“You’re going to regret it!” –  Tattoo Attitudes in Utah

by Kita Kazoo

In honor of Salt Lake Tattoo Convention and the prejudice commentary published in the news articles in today’s Deseret News & Salt Lake Tribune -Deseret News: Salt Lake ink: Tattoo convention is part of growing $2.3B industry & Salt Lake Tribune: Before long, it really gets under your skin

It could it be that tattoos are more than just "a way for people to express their uniqueness and set themselves apart," as convention sponsor C.J. Starkey claims.  With a history of over 6000 years of use in spiritual & religious ceremony, they could become the new symbol of spirituality for twenty first century America. 

Even though most modern Judeo/Christian religions forbid them, believing the practice of wearing a tattoo to be pagan and inherently evil, there is no irrefutable evidence that God would prefer humans to abstain from this practice.

Most opponents of tattoos rely on the “just because I said so” explanation of why you should not partake. This attitude mostly seems to center around how they will look ugly when you get old.  (AND… What doesn’t look ugly when you get old?)  However, this warning does not take into account the great improvements in the application of tattoos since the late 1950’s and the amazing art skills of the new generation of tattoo artists.

If you ask me about the morality, I would say that when it comes to getting a tattoo it depends on what the person wants to get and why they want to get it.  Anything in life can be used for good or evil that is if you want to look at life in such black and white terms.

But most of life isn’t that simple, is it?  Some people find skulls to be beautiful; some people are repulsed by butterflies.  Diversity in our media expanded culture is unavoidable and it is all becomes a matter of what you are comfortable with. Each person must decide for themselves what kind of tattoo, if any, would fit them.

I try not to judge others by what they choose to do with their bodies, as I want the same privilege for myself.  But sometimes, when you are being observant, you can not help but learn from the choices others make.

Back in the late 1980’s when I was first exposed to tattooing it appeared to me that getting a tattoo was a form of entertainment for the client or something friends did together as a rite of passage into a particular social group. During that period of time I was not acquainted with very many tattooed people and I was apprenticing near a Marine base which limited my experience.

Later on after more exposure to the process I felt very much as C.J. expressed to the newspapers today. I felt that people were feeling a bit too much like their individuality had been socially compromised and that they needed the personal reinforcement.

After a short time, it became difficult to ignore the preponderance of spiritual themed designs and how often people would gravitate towards them. Sometimes a person would even attribute a spiritual connotation to a tattoo design that most other people would consider to be secular, for instance, a butterfly tattoo that represented their belief in the resurrection of Christ.

As I studied the history of tattoos and experienced more people getting them, I came to see this human tradition as not just normal, but as a means of healthy spiritual affirmation. I began to believe in the tattoo as much as my clients did and I started to feel that I was being entrusted with a sacred ancient ritual, an ordinance without the usual modern religious hoopla or boundaries. 

Even though it seemed to me that my beliefs about tattoos were in the minority, I took this sacred trust very seriously. 

It confuses me, that when it comes to tattoos, most people initially seem to be missing the point. Even tattoo artists seem to be unaware of what they are really doing for their clients and so they usually explain the tattoo trend in terms of defining individuality or of trying to look like tattooed celebrities.

For years Americans have been exposed only to the seedier side of tattooing, seeing them only on the lower social classes, such as on “carnies”, criminals and military men.  Before the invention of the modern tattoo machine in1929 tattoos where mainly worn by aristocrats, who then seemed to lose interest, as now that they could be done much faster, anyone could afford one.   

In the ‘60s tattoos became popular again by means of celebrity exposure.  The old timer & biker style tattoos shops were the norm.  Until the late 1990’s there were very few professionally trained artists and the quality of tattoo art was hit and miss. However over the past 10-15 years this has been changing and so are the expectations of the clients. 

Today’s professionally applied tattoos are bright beautiful and artistic.  Lending tattoos to express almost any feeling desired. Choosing carefully, one should not regret their tattoo as they are now planned and applied to look great for the rest of the client’s life.

Almost every tattoo I have done has a deep meaning that only the client and those close to them know.  People love their tattoos most of all for their meaning, even the ones that aren’t so beautiful to look at.

The right tattoo can lift one’s spirits and reinforce those things in life that they cherish.

A tattoo can help the grieving move on, with their loved one’s name memorialized on their skin. Sometimes they are a protective device or a reminder of a lesson to be learned.

It is my experience that tattoos are good for one’s soul and do wonderful things for the people who have them. 

They can help a fearful person find courage and strength. An arrogant one find humility and a common bond with those they would not have otherwise. They are great conversation starters and sometimes they will warn you of a troubled soul you may want to be careful of.

They remind lovers to choose wisely and treat others kindly. On wayward fathers, they keep score of absent children, a daily reminder to be a better parent the next time the chance arrives.

The only down side of tattoos seems to be the prejudice of other people. 

Yet, I have found in my own life, this prejudice gives me the chance to learn tolerance and love for those who do not understand.  Not just about tattoos, but also about the teachings of Christ concerning love, acceptance and forgiveness.