You Are Your Skin Is You
A glimpse at the individual starts from the outside.
Body art displays a level of expressive individuality that is rarely surpassed.
Much can be read about a person just from looking at what is on their body, and what is written on a person’s body creates a sense of individuality. Tattoos and body piercings—every one of them—tells a story and describes that person’s life. It is almost as if a piece of that person’s autobiography is written on to their flesh.
Some body art symbolizes past experiences or obstacles that a person my have overcome. Other body art may have been done spontaneously, without logic, or under the influence of...something. However the tattoo may have been obtained, it tells a bit about that person’s personality and who they are. For example, “FOREHEAD” tattooed across one’s forehead clearly represents (drunken) spontaneity and lack of intelligence, while the tattoo on my left arm signifies how much I love my grandma:
Many people who get tattoos or piercings of some kind do so to obtain a sense of individuality. Some students in my SAGES class have argued that some piercings and other forms of physical expression are exhibited to conform to a particular group—or even the fact that most are done for individuality, making it not individual at all. This is partially true, but because most people who get tattoos invent exactly what their tattoo will look like, it is individualistic and it does serve as identity. Piercings, however, can tell about a person just as a tattoo might. In Speaking the Decorated Body, John Soyland lists reasons for why people get piercings and body art done: “To be different...[because] they look nice...[for] fashion...[and to look] aesthetically pleasing.” In a sense these are all related; not only do people who get tattoos and piercings do it to express their individuality, but they want to be seen. They want people to know they are being individualistic (as well as think of them as attractive).
So how many college students have tattoos? Well, at Case I have only seen four students out of thousands with visible tattoos (a puzzle piece on the lower-leg, a snake on the forearm, a spider on the foot, and a heart with “Grandma” inscribed on the upper arm). I assume the tattoos that I have seen to be symbolic and deeply-rooted to tell a pageless story about that person’s life. I believe Case students may not have as much desire to get elaborate, showy tattoos as it may deter potential employers from hiring them—after all, tattoos are rather permanent.
However, all individuality is not lost because of lack of a tattoo or noticeable piercing. Individuality can still be found in the way that people dress and wear their hair, but of course this is almost instantly changeable—say if there’s a job interview tomorrow. If you have such body art as...say, the Satanist woman...getting a high-ranking job worthy of a Case graduate might be somewhat difficult. After all, what someone might interpret from a tattoo might not be what the person with the tattoo intended. But even without body art, a person can be read—just not as well.
Comments
Posted by: the Satanist woman
Posted on: September 20, 2007 07:56 PM
As a matter of fact, I am the CEO of IBM.