Comparative analysis
Comparative Analysis of Josie Appleton’s article “The Body Piercing Project” and Bonnie Berkowitz’ “Tattooing Outgrows Its Renegade Image to Thrive In The Mainstream”.
Traditionally, tattoos were meant for sailors, soldiers, bikers and gangs. Along with several changes in the industrialized and technological society of the twenty-first century, the standard for getting body modifications have altered as well. Everyday, people are willing to get permanently marked as an individual choice rather than the customarily perception of belonging to a certain group. Tattoo and piercing shops are not seen as “the backstreet” of the commercial civilization today, it is somewhat an expected sight in all public places. Josie Appleton in “The Body Piercing Project” and Bonnie Berkowitz in “Tattooing Outgrows Its Renegade Image to Thrive In The Mainstream” successfully informs and argues with the purpose of showing how the view on body modification has changed.
Appleton and Berkowitz successfully inform the audience of how body modification has been more socially accepted in the industrialized society due to changes. “The Body Piercing Project” by Appleton explains how tattoo shops have been opening in other environments than the traditionally perceived suitable spaces. As Appleton writes in her article, “The opening of a tattoo and piercing section in the up-market London store Selfridges shows that body modification has lost its last trace of taboo,” indicates that the tattooing industry has found their place even in the high-end market, a completely different environment than previously proper. Due to the change and expansion of the business it is seen as a service for the general public- everyone from teenagers, men in suits and middle aged women, to the traditional wearers. In the article “Tattooing Outgrows Its Renegade Image to Thrive In The Mainstream,” Berkowitz agrees that the practice is now socially acceptable because of changes in the industry. Berkowitz is
Traditionally, tattoos were meant for sailors, soldiers, bikers and gangs. Along with several changes in the industrialized and technological society of the twenty-first century, the standard for getting body modifications have altered as well. Everyday, people are willing to get permanently marked as an individual choice rather than the customarily perception of belonging to a certain group. Tattoo and piercing shops are not seen as “the backstreet” of the commercial civilization today, it is somewhat an expected sight in all public places. Josie Appleton in “The Body Piercing Project” and Bonnie Berkowitz in “Tattooing Outgrows Its Renegade Image to Thrive In The Mainstream” successfully informs and argues with the purpose of showing how the view on body modification has changed.
Appleton and Berkowitz successfully inform the audience of how body modification has been more socially accepted in the industrialized society due to changes. “The Body Piercing Project” by Appleton explains how tattoo shops have been opening in other environments than the traditionally perceived suitable spaces. As Appleton writes in her article, “The opening of a tattoo and piercing section in the up-market London store Selfridges shows that body modification has lost its last trace of taboo,” indicates that the tattooing industry has found their place even in the high-end market, a completely different environment than previously proper. Due to the change and expansion of the business it is seen as a service for the general public- everyone from teenagers, men in suits and middle aged women, to the traditional wearers. In the article “Tattooing Outgrows Its Renegade Image to Thrive In The Mainstream,” Berkowitz agrees that the practice is now socially acceptable because of changes in the industry. Berkowitz is
Cited: Appleton, Josie. “The Body Piercing Project.” Beyond Words: Cultural Texts for Reading and Writing. Ed. John Ruszkiewicz, Daniel Anderson, and Christy Friend. New York: Pearson, 2012. 161-164. Print. Berkowitz, Bonnie. “Tattooing Outgrows its Renegade Image to Thrive in the Mainstream.” The Washington Post. washingtonpost.com, 8 Feb. 2011. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. Ruszkiewicz, John, Daniel Anderson, and Christy Friend. Beyond Words: Cultural Texts for Reading and Writing. New York: Pearson, 2012. Print.