Over at Blog Explosion, one of the members suggested that we participate in a Mystery Topic Challenge. A good number of folks signed up and on Wednesday Dan, the idea originator, gave us the first topic. Hopefully we can get enough interest to turn it into a regular challenge. If you like my article, please also vote for it at the Mystery Topic Challenge thread.
So here is my entry:
Tattoos fascinate me. I am always curious about the stories behind tattoos. I’m also interested in why people want to decorate their bodies in such a way. I’ve seen beautiful and ugly tattoos and I find I’m most attracted by the tribal type patterns. Tattoo paintings or reproductions of faces, celebrities and such are all right, but generally seem nothing more than a permanent iron-on transfer.
I also like tattoos on men. I find it masculine, macho, and a bit sexy as long as the tattoos aren’t all over the body. That’s a bit much for me. I absolutely do not like tattoos on women. Most women just looked flawed with a tattoo. More often it seems to look that way to me because they place the tattoo in an awkward place, or it just doesn’t appear to suit them. Some women have skin that I think is too pale for a tattoo. I know, I’m strange.
Something I just learned recently about one of my favorite type of tribal tattoos, the Maori tattoos. Called Ta Moko, the tattoo is very closely identified with their family identity. Some Maori can trace their lineage, through their tattooing, as far back as 2,000 years. It is also considered a form of identity theft when someone copies a Ta Moko, and it is severely frowned upon. Kirituhi is an alternative form to those who are dead set on getting a Ta Moko style tribal tattoo.
From Te Hau Designs
This post is an entry in the Mystery Topic Challenge. You can find more information HERE.
Tags: Blog Ninjas
I really liked this post; I learned something, and for me to “learn something” 3 years after finishing university…well…it doesn’t happen very often ;-)
Peter – wow! Very cool site. Thanks for leaving the link.
Wendy – I think you’re right that it seems a lot of women don’t get tattoos that fit them. Just like wearing the wrong style can make you look different.
The Maori tattoos are pretty popular. I don’t know why they have such a lure though, I don’t find them very interesting. As for tattoos on women, I think it depends on the location of the tattoo and what kind of tattoo they get too. Maybe a lot of women don’t know what to get and that’s why it looks wrong to you.
Hey Guys I found a wonderful resource regarding Maori tattoos
Theres this Maori guy called Tiki who lives in New Zealand aparently he is an expert on Maori design and tattoos and he has a website http://www.maori-arts.com you may want to check him out.
cheers
I’ve seen those tattoos first hand in NZ, they are incredible. Especially on their faces. The young Maoris are beginning to rediscover their past and that is a big part of it. Fun post!
I like tattoos on men as well, but on women, they seem like permanent stains on a lovely silk dress.
Funny that you like a tattoo on a man versus a woman. I hadn’t though of that, but I have to agree that a tattoo, to me, seems more masculine than feminine.
Very interesting article, Ben. This really is a fascinating aspect of tattoos for me to have learned about.
Your entry is very interesting. Many years ago I heard about tribal tatoos but did not know they were that intricate. Very good writing. I enjoyed it.
Jane, that is great information!
I also like the tribal tattoos but I did not know that it represented their geneology. HMMMM? I should discuss that with my husband — LOL.
Thanks for stopping by. I left my link to my article here.
Maori do get upset when foriegners rip off their culture and heritage for a profit.
Latest example is Jean-Paul Gaultier’s new line up.
See the article here, and responses (along with a photo) here.