When someone goes into a museum and examines the art that fills each wall, they tend to think, “Wow, I wish I could be talented at something that creates such beauty.” In my opinion, when someone looks at a tattoo (a good tattoo), they should think, “Wow, I wish I was brave enough to go through with something like that.” Unfortunately, that tends to not be the case.
Tattooing has been an art since the beginning of time. The endless amount of styles contribute to the various meanings and reasons behind people getting them. In modern time, tattoos have been seen as a sign of anarchy, and the people that receive them have been classified into a lower social category.
There shouldn’t be articles out there on “How To Be An Expert At Hiding Tattoos” and there shouldn’t be makeup tutorials on YouTube for people to learn how to cover them up. In certain societies, tattoos are seen as a symbol of power and wisdom. The fact that our society cannot handle such a basic concept very simply shows the ignorance we face. Tattoos are art, and they show parts of a person that they might not ever reveal to you in any other way. Kat Von D stated, “I am a canvas of my experiences, my story is etched in lines and shading, and you can read it on my arms, my legs, my shoulders and my stomach.”
I walk through campus proudly showing the art that is embedded in my skin. Regardless of the looks my peers or my professors might give me, I’m proud of them. My dad tells me I’m going to have trouble finding a job, and it might be naive for me to say, but why would I want to work for anyone that would judge me for what I decide to put on my body, with my money, on my own time?
We’re all raised to question and judge anything that seems too out of the ordinary, but when you think about it, who really wants to be ordinary? You should want to be spectacular and one-of-a-kind. Everyone should aspire to be anything but ordinary. No one should accept being typical simply because no one truly is. Our world is changing and as hard as that might be for some people to accept, there’s a new wave of acceptance and open-mindedness knocking on our doors.
Tattoos are art and should be treated as such. There are people extremely talented in the art of tattooing, and they don’t receive anything close to the amount of credit they deserve. Tattoo artists should be celebrated and praised for their work. They are putting lasting art on someone’s body that will be there the rest of his or her life. That’s pretty badass if you ask me. Tattoos are transforming and they help people express what they’ve been through and what they truly care about.
