Tattoo culture: Research and wisdom
Karra Smith, Contributor |
Across the world and for generations tattoos have been used as a form of self expression and cultural representation, but in the shift to the 21st century, a tattoo’s significance has become a point of contention and debate.
Sydney Dyer, owner of the tattoo studio The Brindle Room, as well as a competitor on season 15 of Inkmaster, describes current tattoo culture as “a bit of a disaster.”
According to Dyer, today’s culture is driven by instant gratification where if someone is having a bad day or is simply “craving” a new tattoo, they’re just impulsively getting one. Whereas in previous generations, people would opt to spend time deciding on a tattoo, its placement, where to go and where to get it. Waiting months for a tattoo appointment used to be seen as reasonable, but now the desire for instant results has become the norm.
Dyer, who has been tattooing for a little over 10 years now, does not see an issue with a tattoo’s lack of meaning, but rather in the lack of research and planning that comes with getting impulse ink.
Dyer expressed concern that tattoo artists are not being as thoroughly researched or sought out as they once were. She noted a decline in the appreciation for high-quality work, which she finds unfortunate for the artistic community. Despite the trend, many artists still strive to create authentic, well-crafted pieces, but their efforts are often overshadowed by the growing demand for more immediate, impulsive decisions.
On the other side of the spectrum, younger generations view the tattoo itself as meaningful enough.
“To me, tattoo culture is a way of self-expression. If it’s something silly on your ankle or something huge on your arm, it tells a story,” said Breanna Gavan, an MRU student and tattoo enthusiast.
“I have a quote that is really important to me, but then I also have the Twisted Tea logo on my knee so, tattoos are supposed to be fun and expressive and they don’t always have to mean something.”
Both Dyer and Gavan pointed out that sometimes their tattoos do not bode well with the older generations. In the end, however, neither of them pay much mind to the negativity.
When explaining the reaction she would often receive from older generations, Dyer said the main thing people said to her was that she would regret her tattoos when she was older. But for Dyer, she proved all of those negative comments wrong by making a thriving career out of it.
Gavan similarly said that sometimes, she still gets dirty looks from older generations when they see her tattoos but it’s just something she has learned to let roll off her back.
Whether you are new to tattoos or an experienced ink collector, you should always do your research and know your boundaries. Some quick wisdom from Dyer herself is to not be intimidated and to take into consideration your artist’s advice – they are the experts. But overall, at the end of the day, Dryer said that it’s your body and your choice.
