Tattoos move into cultural mainstream
LONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Mothers shopping with teenage children and parents pushing baby buggies joined the crowds of body art enthusiasts at this weekend's annual London Tattoo Convention, underscoring the increasing acceptance of tattoos in mainstream culture.
The London convention, one of Europe's biggest tattoo events, saw over 400 artists from around the world converge on an east London convention centre, which organisers expect will host over 20,000 people during the three-day event.
"There's been a total global shift in attitude," Marcus Berriman, organiser of the London Tattoo Convention told Reuters, of the British public's attitude towards ink.
"Once upon a time, people associated it with criminals and bikers and punks, but now it's mainstream really," he said, adding "it's on a completely different level to where it was 10 years ago."
With a 2015 YouGov poll suggesting that almost one fifth of British adults have tattoos, and other research suggests that visible body art may be becoming less of a barrier to employment - a longstanding problem for tattoo enthusiasts.
A 2016 survey carried out by Ipsos MORI for Britain's Police Federation found that 81 percent of respondents said that a police officer having visible tattoos would make no difference to their confidence in their ability to do their job.
In addition, Britain's employment conciliation service, Acas, advised employers that tattoos should not be a barrier to hiring, though many at the event were clearly not concerned at the potential effects of visible tattoos on their careers.
"I think the jobs I would do, tattooing on the neck or the face wouldn't be a problem – I hope so," said Julian Zahn, 20, who was visiting from Germany and was in the process of having a large pinwheel design tattooed onto his back.
Some enthusiasts for body art have encountered problems. British solicitors Atwells published case studies in 2016 documenting the cases of several workers - including a consultant, a waitress and a retail employee - who were fired for contravening policies against visible tattoos.
The firm said that employers in all cases insisted they were acting within their legal rights presenting an obstacle for a growing section of Britain's workforce.
Despite these obstacles, tattoo artists suggested that Britain might be a European outlier in terms of its increasingly liberal attitude to tattooing.
"I think it's different in other countries. In England, it's more cool, more accepted, than in France or in other places," French artist Guillaume Smash said. (Writing by Mark Hanrahan in London; Editing by Stephen Powell)
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"Once upon a time, people associated it with criminals and bikers and punks, but now it's mainstream really," he said, adding "it's on a completely different level to where it was 10 years ago."
Mark, I think you got it backwards - mainstream society is on a different level - as in "all time low".
Has anyone ever seen a tattoo on an old person, who has lost muscle tone?
There is nothing appealing about it
I'm going to get a balloon tattooed on my stomach and when it starts to get too big, I'm going to prick it with a needle to see if it will go back down.
"Once upon a time, people associated it with criminals and bikers and punks..."
And I still do.
I'm inked. I ride a motorcycle but am no "biker". I listen to punk, post punk, folk punk and such but am no "punk" in the antiquated meaning of such. My ears are pierced as well. I must be a dope fiend. Not that there is inherently wrong with being a dope fiend. Point being, it may pucker y'alls sphincters, but it is just Art. Well, a great degree of it is anyhow. Don't know if I'd label jailhouse tats as art. Hmmm, maybe Outsider Art.
Here's my advice to all you folks who hate ink. Don't get a tat. How bout that?
Body illustration has been mainstream for far longer than this author noticed. At least here in the US of A. It has also been an art form since we crawled out of the ocean and got thumbs.
Prior to its acceptance with the herd most inked folks didn't really give a rats ass what the mainstreamers thought about them anyhow.
Buzz,
Pard, sorry man. I am not directing my vile bile toward you personally. I just meant it to be a general whine beside all the other whines. Instead I "replied" to you.
best your way. watch yer top knot.
The fact that I have always associated tats with criminals and bikers and punks goes back to the past when they were the only ones who I believed used them. Since that time, of course I've realized that one need not be a criminal or a biker or a punk to have a tat, but I can't erase the old identity, alhough I DO know better. I think what shocked me out of my past prejudice is when without my knowing she had done it, my daughter had a small sun sign tattooed on her shoulder. So although I still don't advocate for tattoos, I realize that many very good people have them.
There was a chief, E-7, at MM-A school when I went through in 71. He was literally coated with tattoos. He had anchor chains around his neck and wrists and full coverage everywhere. In the barracks he would take off his shirt and wear shorts. The tat's went into his shorts and came out. He assured us they covered everything except his privates. They were beautiful. He got them when he was stationed in the Philippines and they were like artwork, not like a lot of the crap you see people walking around with. He said it took 5 years to do.
Don't like tattoos.....never have and never will. They are there forever.
I'm not in charge of hiring and firing, but if I were and you have a tattoo on your neck, face, or hands, then you would have to be a significantly better applicant than your competitors to have a shot. If you are equally qualified, you will not be getting that job. Why anyone would want to permanentlyly jeopardize their employment potential in this way is beyond me. Same goes for piercings.
I believe the percentage of people who eventually regret their tattoos is fairly high. What seems like a good idea when you are 21 may not seem so good in 10 or 20 years.
I agree with you about the face etc. People who put tattoos on their face and neck are saying "look at me". This is a sort of baggage in itself.
As it should be. There is nothing professional looking about having them above the collar or below the wrist. The only place that I could think of that where it would be deemed professional is if they work in a tattoo parlor.
To me it's no different than multiple piercing. One or two pierces on each ear is my limit for respect, but then I'm an old fogey so who cares?
Meh, not my thing but I don't care what other people want to do with their bodies.
Persnactly. As long as folks don't do their strange stuff in my front yard, carry on.
Ha ha !!! Did you see the article about the woman who keeps shitting on someone's front lawn?
I did. Definitely Yike worthy. Or, Kids do the darndest things. A Serial Yard Pooper.
LOL