The art of tattooing has been practiced since the end of the
Stone Age, some 12,000 years ago. The first tattoos were simple dots and
lines, and the application method was difficult and much more painful
than today. The earliest method of creating these tattoo designs in skin
was by physically cutting into the skin with a knife and rubbing
pigment into it. Often the pigment was ash, but other minerals such as
copper, to create bluish designs, were used. In early Middle Eastern
cultures, the ashes of a deceased loved one were rubbed into a self
inflicted wound, so the dead literally became a part of that person, and
they have a constant reminder because of the permanence of even the
most poorly done body modification.
The reasons for getting
tattoos vary from culture to culture, and have changed over time. They
have been used to denote rank or accomplishments, especially the
traditional tattoo designs of the Philippines. They have served as rites
of passage, pledges of love, punishment or as symbols of religious
devotion. They have been used as amulets, with the bearer believed to be
protected from certain things because of their markings. They have also
been used to mark slave, prisoners and outcasts.
In Maori
culture, the body was believed to be naked until it had tattooed
markings on the face called "Moko". These were also used as
identification, one side would have the mother's markings, the other
side that of the father. A person's front would typically show their
profession. Many tribal leaders utilizes the designs of their faces for
writing signatures when dealing with newly arrived Europeans.
Tattooing
has experienced a recent resurgence in popularity. The primary reason
for their use today is cosmetic enhancement. However, tattoos for
sentimental reasons and military or gang membership are also common. One
popular gang tattoo is a black tear placed by the eye. It can mean that
they have murdered someone, or had a friend killed. The number of tears
denotes the number of kills and is used as a reminder as well as an
unspoken threat. "Prison tats", as they are often called, have very
simple tattoo designs so they can be easily applied behind bars. These
designs also have a great degree of hidden meaning that is not
understood by the general public but is an important part of the
criminal underworld.
Most modern tattoos are of a much higher
quality than those of the past due to the technological advances of the
tattoo gun. A modern tattoo gun has replaceable, one-time-use needles.
It can prick the skin about 150 times in a second, allowing the process
to take much less time than before. Tattoo designs have also progressed a
great deal due to better inks and more skilled artists, many of whom
are trained in fine arts or design. They can also be removed, sometimes
completely, with special laser processes. Tattooing is becoming a well
respected art form and profession as more people get and display their
ink, or artwork.
