Tattoo And Identity Essay

Tattoos have been associated with identity for thousands of years across many different cultures. By using different types of images, symbols, words, and motifs, people are able to create a visual representation of their ideas about what they understand their identity to be and what they see as most important to them and their community. Tattooing can be a highly painful process, and can take any where from several hours to several days to complete, which proves that no matter who is getting the tattoo or what the specific meaning behind the tattoo is, the person has to have great commitment and conviction to their identity and the symbolism of their tattoo. This essay will explore the ways in which different groups of people in many different
According to the oxford dictionary, identity can be defined as “The characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is”. While this is true, this is a very basic definition of identity. Identity is not a static thing, but one that is always changing and evolving based on that person’s life and experiences. The idea of identity is also highly influence by a person’s cultural beliefs and their spiritual beliefs. The definition of what is important to and what makes up a person’s identity, will change based on their
Young Samoan men who are tattooed are referred to as soga’imiti, and their tattoos extend from their waists down to their knees. These tattoos are made up of areas of dark and dense shading, fine intricate line work, a wide range of different motifs, and geometric patterns. The tattoos are called pe’a and deem the men responsible for and capable of performing duties for the village chiefs (also known as matai). The main form of tattoo that is worn by the Samoan women is called malu. It appears on their legs, starting at the tops of their thighs and ending at their knees, and also occasionally on the lower abdomen and right hand. The malu is not as elaborate or patterned as the pe’a but has a different sort of meaning. The malu has one specific design that appears on all the women’s tattoos, is called the Tapao, which symbolises ideas about sheltering and protection. In both the malu and the pe’a, the designs are all unique to each person but they have specific designs which recur throughout many different tattoos. For the Samoan people, tattoo is used to express one’s identity with in their community. Men would traditionally be tattooed in groups of six to eight people, with many family members and friends attending the tattooing ceremony. This community event is a marker and celebration