STJ, Ink: Week 2-"Tattoo People"

A person’s first tattoo is always an interesting experience. Sometimes, this will be a person’s only tattoo experience because they are satisfied with having only one piece. On the other hand, I’ve found that more often than not, people develop an addiction to tattoos and end up getting more than they had anticipated.

This week, I talked to Nicole, 20, who is a Junior here at St. John’s and she is a perfect example of the second type of person that I mentioned.  Nicole has five tattoos now, but she told me that she never thought she’d have as many as she does now. She also says that some friends feel the same whenever the see her tattoos for the first time as Nicole was never seen as being a “tattoo person”.

The phrase “tattoo person” is one phrase that has come up time and time again whenever I discuss tattoos.  There was a time that tattoos were only associated with sailors, prisoners, and outlaws, but are those times gone? Is there even a set type of “tattoo person” anymore? This is a question that I’m going to explore more as I interview different people throughout the year.

In terms of Nicole’s opinion, she believes that the idea of a “tattoo person” is “a stigma that is fading with our generation,” and says “There is no specific type of person that may or may not have a tattoo anymore. Anybody can have one.”

Even with this being said, Nicole has had a hard time explaining her ink to her family members. Maybe these family members exemplify a generation where the idea of a “tattoo person” is still alive and well.

Out of Nicole’s five tattoos, we chose to focus on her first tattoo, a peace sign inside of a daisy, located on the back of her neck (ouch).

Nicole got her tattoo done at Lark Tattoo in Long Island following her 18^th birthday. She says that like most kids, she had always wanted to get a piece done when she turned 18. The traditional meaning behind the tattoo is simple; the peace sign is self-explanatory while the flower (a daisy) traditionally symbolizes innocence and purity. To Nicole, this tattoo has a very personal meaning as well. She says that the tattoo symbolizes her innocence and her childhood. She also noted that the tattoo serves as a reminder as to who she was at the point of her life when she got it.

Due to the personal meaning behind the tattoo, Nicole isn’t always fond of explaining the meaning to people, saying that the process can sometime be awkward, especially with people that she does not know. This was interesting to me because most people, including myself are very forthcoming and eager to expose the meanings behind their ink.

My interview with Nicole brought up a lot of great thoughts and questions, which I hope I can explore as I continue to talk to the tattooed people of St. John’s.