Making a Mark An Ethnography on a local Tattoo Shop and its Artists ...
Making a Mark An Ethnography on a local Tattoo Shop and its Artists ...
Making a Mark An Ethnography on a local Tattoo Shop and its Artists ...
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Laven 6painted with a traditi<strong>on</strong>al unique style of art. Ben proudly announced to me that he painted it <strong>and</strong>it was a painting of a maelstrom. It is a traditi<strong>on</strong>al symbol meaning storm, <strong>and</strong> trials <strong>and</strong>tribulati<strong>on</strong>s that a pers<strong>on</strong> goes through in life that make them become who they are.Ben had a tattoo <strong>on</strong> his right forearm with multiple colors of two h<strong>and</strong>s with a lock <strong>and</strong>key, birds <strong>and</strong> swirling clouds. I wanted to know the meaning of this interesting tattoo. He toldme the left h<strong>and</strong> represented the h<strong>and</strong> of evil <strong>and</strong> the right h<strong>and</strong> represented the h<strong>and</strong> of good.The lock <strong>and</strong> key symbolized a quest for love <strong>and</strong> compani<strong>on</strong>ship. The birds represented thedesire to be free, <strong>and</strong> the swirling clouds symbolized the maelstrom. To think that <strong>on</strong>e tattoo heldso much meaning <strong>and</strong> depth struck me profoundly. I assumed people got tattoos because theyliked the design <strong>and</strong> style, which sometimes is the case, but I never took the time to underst<strong>and</strong>the true symbolism <strong>and</strong> underlying meaning woven into a tattoo.Drawings <strong>and</strong> sketches covered Ben’s bookcase <strong>and</strong> door. As I walked back out to thelobby area, I noticed a sign hanging <strong>on</strong> the wall. It was in big bold letters, <strong>and</strong> when I read it, Ichuckled to myself:!!NOTICE!!IF YOU ARE:DRUNK,HIGH,SUNBURNED,UNDER 15 YEARS OLD,WITH CHILDREN OR INFANTS,STINKY, DIRTY,BITCHY,