300 BC, was found with three sets of tattoos. Although no records exist as to the meanings of the tattoos, archaeologists believe that the marks on his back would have signified his rank in the tribe.
Tattoos have come a long way since Otzi. Modern techniques and machines make it so nearly everyone that wants a tattoo can have one.
Modern artist create the tattoo by injecting the ink into the persons second layer of skin, the dermis, with their electrically powered tattoo machine.
A tattoo machine has three systems that must work together for the machine to function properly: the mechanical system, the magnetic system, and the electrical system. Each of these systems are composed of a few main parts; a sterilized needle, a tube system that draws ink into the machine, an electric motor, and a foot pedal to control the machine. The objective of any proper machine set-up is to achieve synchronization of the machine's three systems while controlling the speed and force of the machine.
Since a tattoo

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    The art of tattooing cannot be traced back to a specific time or place. One of the oldest tattoos however, was found to be engraved on the back of a well - preserved natural mummy of a man (now known as “Otzi the Iceman”) who was buried alive on the slopes of the Alps over 5000 years ago. However, research shows that if the skin rots after death, evidence of a tattoo completely disappears. This means that tattoos may have been around for longer than 5000 years, yet there’s no evidence to prove this.…

    • 1918 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Tattoos can be a way of identifying a tribe, or can represent someone’s status, and can serve as protection for superstitious cultures. Tattoos have different meaning for different people, for example, Otzi, his tattoos could have been meant as therapeutic rather than symbolic.…

    • 73 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Whether it’s been as a mark of slavery, cultural purposes or as a form of art, tattooing has been practiced globally for centuries.…

    • 1247 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Annotated Bibliography

    • 3893 Words
    • 16 Pages

    This article focuses the career of a well known tattoo artist from Japan, and the hard work that goes into becoming a expert at tattooing…

    • 3893 Words
    • 16 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tattooing Research Paper

    • 1048 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Tattooing is one of many art forms that has been practiced from thousands of years. It has evolved from its start, from crude methods to more advanced ones. Tattooing has become more symbolic and meaningful, and more common. Many people around the world have at least once tattoo but, it was not always this way, tattoos used to be only for kings and queens or those of importance.…

    • 1048 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tattooing in Religion

    • 3127 Words
    • 13 Pages

    One of the most popular body modifications is tattooing. Tattoos are a way of expressing yourself in a more artistic way. Any image, symbol, word, etc, you could ever want can be tattooed onto your body. The process of tattooing starts “by injecting ink into a person 's skin. To do this, they use an electrically powered tattoo machine that resembles (and sounds like) a dental drill. The machine moves a solid needle up and down to puncture the skin between 50 and 3,000 times per minute. The needle penetrates the skin by about a millimeter and deposits a drop of insoluble ink into the skin with each puncture.” (Wilson, 2000) This process leaves an almost permanent image on your skin. I say almost permanent because with the technology of today, there are ways to get tattoos removed (laser tattoo removal) or to fade…

    • 3127 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Essay On Tattoos

    • 1170 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The word Tattoo originates from the Polynesian word “tatau,” introduced to the English language by Captain James Cook in his book First Voyage. Tattooing, has been part of human history for around 5,200 years; from the Ice Age to our modern society. The most ancient tattoo ever found, belongs to Otzi…

    • 1170 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    How to Setup a Tattoo Machine [no author or organization], (2/2/09). Retrieved March 1, 2010 from URL http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Setup-a-Tattoo-Machine-89651358…

    • 1690 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The most advanced ancient tattoos were seen in Ancient Japanese culture. Tattoos designs have been “ornamental, ritual, or identity oriented in nature” or they would use Japanese myths and legends for inspiration. The tattoos that most people acquired were done as a body suit, covering most of the body. Many times tattoos were received during the transition from adolescence into adulthood or rite of passage. Even though tattoos were so popular it doesn’t mean that they were accepted as norms. In Japan, people with tattoos had to have their own bathhouses, brothels, and bars…

    • 730 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tattoos In Society

    • 1636 Words
    • 7 Pages

    A tattoo is a form of body modification. Tattoos are created by inserting ink or some other pigment through the epidermis into the dermis through the use of a needle .Tattoos usually express the meaning about the wearer and his or her place within the social group. Tattooing is one of the biggest and universal forms of body art which have been around for decades. Americans today are more of a private statement than public sign. Women tend to get smaller tattoos in private spots. Tattoos in United States have traveled a long way .In our global world tattoo designs and repeating ideas have more quickly and easily came across cultural borders.…

    • 1636 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tattoo artists are there in business not only to apply the tattoos on individuals who are a member of a deviant group but also to serve anyone who wants tattoo for any reason. Depending on age, attitude, relationship, political inflations, religious, and so on, different people get tattoos for different reasons.…

    • 51 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first tattoo known to man, was found on Otzi, the “Iceman“, 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.…

    • 1070 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tattoos and piercings have been looked upon for many years as negativity in the work…

    • 1175 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Tattoos In Western Culture

    • 2076 Words
    • 9 Pages

    The art of tattooing has changed in modern times quite drastically. It is slowly becoming more acceptable to own and display tattoos on one’s body. In more conservative times, those with tattoos were looked on as social outcast, turned down for jobs and seen as strange outsiders. However, within the past half century, tattoos have steadily become more acceptable. Millions of people in America now proudly tattoo their skin, with everything from religious symbols to naked women. There is a whole industry based around tattoos, tattoo care, and basically everything tattoo. There are now expensive clothing lines that base their imagery on tattoo art, such as the Ed Hardy brand (no matter how stupid the clothes actually look). The art of tattooing has changed a great deal from its origin, with everything from the style of the art to its meaning. Tattoos today are an ever increasing part of Western culture, and their appropriation into the mainstream will only continue.…

    • 2076 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tattoo - Essay

    • 1007 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Tattoos, an art form? What was once seen as a taboo thing, similar to drugs, or secret societys it has been changed into a fashion statement. What was once seen on gang members, and sailors, is now seen on the teacher, on the athlete. It has become a respected talent and skill, to be able to creat art on someones skin, and allow it to show.…

    • 1007 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays