Truth Behind the Tatts
An iDocumentary:
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History
Tattoos are one of the oldest artforms we as people have. The practise of body modification has been going on for milenia throughout the world. We know this due to mummification which resulted in the preservation of the tattooed skin. We can be certain that it existed as far back as the 4th Millennium BC and the oldest example being Otzi the Iceman dated between 3370 -3100 BC. However tattooed mummies have been found in egypt, Alaska and china to state a few. But we can also theoise that Tattoos predate these mummies as we have found evidence, though artwork and tools they believed were used to tattoo people, suggesting that tattoos have an even longer history then we are aware of.
Although when we think of tattooing we think of tattoos guns but tattoo guns have only been around in recent history and are based off of Samuel o'reilly patterned tattoo gun from 1891. Tattoos before this would usually be done in a similar fashion to stick and poke tattoos however there are other methods which we discuss further below.
Each person is entitled to their own opinion. This is a phrase we heard most from our contributors when we asked them what views people had expressed about their tattoos. Closely followed by people saying they ‘wouldn’t care’ if someone was negative. However, for the most part, as I am sure you will be pleased to hear, are positive.
PERSONAL AND FAMILY PERSPECTIVE
Nicola, George, Ruby and Kam all spoke about how their tattoos have changed their own perceptions of themselves and increased their self-esteem. Kam, Nicola and Ruby all discuss how they disliked parts of their body and by getting tattoos they now want to show it. Successfully, feeling more confident in themselves.
Neil also mentioned this when stating he felt more confident.
Each person is entitled to their own opinion. This is a phrase we heard most from our contributors when we asked them what views people had expressed about their tattoos. Closely followed by people saying they ‘wouldn’t care’ if someone was negative. However, for the most part, as I am sure you will be pleased to hear, are positive.
PERSONAL AND FAMILY PERSPECTIVE
Nicola, George, Ruby and Kam all spoke about how their tattoos have changed their own perceptions of themselves and increased their self-esteem. Kam, Nicola and Ruby all discuss how they disliked parts of their body and by getting tattoos they now want to show it. Successfully, feeling more confident in themselves.
Neil also mentioned this when stating he felt more confident.
Perception
However sometimes tattoos can make us more self-conscious such as Connors dad who had naked ladies on his arms and was then afraid to take his children swimming in fear of other parents judging him. So although tattoos can increase self-esteem they can also damage it.
Conor's dad
Both Kam and Kath have been badly affected by perspective. Both of them have faced prejudices from tattoos. Watch and listen below to find out what happened to them.
love
We know what you’re asking. What’s love got to do with it?
It is no word of a lie when saying that many people have tattoos, however a subcategory in that area is people with matching tattoos. Although people are more susceptible to this, even some of our contributors have them, there is a definite and common answer to whether people should get partners names tattooed onto them. Upon asking the question of ‘what do you think about getting a partner’s names tattooed?’ our favourite response came from Kam who stated ‘fuck that shit’.
We would just also like to make a public announcement all these people stated that they loved their partners even though they would not get their names tattooed. George’s girlfriend - he said he loves you, we promise.
The general answer was a no to names of partners being tattooed, unless they had been together for a long period of time. Both William and Carys stated that they wouldn't get names unless they had been married for a long period of time. However, Ruby's parents, who were together for a period of time; had matching tattoos of a lizards, but they are no longer together. However, it is not an obvious matching tattoo and as Ruby states they had two children together so they don't want to erase the time they had together despite not being together anymore.
Youth
Young, bold and rebellious is how some people feel when getting their tattoos at 18. It almost seems like a rite of passage for some people, as within England many of us could admit to having drank before turning 18, but they are yet to get a tattoo. So, people rush to get something they will have on them permanently. Despite this most people we spoke to did not regret their first tattoo because it stated a habit that they can enjoy for a lifetime.
Cams first tattoo was on his hands which he said ‘he thought it had meaning’ but now doesn't like them. This could be due to himself now creating work for a living and he now has an appreciation for tattoos as an artform.
workplace
When we first set out to investigate this documentary, we had the hypothesis that professional environments, especially external to the creative industry, would have policies in which they may ask people to cover their tattoos. However, we were delightfully disproved. It has become more acceptable for people to have their tattoos on show and very few of our contributors’ workplaces had policy within them.
We believe that this is due to changing attitudes and as George put it in the interview below if they didn’t like your tattoo they would not hire you in the first place.
Within some companies there are still rules about tattoos such as within Georges place of work they can only have 30% of their tattoos. But most of their companies such as the one Nicola works for are fine with tattoos as long as they are not offensive. Which makes sense especially if the person is interacting with the General public. Although none of Gemma’s tattoos were on show when she was working with children their main concern was her piercing but that as due to health and safety and they said that it was her destion. Kath mentioned that id she were to meet someone who was an important client she would consider covering up so there is stil some stigma. But the majority of places were okay with it.
Connor’s and Keisha’s parents have contrasting jobs but both have the same outlook on their tattoos as do their workplaces. For more information videos below.
MEET THE CONTRIBUTORS
Meet The Team
Audio & Production Management
Tim Bristow
Maisy-Morris-Davies
Director/ Post Editor
Becky Jane
John Campbell
Coding/Web Design
Myron Haydney
Derrin Earley
Production Management & Writer
Camera Operator
Audio
Coding-Web Design