Capturing Eternity - The Narratives of Tattoos: An Ethno-Drama
Location
Room 2905 B
Session Format
Roundtable or Panel
Research Area Topic:
Education & Learning - Curriculum & Instruction
Roundtable Presentation Participants
Diana F. Bishop, Ed.D. student
Co-Presenters and Faculty Mentors or Advisors
Dr. Amelia Davis
Abstract
In 2013, almost one-third of Americans under the age of 45 had at least one tattoo. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then what do these tattoos tell us about their owners? This qualitative study explored the narratives of tattooed persons based upon three field observations and four interviews held over a three month period at a tattoo studio in outskirts of a large city located in the southern United States. Research questions focused on the participants' motivations for acquiring a tattoo and the exploration of the narrative regarding the tattoos. Participants included tattoo artists, their apprentices, and their clients; and consisted of males and females of multiple ethnicities, and sexual orientations. Findings revealed that the majority of tattoos represented a difficult event which the participant had experienced and survived. Tattoos, therefore, become memoria centering on three primary narrative themes: self-motivation, family commitment, and trauma. Consequently due to the permanent nature of tattoos, tattooed persons are predominately very thoughtful in the design and placement of the artwork and as a result have few regrets. Research also revealed connections between tattoos and gang activity, tattoos and masochism, and tattoos and sexism which warrant further study. Results are presented in the form of an ethno-drama of four soliloquies.
Keywords
Tattoos, Narratives, Qualitative, Ethnodrama, Trauma, Gangs
Presentation Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Start Date
4-24-2015 4:00 PM
End Date
4-24-2015 5:00 PM
Recommended Citation
Bishop, Diana F., "Capturing Eternity - The Narratives of Tattoos: An Ethno-Drama" (2015). GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium. 174.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2015/2015/174
Capturing Eternity - The Narratives of Tattoos: An Ethno-Drama
Room 2905 B
In 2013, almost one-third of Americans under the age of 45 had at least one tattoo. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then what do these tattoos tell us about their owners? This qualitative study explored the narratives of tattooed persons based upon three field observations and four interviews held over a three month period at a tattoo studio in outskirts of a large city located in the southern United States. Research questions focused on the participants' motivations for acquiring a tattoo and the exploration of the narrative regarding the tattoos. Participants included tattoo artists, their apprentices, and their clients; and consisted of males and females of multiple ethnicities, and sexual orientations. Findings revealed that the majority of tattoos represented a difficult event which the participant had experienced and survived. Tattoos, therefore, become memoria centering on three primary narrative themes: self-motivation, family commitment, and trauma. Consequently due to the permanent nature of tattoos, tattooed persons are predominately very thoughtful in the design and placement of the artwork and as a result have few regrets. Research also revealed connections between tattoos and gang activity, tattoos and masochism, and tattoos and sexism which warrant further study. Results are presented in the form of an ethno-drama of four soliloquies.
