Customizing the Body (PDF file) - Print My Tattoo

84 The Tattooist
with the apparent lack of evenhandedness in the choice of published
photographs showing exemplary work. Tattooists strongly
suspected that the choices are made on the basis of membership
in personal networks or regional chauvinism (especially East
Coast versus West Coast) rather than the quality of the represented
work.
A third potential means of reputation building is through winning
competitions held as part of the annual conventions sponsored
by tattoo organizations such as the National Tattoo
Association. However. only a small proportion of practicing tattooists
attend these conventions and. as with tattoo publications.
there is general suspicion among tattooists that prizes are
awarded on personal grounds rather than on the grounds of an
objective evaluation of technical and artistic merit.
Tattooists aspire to reputational status not only for its own rewards.
Gaining a reputation for quality work also allows one to
exercise significantly more control over one's work life and leadsat
least potentially-to increased income. As is the case in most
craft and art activities. the product's market value is determined
on the basis of the reputation of the creator as well as its technical
and aesthetic quality (cf.. Sinha. 1979: 19). More importantly.
however, acquiring a reputation allows the tattooist to be more
selective in deciding to accede to some client requests while rejecting
others. Specifically, accomplished and well-known tattooists
can concentrate on doing custom work while turning down requests
to apply the mundane and routine traditional designs (for
example. black panthers. grim reapers. cartoon figures. Harley­
Davidson insignia, snakes, and daggers) that are the bread-andbutter
of the street shop (cf. Faulkner. 1983: 24; Sinha, 1979: 11;
Richie and Buruma, 1980: 85-88). One fine art tattooist with an
established reputation presented his decisions to refuse certain
client requests in political as well as aesthetic terms.
I refuse to put down business logos, company imagery. To me
that is the most repulsive shit in the world. Here they are
totally crushed by the corporate structure in America-cogs in
the wheel. They're complaining about their inability to be
effectual in the culture. totally apathetic. And now they want