Customizing the Body (PDF file) - Print My Tattoo

145 The Tattoo Relationship
reputable tattooists frown on and will refuse to tattoo those who
request work on their faces or hands. The desire to make such a
public display of the tattoo/stigma is seen as thoughtlessly deviant.
Requests for tattoos on public skin are also routinely denied
because facial or hand tattoos could potentially have negative impact
on the tattooist's reputation and business while perpetuating
the general public's antipathy for tattOOing. tattoo workers,
and tattoo art.
This guy came in and wanted me to tattoo something on his
forehead. I refused to do that. Large designs on people's
faces.... I don't think the world is ready to accept that yet ...
unless you are a Maori chief. The society doesn't accept it and I
don't want my name associated with something like that.
TattOOing should not be flaunted in the face of the public. If
someone wants "fuck you" written across his forehead I don't
want it known that I was the one that did it. I wouldn't do it
because I think it is a stupid thing to do. You have to draw the
line somewhere.
The tattooist also uses the design a client requests as an indication
of his or her taste and acceptability. As we have seen, most
commercial tattooists do not feel that their economic circumstances
allow them to refuse to apply the joking, cartoonish designs
or the namelvow tattoos which continue to be conventional
in street tattOOing. Yet. they will often attempt to redirect the interests
of those people whose hearts are set on getting Yosemite
Sam making an obscene gesture, the pink panther smoking a
joint, or the name of their current girlfriend or boyfriend permanently
affixed to their bodies. Those clients who persist in desiring
images of this kind are deemed to be tasteless. if not morally
deficient. and are commonly objects of some derision. On the
other hand, reCipients who request extreme right wing symbols
(for example. swastikas) or overtly anti-social phrases (for example,
"fuck niggers") typically are deemed unacceptable and are
routinely denied service. Like the tattooist's choice not to mark
public skin. the decision to refuse morally repugnant and imagethreatening
requests of this kind is often based on his or her
desire to avoid negative public reaction. The typical approach