April 30, 2010 - Missouri Valley College

Page 16
The Delta
FEATURE April 30, 2010
Tattoos
Paulene-Wendy Ntsame Assoumou
DELTA CONTRIBUTOR
One American phenomenon is actual strong
around the world: Tattoos.
One in every 10 Americans have them now, compared
to one out of every 100 three decades ago.
The tattoo trend is so huge that sometimes the
question isn’t “if you have one,” but rather “when
are getting one.”
In the microcosm that is Missouri Valley College,
understanding why people are putting permanent
ink on their bodies is a worthy research goal.
Tattoos have been a trend that originated from
rock and roll, though tattoos and tattooing has been
around for centuries. It is likely that the ancient
Vikings of Scandinavia wore tattoos. Around the
year 1100, the Arab Ibn Fadlan described a meeting
with some Vikings. He thought they were rude,
dirty, and covered with pictures.
The Maoris, a tribe in New Zealand, tattooed their
faces. In Asia, Buddhist priests got the right to have
tattoos. In Africa, another version of the tattoo was
created: scarifications, for skin too dark to show
colorful tattoos.
Nowadays, the tattoo is considered by some people
as a “must-get” look and style of pop culture.
The rapper Snoop Dogg, also know as the D-Odouble-G,
has only one tattoo of the letter “C” on
his arm. Tattoo artists collaborate with everyone,
including Nike. Rayban recently created a video of
Louis Aguilar shows some of his tattoos.
Popular trend involves self-identity
a guy supposedly getting sunglasses tattooed
on his face.
Faith Raulie, an MVC freshman, said her tattoo
is on her back. She said it is the first initials
of her mother, father, and three sisters. “I got it
so they’ll always be with me wherever I go.”
Student Lekyndra Duncan said she has some
stars tattooed on her stomach, because she likes
stars.
So, tattoos can be about loved ones, decorative
detail, a memory of a trip, or other messages
and images.
Louis Aguilar is an MVC international student
from France. He has numerous tattoos and
is an artist who is interested in getting into tattoo
designing. Aguilar said that when you draw
on a person, you create a
relationship with someone
who has a history, a
past. Though tattoos are
not seen as common in
France, Aguilar’s environment
is filled with art.
“I probably couldn’t
work in some office jobs,
but I don’t want to anyway,”
he said. While
some employers may
look unkindly upon
employees with tattoos,
body art is becoming
more acceptable in the
workplace, as long as the
art isn’t offensive or
would endanger workers.
But Aguilar is aware that
visible tattoos could
affect future job opportunities.
“My ex-girlfriend was always drawing a sun on
his hand, so it reminds me of her,” Aguilar said
about the red sun tattoo on his hand.
Though most students with tattoos who were
asked about them said they didn’t regret getting
them, nonetheless a tattoo also can come with psychological
baggage. Studies show that a tattoo is
deeper than just a chosen message. A survey of
more than 4,700 teens and adults found that tattoos
are linked to suicides, piercing, and/or scarifications,
with two-thirds of them saying they had contemplated
or attempted a suicide.
Lawrence G. Lent, assistant professor of
MVC students
(from
top) Cantrell
Pearson,
Rahfee
McClee and
Katelyn
Main have a
variety of
tatttoo art
designs on a
variety of
body locations.
(Photos by
Paulene-
Wendy
Ntsame
Assoumou)
Psychology, said he doesn’t buy a
connection between tattoos and
mutilation. People with tattoos
want to identify with a group who
does it, he said.
Lent said that tattoos are common
in prison and gangs. The tattoo
can be more of an induction
act, a provocation act, or a way to
find themselves.
He said it can mean
symbolically that
the person is tough
or wants to be
tough, though that
may not be true.
Tattooing is an art
which some people
say requires sensitivity
and passion.
It is also an expression
of personal
freedom. People
who have tattoos
say they represent
their true identity, though they can struggle with
defining who they really are.
Despite some barriers, the trend of tattooing continues
to grow, for students on the MVC campus
and people throughout the world.