Tattoo Parlor - Ethnography
Abstract
This essay describes the job of a tattoo parlor and the tattoo artist, and the interaction between the artist and the customer. The description is of a normal day where I visit Blue Moon Tattoo, watch a lady being tattooed, and receive a tattoo of my own. I describe the complete day in the parlor, from watching a woman find the perfect tattoo, to watching her getting the tattoo. Along with the description, the main point of this essay is to explain how people can actually be comfortable with a tattoo artist and be comfortable with needles being poked into their body. A small amount of interaction between the artist and the customer makes the tattoo have a bit of personality, and a memorable experience.
The Life of a Tattoo Parlor
Throughout the past thirty or so years, the human body began to show originality, not through bone structure, but through personality. Wilham and Bulark (2003) believe sixty five percent of adults (18+) in the United States chose to add originality to their skin. This form of art is called tattooing. The process of tattooing is described by Mirriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003) as, "to mark or color (the skin) by pricking in coloring matter so as to form indelible marks or pictures." Even though originality may seem ideal, there is a controversy over whether getting tattooed or to worry about the stereotype of promised disease, infection, and easy fading. The question is, why would a person allow an unknown individual to place foreign inks into their skin, with sharp needles? The answer lies in the tattoo parlors that shape our body modified world, and the god/goddess if the shop, the tattoo artist. In front of Blue Moon Tattoo located in RingGold, VA, the first sign I see is a prominent "NO ONE UNDER 18 MAY ENTER!". My first impression is, "my god, what am I thinking, this isn't a porn business, I hope." I am greeted by a friendly smile of a typical long-bearded Harley rider, Mike Vaughn, who is the shop
This essay describes the job of a tattoo parlor and the tattoo artist, and the interaction between the artist and the customer. The description is of a normal day where I visit Blue Moon Tattoo, watch a lady being tattooed, and receive a tattoo of my own. I describe the complete day in the parlor, from watching a woman find the perfect tattoo, to watching her getting the tattoo. Along with the description, the main point of this essay is to explain how people can actually be comfortable with a tattoo artist and be comfortable with needles being poked into their body. A small amount of interaction between the artist and the customer makes the tattoo have a bit of personality, and a memorable experience.
The Life of a Tattoo Parlor
Throughout the past thirty or so years, the human body began to show originality, not through bone structure, but through personality. Wilham and Bulark (2003) believe sixty five percent of adults (18+) in the United States chose to add originality to their skin. This form of art is called tattooing. The process of tattooing is described by Mirriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003) as, "to mark or color (the skin) by pricking in coloring matter so as to form indelible marks or pictures." Even though originality may seem ideal, there is a controversy over whether getting tattooed or to worry about the stereotype of promised disease, infection, and easy fading. The question is, why would a person allow an unknown individual to place foreign inks into their skin, with sharp needles? The answer lies in the tattoo parlors that shape our body modified world, and the god/goddess if the shop, the tattoo artist. In front of Blue Moon Tattoo located in RingGold, VA, the first sign I see is a prominent "NO ONE UNDER 18 MAY ENTER!". My first impression is, "my god, what am I thinking, this isn't a porn business, I hope." I am greeted by a friendly smile of a typical long-bearded Harley rider, Mike Vaughn, who is the shop
References: Centers for Disease Control. (1997). Tattooing and Health Risk: What the Statistics Say. Retrieved: October 05, 2005, from http://www.tattooartist.com/health.html Oxford New Dictionary. (2003). Tattoo. (pp. 113). New York: Oxford University Press. Wilham, K. & Bulark, B. (2003). Skin Changes and Statistics. Retrieved: October 03, 2005, from http://www.inkedmorethanusual.com/statistics.html