Hw 32 - Tattoos

Tattoo's used to be so taboo but now they have become so popular. Tattoos have become the latest must-have accessory. Just ask Rihanna or Lil Wayne , it seems like every other celebrity in Hollywood has branded themselves "cool" by getting one or many tattoos.From previous generations getting a tattoo was seen as bad or a rebellious act and according to some religions it's forbidden but that isn't stopping today's generation from partaking in the tattoo craze. Branding themselves for life with their own personal stamp(s) of "individuality".

Tattoos are now a "cool obsession". If it wasn't then there wouldn't be shows like LA Ink & Miami Ink which is all about tattooing people, how cool it is and what a big business it has become. It's become a trend, so many people are getting them and if your not one of them it's like 'what's the wait?". Like getting matching tattoos with your friends, getting tattoos similar to your favorite celebrities,etc.Tattoos give those who have them to the opportunity to project a "cool image" to their audience and gives them certain roles to play like the "rebel" or "badass".

People today see getting tattoos as a way of standing out, making a personal or political statement. Some claim the reason for getting a tattoo is a way to self express who they are. But is it really? or is there more to the reason. According to a study done "those with tattoos said that having a tattoo has made them feel more rebellious (29%) while others said a tattoo makes them feel more attractive (26%). But tattoos apparently won't do much for your intelligence or your physique, as few Americans reported that tattoos make them feel more intelligent (5%), more healthy (4%), or more athletic (3%)"(http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tattoo_facts.htm). It seems like there are a multitude of reasons why people get tattoos but all of them seem to fall into the category of being cool and letting everyone know it.

The popularity of tattoos is on the rise because it's seen as expressing one's coolness and who they are as individuals and their life story through art. The popularity of tattoos is only going to increase over the next couple of years because it seems like everyone either has one or wants one and I don't see anything original about that.