Malisa Smith
The History of Tattoos
Axia College University of Phoenix

Tattoos have been around throughout our history, from Egyptian times to the present day. Many people may say they know the history of tattoos, and where they originate from, but do they really? Does one know that there were reasons that some people had tattoos? There may be people who know the actual history of tattoos and body art and why one would decide to get one; however there are people who do not. To be able to understand the idea of tattoos, one should educate themselves to the history of tattoos. Although tattoos have been considered taboo and a stereotype, history reveals that this particular form of body art has been used for self expression, status and …show more content…

There are three classic stereotype categories that people with tattoos fall victim to. Sailors, Criminals, and Circus performers were expressed to be the three reasons why one wanted a tattoo. Sailors would come home from their tour of duty with tattoos that they had gotten over seas. Many of the tattoos were very basic in style, and only used a minimum of detail. The tattoos looked two dimensional and flat. Most of the designs were flowers, mermaids, ships, anchors, birds, names, and snakes. Prison art has had its own share of accusations. There have been artists that have gained their experiences through their time being incarcerated. There were a few of these artists that had significant experience with art before being incarcerated. Many prison artists had come from backgrounds that did not even encourage art. However, being faced with long hours of solitary confinement, lack of physical activity, separation from family and friends, and the tensions of prison life, found inmates finding art as a sense of accomplishment. Since access to supplies was limited for inmates, the inmates were forced to use what was available to them. Many prisoners learned to weave boxes, handbags, picture frames, and crosses folded from cigarette packages or gum wrappers, and stitch the created project together with dental floss. Here is where art work has been linked to people who have been incarcerated. Those who did not