FINAL OUTCOME: DISSENT AND RESISTANCE
For my final project design for the topic Dissent and Resistance I did a fashion piece to show my feelings about how I think tattoos are perceived in society and from my personal experience.
I am half Japanese and in Japan tattoos have a very negative stigma attached to them since Yakuza (Japanese mafia) are known for having them which makes people associate tattoos with gang violence and rebellion. Although if you are working in creative industries in Japan it is a more accepted view to be covered in tattoos but you would not be hired for a corporate job.
Tattoos can be very controversial since gangs are known to have specific tattoos of their gang emblem, white supremacists will get tattoos symbolising their beliefs and people in jail can sometimes have tattoos representing their time in prison. My Godmother was a social worker and sometimes worked with prisoners, she told me that a lot of inmates had LOVE HATE tattooed across their fingers and it represented their views on society and the police and how they want to rebel against them. I found this interesting since there are specific tattoos that people in or have been to prison get as a reminder of what they did or of their time there.
Society can generalise all people with tattoos and label it as negative since tattoos are often linked to dangerous or rebellious people and I do not think it is fair that they are less accepted because people with them are put under the same 'umbrella.'
However, tattoos have become more common with the younger generation predominantly having them but why have they become more mainstream? I think fashion and culture are a part of this.
A point I would argue is that in WW2 tattooing among soldiers in the navy since they would get them to remind them of home. Some would get a lover tattooed or something patriotic and some would get a tattoo representing their life at sea. Older generations today who had been at war still have those tattoos yet no one sees them in a bad light but instead respect since it is a label of bravery and patriotism.
A popular tattoo artist known for these war time tattoos was Sailor Jerry:
It is difficult to draw the line with when will they be acceptable and in what circumstances. Some one could have multiple tattoos in honour of a partner, their child or in memory of someone who has passed, would they be accepted in society and in corporate environment or would people just assume no without explanation? This is prejudice, making a thought without knowing the story.
I think tattoos should be accepted when it comes to self expressions and choice of lifestyle (of course when tattoos are used negatively in cases such as showing white supremacy I definitely do not agree with this).
Fashion has picked up on tattoo trends, creating tops with tattoo graphics or mesh garments to look like you have them without the commitment of actually getting one. Almost as if tattoos are worn as an accessory.
Does the accessory element make it more accepted? If I went for a job interview wearing a top which looked like I had a tattoo but was clear it was just fashion, I would most likely not be questioned and may have a higher chance of the position over someone who actually was tattooed. This makes me wonder whether its the idea of commitment that some turn up their noses to tattoos? of course the common complaint is "it will look faded" "it will look horrible when you are older on wrinkly skin."Me personally? Not gonna care what I look like when I'm 80 really.
For my piece, I used a mesh nude bodysuit since I thought it would blend in well with skin tone and the intention was for this to look like it was part of the wearer.
I painted the bodysuit with acrylic to create huge tattoo pieces on the back, sleeves and the chest. I decided to pursue the styling of traditional Japanese tattoos since it represents my culture and Japan are still very old fashioned with their views so I wanted to create an extreme in culture clash.
I had my model hold up a piece of white paper and I took photos inside Ravensbourne. I then edited the images on photoshop to represent the stereotype that people with tattoos are dangerous and rebels and link to crime or not the social norm.
I edited the brick background and the mugshot plaque.
On the sleeves I painted a Japanese Blue dragon and red flowers.
A mugshot background being photographed for a 'crime' committed, even though having tattoos is not a crime and should not affect other people in order for them to pass judgement and prejudice.
On the back I painted a Japanese ONI demon since these are common back pieces for Yakuza members.
I took inspiration for the Japanese tattoo designs from the famous Japanese tattoo artist Hiroyoshi III, he is known for doing large tattoo pieces covering the body either in colour or black and white.
When putting the piece in a location, I decided to show the issue within the workplace especially since Ravensbourne is a place of work. I am highlighting the issue with employers not hiring people with lots of tattoos even if their skillset is suited. In a way, skillset and your attributes to the job are disregarded and businesses are missing out on talent.
This is related to an article I read about Policeman with tattoos since they said that they are letting police officers have tattoos since they are missing out on new talented employees. This goes for any job.
I used different mannequins representing different genders and ethnicities and left the plain so that the tattooed body would stand out (some would argue as a sore thumb). I am showing that prejudice and stereotyping can very much occur in the hiring process and this is not fair.
In the self crit, I was given advice such as I could have used tights and painted on them for a full outfit to make it more realistic representing the whole body. Also to make it more of a fashion piece I could add some embellishments such as beads or gems, I could sew on gems or beads around the nipples inctead of random placement on the garment to bring in the concept of body modifications (piercings) as well since they are viewed similarly to tattoos in some cases. Putting them around the nipples could represent nipple piercings and how piercings are also part of self expression and should not be judged.
I am half Japanese and in Japan tattoos have a very negative stigma attached to them since Yakuza (Japanese mafia) are known for having them which makes people associate tattoos with gang violence and rebellion. Although if you are working in creative industries in Japan it is a more accepted view to be covered in tattoos but you would not be hired for a corporate job.
Tattoos can be very controversial since gangs are known to have specific tattoos of their gang emblem, white supremacists will get tattoos symbolising their beliefs and people in jail can sometimes have tattoos representing their time in prison. My Godmother was a social worker and sometimes worked with prisoners, she told me that a lot of inmates had LOVE HATE tattooed across their fingers and it represented their views on society and the police and how they want to rebel against them. I found this interesting since there are specific tattoos that people in or have been to prison get as a reminder of what they did or of their time there.
Society can generalise all people with tattoos and label it as negative since tattoos are often linked to dangerous or rebellious people and I do not think it is fair that they are less accepted because people with them are put under the same 'umbrella.'
However, tattoos have become more common with the younger generation predominantly having them but why have they become more mainstream? I think fashion and culture are a part of this.
A point I would argue is that in WW2 tattooing among soldiers in the navy since they would get them to remind them of home. Some would get a lover tattooed or something patriotic and some would get a tattoo representing their life at sea. Older generations today who had been at war still have those tattoos yet no one sees them in a bad light but instead respect since it is a label of bravery and patriotism.
A popular tattoo artist known for these war time tattoos was Sailor Jerry:
It is difficult to draw the line with when will they be acceptable and in what circumstances. Some one could have multiple tattoos in honour of a partner, their child or in memory of someone who has passed, would they be accepted in society and in corporate environment or would people just assume no without explanation? This is prejudice, making a thought without knowing the story.
I think tattoos should be accepted when it comes to self expressions and choice of lifestyle (of course when tattoos are used negatively in cases such as showing white supremacy I definitely do not agree with this).
Fashion has picked up on tattoo trends, creating tops with tattoo graphics or mesh garments to look like you have them without the commitment of actually getting one. Almost as if tattoos are worn as an accessory.
Does the accessory element make it more accepted? If I went for a job interview wearing a top which looked like I had a tattoo but was clear it was just fashion, I would most likely not be questioned and may have a higher chance of the position over someone who actually was tattooed. This makes me wonder whether its the idea of commitment that some turn up their noses to tattoos? of course the common complaint is "it will look faded" "it will look horrible when you are older on wrinkly skin."Me personally? Not gonna care what I look like when I'm 80 really.
For my piece, I used a mesh nude bodysuit since I thought it would blend in well with skin tone and the intention was for this to look like it was part of the wearer.
I painted the bodysuit with acrylic to create huge tattoo pieces on the back, sleeves and the chest. I decided to pursue the styling of traditional Japanese tattoos since it represents my culture and Japan are still very old fashioned with their views so I wanted to create an extreme in culture clash.
I had my model hold up a piece of white paper and I took photos inside Ravensbourne. I then edited the images on photoshop to represent the stereotype that people with tattoos are dangerous and rebels and link to crime or not the social norm.
I edited the brick background and the mugshot plaque.
On the sleeves I painted a Japanese Blue dragon and red flowers.
A mugshot background being photographed for a 'crime' committed, even though having tattoos is not a crime and should not affect other people in order for them to pass judgement and prejudice.
On the back I painted a Japanese ONI demon since these are common back pieces for Yakuza members.
I took inspiration for the Japanese tattoo designs from the famous Japanese tattoo artist Hiroyoshi III, he is known for doing large tattoo pieces covering the body either in colour or black and white.
When putting the piece in a location, I decided to show the issue within the workplace especially since Ravensbourne is a place of work. I am highlighting the issue with employers not hiring people with lots of tattoos even if their skillset is suited. In a way, skillset and your attributes to the job are disregarded and businesses are missing out on talent.
This is related to an article I read about Policeman with tattoos since they said that they are letting police officers have tattoos since they are missing out on new talented employees. This goes for any job.
In the self crit, I was given advice such as I could have used tights and painted on them for a full outfit to make it more realistic representing the whole body. Also to make it more of a fashion piece I could add some embellishments such as beads or gems, I could sew on gems or beads around the nipples inctead of random placement on the garment to bring in the concept of body modifications (piercings) as well since they are viewed similarly to tattoos in some cases. Putting them around the nipples could represent nipple piercings and how piercings are also part of self expression and should not be judged.
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