Grace Lasater

Justin Cary
English 111-02
17, July 2014

The definition of story is broad, and can encompass many things. It can be an account
of past events in someone's life, or a description of imaginary or real people and events told for
the purpose of entertainment. However, the mediums available to the storyteller are not defined
or limited, leaving each individual creative freedom to express and share their story in any form
they choose. One of the most fascinating and misunderstood mediums of storytelling are tattoos.
Unfortunately, a general lack of understanding of tattoos as something more than counterculture
art has led to prejudices and created a stigma that the individuals who choose this form of
medium are both immature and irresponsible. While we have not absolved all misconceptions of
tattoos, they are finally being recognized as more than deviant art, and the stereotypes that
surrounded them for so long are finally dissipating. As people continue to use their body as way
of telling their own personal story, permanently etching their narrative, displaying their most
passionate beliefs and thoughts, and bearing their soul for the world to see, tattoos are finally
being recognized for what they are; one of the most beautiful forms in which a story can be told.
The history of tattoos is a story in itself, one that started so long ago, and continues to
grow. According to Brain Handwerk, tattooing has been around for thousands of years. It is
one of the oldest forms of art, laden with as many different meanings as there are global
cultures (Handwerk). The word tattoo is said to have two major origins. The first coming from
the Polynesian word ta, meaning striking something, the second, from Tahitian word tatau
which means to mark something. The first written references to the word, "tattow" appear in
writings from the first voyage of James Cook by many of the crew members. Before the
importation of the Polynesian word, the practice of tattooing had been described in the West as
pricking, painting, or staining. . Therefore, the process of permanently imprinting ink on skin
developed in many cultures and areas simultaneously (Handwerk).
Like anything else, the evolution of tattooing has developed in many ways, and the tools
used to create tattoos, the styles and design, and the way in which society views them have all
changed and evolved over time. Tattoos have shed much of their grimy history and are now
embraced by a culture that uses them as a platform for the stories that they so wish to tell.
According to Abby Riese, In the mid-20th century, a tattoo renaissance occurred. The art
became more refined and the audience more broad, moving from fringe subcultures to members
of the general population. (Riese). Eventually, [this practice] develop[ed] from an exotic
practice to a more common one, crossing boundaries of sex and class. (Riese)
Over the past several years there has been a significant change in the way in which our
American society perceives tattoos. No longer just worn by the unsavory criminal or biker,
tattoos have become part of mainstream culture, and are embraced by many people, regardless of
age, gender, or social status. Tattoos have become an accepted form or remembrance, with
people getting tattoos to celebrate significant life events, or remember lost loved ones.
Therefore, tattoos do not just tell a story in an abstract way, but in many instances can actually
tell the story of a persons life and struggles. This is a new form of storytelling that is truly
unique to the person telling the story.
The evolution of storytelling has occurred rapidly over the last twenty years. The
creation of the internet has allowed storytelling by countless people that otherwise would not
have been able to tell them, and has allowed stories to reach a much larger audience than ever
before. No longer is the storyteller forced to relay a story by words on a page. In fact, many
stories are told without a single word, and this is specifically shown in tattoos. The evolution of
the modern storyteller is changing and according to Aleks Krotoski, who argues that, The tools
they [storytellers] use to tell tales are evolving, becoming more modular and tailored, more
participatory and more engaging than just the printed word or the moving image (24). The
internet paved the way for a change in the way stories are told, the tattoo took it one step further,
allowing the modern storyteller to tell their story in the most vulnerable way, permanently
etching their story, for all the world to see.















Works Cited
Handwerk, Brian. TattoosFrom Taboo to Mainstream. National Geographic news. 11
October, 2002. Web 16 July 2014

Aleks Krotoski. Storytelling: digital technology allows us to tell tales in innovative new ways
p24. The New Review section of the Observer. 6 August 2011. Web 16 July 2014

Riese, Abby. From exotic to mainstream: The evolution of tattooing. ASNE KENT. 13 August,
2013 in Uncategorized. Web 16 July, 2014