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Exploring the Cultural Significance of Tattoos in Modern Society: Role in Modernization and
Future Directions
1. Introduction
Tattoos, once stigmatized as symbols of rebellion and social deviance, have evolved into
widely accepted expressions of identity and cultural significance. This evolution invites a
complex systems view that considers the interconnections between cultural environments and
societal well-being. Significant shifts in how societies discuss tattoos and their meanings
provide an opportunity to critically assess cultural circumstances and the impact on further
cultural evolution in modern society. As cultural practices penetrate globally, how societies
assimilate and reinterpret cultural environments becomes crucial in shaping cultural well-
being. The increasingly interwoven cultural environment, facilitated by technological
advancements, presents a complexity of cultural practices. Although globalization has been
linked to the homogeneity of cultural practices, tattooing offers an opportunity to examine a
reverse manifestation. Tattoos are accepted in one cultural environment for modernity, while
in another, they may indicate inappropriate cultural perceptions. The challenge lies in
understanding how these prevalent cultural practices affect mental and overall well-being in
societies. Tattoos, as a widespread cultural practice in modernity, possess a dual nature of
both "darker" and "brighter" sides. On one side, tattoos harbor cultural misperceptions about
modernization as distinctly Western and uncivilized. These misperceptions become barriers
to cultural practices that would contribute to people's mental well-being in collective societies
experiencing rapid modernization. On the contrary, people choose to have tattoos reflecting
their identities and cultures in a complex modern culture. These tattoos' expressions and
meanings denote the bright side of tattoos, serving as a basis for emotional capital and bio-
psycho-social attachments. With their dual cultural significances, tattoos present an
opportunity to explore the broader implications of cultural environments on collective well-
being in modernity. In light of cultural polarity in modernization and the expanding cultural
discourse of tattoos, the research aims to investigate the cultural significance of tattoos in
relation to modernization and discuss the implications on cultural environments. The
perception of tattoos and the cultural challenges regarding the tattoos' positions in relation to
cultural practices for either development or barrier in modernization are considered.
Furthermore, implications on the future direction of cultural environments in tradable tattoo
cultures referring to tattoos serving as collective cultural identities of indigenous society
rediscovered by people in modernity and mass tattooing absorbing and reinterpreting tattoos
as printmaking art of wealth are discussed. The analysis and discussions contribute insights
into exploring how society copes with changing cultural environments for either adaptation to
modernization or preservation of cultural identity.
1.1. Background and Signicance
Tattoos, once viewed as symbols of rebellion and counter-culture, have undergone a dramatic
transformation in their societal perception. In the contemporary world, tattoos are now seen
as trendy and fashionable, often sported by celebrities and influential figures. The ubiquity of
tattoos on various media platforms suggests a collective fascination, prompting inquiry into
the reasons behind this phenomenon. Despite being referenced frequently, the cultural
significance of tattoos remains an under-explored area of research. This thesis seeks to
address this void by examining the cultural significance of tattoos in modern society and
exploring their potential future trajectory. Using sociology, anthropology, and media studies
as research frameworks, this examination focuses on tattoos as a cultural practice, art form,
representation of ideologies, and unique research subject within media. (Rees, 2021)
Tattoos have a long-standing history in various formats, from representative body art to tribal
culture insignia. While the historical narratives can be traced back, an attempt to re-narrate
the history of tattoos in China—a nation where tattoos were frowned upon for centuries—is
made here by re-examining literary, visual, media, and artistic artifacts. Meanwhile, tattoos in
modern China do not emerge in a vacuum, as they must respond to their historical past. Aside
from representing modernization in its own way, tattoos also echo the formation of
contemporary visibility politics in China, where visuality plays an increasingly significant
role. As a by-product of rapid social and technological transformation, the meaning-making
and acceptance of tattoos tend to diverge from global currents. (Hillenbrand, 2020)(Henley &
Porath, 2021)
Tattoos have reemerged globally as a representation of counter-culture, identity generation,
rebellion, and self-expression. Nevertheless, their placement, construction, portrayal,
acceptance, and reading differ from one social and historical context to another. Tattoos as
today’s cultural practice are indicative of the shaping of modernity, particularly in
industrialized, post-industrial, and urban society where the reconstitution of social, cultural,
and interpersonal relations catalyzes the augmentation of visibility politics. Additionally,
tattoos become a cultural form that transcends polysemy, manipulating their meaning through
the representational system. Lastly, tattoos are visible and tangible media texts that allow the
exploration of their encounters with diverse contexts. (Banda et al., 2024)
1.2. Research Objectives
Despite the fact that tattoos have gained widespread acceptance in recent decades, they are
still stigmatized and fall victim to many misconstrued ideas. However, while tattooed people
are still judged, discriminated against, and rejected in some cultures and societies, body art is
increasingly normalized, introduced in plenty of art exhibitions, and accepted as a personal
choice in many countries and cultures, thus driving changes in people’s perceptions of
tattoos. Moreover, the traditional belief that tattoos are inappropriate, unrespectable, and
untrustworthy remains valid in many societies, still adding to the prejudice against tattooed
people. This research introduces the perceptions, beliefs, and views towards tattoos from
societal, gender-based, ethnic-based, and different demographic factors.
To examine the motivations behind tattooing, this research investigates the reasons for
tattooing ranging from aesthetic to religious. By framing tattoos through control theory, this
research brings forward the relationship between tattooing and social control, conformity, and
rebellion, as well as tattooing as a form of individualization and collectiveness. To have a
comprehensive understanding of tattoos and body art, the transformative powers of tattoos
and body art in healing, memory, and identity are analyzed. Also, the effect of globalization
on tattoos is discussed, bringing attention to the intersection of tradition and modernity,
homogenization and heterogeneity. Conclusively, addressing the outdated stigma attached to
tattoos and body art calls for raising awareness, providing knowledge about tattoos and body
art, and fostering a safe environment without any discrimination.
2. Historical Evolution of Tattoos
The roots of tattooing delve deep into the annals of human history, tracing back to over 5,000
years ago. Researchers have unearthed ancient tattooed mummies, sparking intrigue about the
circumstances surrounding their inked skin. Tattoos were later seen in various ancient
cultures, including Egypt, Persia, Greece, and China, where they were mostly used as
punishment. For Greeks, tattoos symbolized the status of an individual, with rulers tattooing
their subjects for control. Only slaves and criminals were marked in ancient Asian cultures,
steeping tattoos in stigma and negativity. In sharp contrast, the Vikings saw tattoos as
symbols of courage. Likewise, tattooing was a common practice among America’s native
tribes and the Polynesians, who used it to express spirituality and social hierarchy. In
medieval Europe, tattooing took a deep dive into obscurity and condemnation, with
associations to heresy and devilry. Tattoos made a comeback during the modern age,
becoming a spiritual undertaking among sailors who held tattoos as charms against harsh
elements. (Hawken, 2022)
However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that tattoos resurged in Europe as prized art forms
explored by the upper class. Body ink came as a feminized craft dominated by ladies working
on flower motifs, a common trope decorating the skin of Europe’s upper and bourgeois
classes. Devilish implications still lingered, considering the profession was seen as lacking
virtue and cleanliness while some tattoos conveyed chastisement. Nevertheless, tattoos
flourished among the bourgeois, indicating an appreciation for exotic beauty and art after
travels to the Persian Empire, India, and Japan. Western painted tattoos shifted from
grotesque materiality to sophisticated ornamental patterns, granting a sense of idyllic fullness,
while tattooed bodies were displayed in public exhibitions as wonders. In the U.S., tattoos
were seen as indicators of criminality and deviance, classifying the underclass—the poor,
oppressed, lewd, and those on the fringes. Despite inaccurate interpretations, the tattooing
craft continued to grow while adapting to the North American understanding of tattoos and
tattooing. At the same time, tattoos were observed as indicators of ethnic hybridization,
deteriorating the legitimacy of tattooed otherness. As time passed, tattoos were no longer
exclusively in the possession of the fringe and found their way into the gentility. (Stone,
2021)(O'Donnell, 2024)
2.1. Ancient Origins of Tattooing
The earliest evidence of tattooing dates to approximately 3200 BC. Ötzi, the iceman—the
well-preserved remains of a snow-covered man discovered in the valley of Tyrol in 1991—
provides this earliest evidence. Ötzi has 61 features of skin marking tattooing on his body.
Although it is difficult to interpret the exact reason for body marking and tattooing among the
prehistoric population, tattoos were most likely a social, biological, or ritual expression as
well as a representation of the cultural beliefs of the owners. (Kay, 2022)(Deter-Wolf et
al.2024)
Although the tattooing technique discovered in Ötzi is not similar to contemporary techniques
regarding supporting structures, Egypt is believed to be the cradle of modern tattooing. The
oldest evidence regarding tattooing dates to 2000 BC in ancient Egypt. Tattooed mummies of
women have been discovered in the tombs of the third and seventh dynasties. These tattoos
were constructed from simple, linear designs, geometrical shapes, and dots, which most likely
feature magical and protective purposes. (SHUAIB, 2020)
After Egypt, Polynesian culture is believed to be the second oldest tattoo culture. A second
piece of evidence regarding tattooing technique was utilized by ancient Polynesians. A
circumnavigation of the globe was conducted, where Polynesia was discovered. Primitive
tattooing faces constructed from whale bones were discovered on the ships captured from
pirate tribes. This complex tattooing face could tattoo 8 rows simultaneously, and the skin
was carved by U-shaped needles attached to the face. This complex tattooing evidences
probably developed tattoos, which were utilized in a high-profile society. In Polynesian
culture, tattoos feature status indicators regarding the tattooed person, including property
privilege, job roles, and family roots in a high-profile society.
Although it is difficult to fully understand the exact meaning of tattooing in the Egyptian and
Polynesian cultures, it is vital to underline that the tattoo culture continues to this day in the
above-mentioned geographical areas. Most likely, if tattooing had started in another
geographical location, that geography would still be hosting tattooing culture.
2.2. Cultural Practices and Symbolism
Cultural practices surrounding body art vary widely from one society to another, even across
neighboring communities. Body art may be viewed positively, even regarded as sacred in
some communities, or be seen as a stigma in others. Tattoos, as permanent and visible body
modifications, are perhaps the most stigmatized among body art in modern society. Cultural
practices surrounding tattoos also range from the sacred to the profane. Some beliefs and
practices are revered, secretive, and ceremonial with their own codes of ethics, whereas
others are displayed with pride and seen as social status, or are recklessly practiced by
commercial establishments purely for profit. (Dauge-Roth & Koslofsky, 2023)
Although various patches of cultural practices exist on a continuum of globalization, not all
cultural practices are equally influenced or treated the same way by globalization. There is a
need to differentiate cultural practices in terms of their cultural significance and existing
power relations. The case of tattoos in South Korea, once scorned as a symbol of crime and
deviance, will be discussed as an example of how cultural practices may change their
significance in accordance with changing social conditions. In modern society, where many
pre-industrial, rural, and folk cultural practices like shamanism and divination are vanishing,
hybrid cultural practices combining pre-modern and modern traits are on the rise. Tattooing
in South Korea is also a hybrid practice containing contested elements of both pre-moderns
and moderns, which speaks to modernization. Unlike other countries where tattooing has
been fashionably accepted for some time, the social perception of tattoos in South Korea
oscillates between the sacred and the forbidden. (Park, 2022)
Tattoos have been a sacred practice among Shamanist communities, particularly among
women shamans who are entrusted with the ability to summon supernatural forces that fight
against spirits that inflict troubles on humans. In pre-modern Korea, tattooing was considered
a rite of passage and the first step into womanhood, keeping the tattoos hidden under long
hair until the girl entered adulthood. Tattoos marked young girls as potential shamans, which
were heavily frowned upon after Confucianism. Marks of a crime were viewed as auspicious
in the sense that crime and misfortune could be warded off by the tattoo. This hybrid nature
further complicates the equation by disallowing tattooing's straightforward branding either
from the profane or the sacred. (Cho & Cho, 2022)
3. Tattoos in Modern Society
Modern society is endlessly fascinated by tattoos. This eternal relevance further affirms
tattoos' cultural importance for identity formation. The tattoo industry is currently booming,
with tattoo parlors largely matching those in music venues. Tattooed figures have entered
spaces including the workplace, politics, and culture. Many massive tattoo expos are
organized worldwide annually, attracting tens of thousands of visitors. Tastes, styles,
motives, and coverage of tattoos vary widely, with tattooed people from all walks of life.
Therefore, an overwhelming feeling of familiarity and sympathy may arise from a tattooed
individual's appearance. At the same time, there are still pockets of negative sentiments.
Tattoos are also an object of controversy and stigmatization, linked to the far right, criminals,
pre-modernity, and aggressiveness. Digitally manipulated tattoos may turn tattoo modeling
into a metaphorical and postmodern void. The difference between tattoo culture and tattoo
ignorance can no longer be comprehensively grasped with the premodernity-modernity
binary. Such developments signify that tattoos should no longer solely be approached as
culturally interesting, but rather as culturally and socially significant. (Beckett, 2023)(White,
2022)
Tattoos have witnessed radical changes in cultural significance and social acceptance. Tattoos
have become mainstream, ordinary, and acceptable, indicating that they have efficiently taken
on a new social and cultural meaning. Nevertheless, tattoos also remain stigmatized and
controversial. Despite this shifting social treatment, tattoos offer an avenue for individuality,
distinction, and social engagement, particularly for youth subcultures. In so doing, tattoos
confer the tattooed a special status by making them temporarily different from the masses. On
the other hand, tattoos are rendered culturally problematic, troubling, and emotive, requiring
clarification and moral policing. Tattoos also become an object of social curiosity through the
media's persistent focus on tattooing characters as lifestyle interviews, stories of remarkable
experiences, and explorations of tattoos' psychic meaning. (Rees, 2021)
3.1. Mainstream Popularity
Due to globalization and the advent of the digital age, tattoos have become increasingly
popular in modern society. The media and the internet have contributed significantly to the
dissemination of information about tattoos. With tattoo-related programs becoming widely
known, various tattoo styles, techniques, and emerging tattoo artists are gaining more
attention. Along with tattoo-related musicians and celebrities, tattoos are evolving from
merely being associated with the low end to becoming symbols of wealth and social status.
People have become less averse to tattoos, as tattoos have generally become more acceptable
and more common. There were 29.2 million individuals in the United States who had at least
one tattoo, and this number is expected to rise. A significant percentage of Millennials and
Generation X individuals have at least one tattoo. Tattoos have become standard in modern
civilization, particularly in highly developed regions. The authority of tattoos is shifting from
the margins toward the core. The tattooed population is growing day by day, and tattoos are
more widespread and appreciated than ever before. (Ruiz, 2020)
The origin of tattoos was edge marking or branding. Having a tattoo used to mean that a
person was a member of a community or that an individual and a group shared the same
cultural meaning or social identity. Thus, tattooing had meaning as a cultural signifier. Under
the influence of modernization, capitalist expansion has caused tattooing and tattoo culture to
lose their significance as a cultural identity. Nowadays, tattooing plays a role in signifying
social character and personal status, and tattoos have become fashion elements.
3.2. Social Acceptance and Stigma
In recent decades, tattoos have transitioned from an underworld subculture to dominant social
visual trends, assuming multiple associations and meanings for various groups. On the one
hand, they are representative of aesthetic cultures and fashion, while on the other hand, they
are embodiments of commercial practices or art forms. In the context of commodification and
global capitalism, they echo social fragmentation and a break from tradition. Despite
contradictory symbols, it is acknowledged that tattoos play an increasingly significant role in
expressing one’s identity. The personal significance of tattoos can either be well-articulated
—summarizing one’s life, narrating self-experience, and possession of self-meaning—or
vague and indefinite, similar to the sense of belonging to a place or ethnic group. Tattooed
individuals often view their tattoos as visual narratives mediated by art for selective
observance. As cultural products and social practices, tattoos reflect social structure and
generate different perceptions, appreciations, images, and meanings attached by various
demographic groups, as well as their acceptance or stigmatization accordingly. (Belkin, 2021)
(Henley & Porath, 2021)
The continuously evolving trend of tattoos provides room for uncovering different
perceptions and appreciations. Young age and cultural background are significantly related to
the inclination for tattoos. College students mostly decided to have tattoos for originality and
aesthetic preferences, while older, earnestness-oriented groups considered it an emblem of
social deviance. Even in the acceptance camps, there remain stigmatized thoughts regarding
who should be tattooed and what tattoos mean.
The progression of tattoo acceptance not only resembles a transition from deviance to social
norm globally but also sustains stigma regarding certain groups of people. In general, tattoos
are avoidably stigmatized as they are attached to a concrete “master status” and universally
perceived to possess negative attributes. These negative attributes are particularly expanded
and generalized into “dangerous” characteristics, including criminal behavior, moral
deviation, and wandering. Moreover, the master status is compounded with social class in the
context of feudalistic hierarchy and tradition. Class-determined tattoo stigmatization is
focused on lower-class groups, who are mostly undocumented laborers, underprivileged
families, and prisoners. Therein, tattoo stigma is augmented to a systematic degradation. Such
stigma attaches to social discrimination and psychological insults, leading to anxiety and
vulnerability. (Yiu, 2021)
4. Tattoos and Modernization
In modern society, tattoos can be viewed as both a form of individual expression and a means
for the formation of identity. At the same time, tattoos can also be understood as being
formed by economic and market trends that expand beyond individual settings. In a growing
number of countries, tattoos are becoming increasingly normalized and are publicly
positioned as artistic forms of self-expression akin to personal styles or vibes. This represents
an important change compared to previous generations where tattoos were stigmatized, often
associated with violence or deviant behavior. Through qualitative interviews with tattooed
individuals in Seoul, tattoos are discussed as a form of bodily inscription in accordance with
creativity, aesthetic interest, and individuality. Tattoos provide a means of control that
differentiates individuals positively and can provide a sense of integrity and self-fulfillment
while participating in social differences. However, at the same time, the positive meanings
attached to tattoos paradoxically position them as conflicting with individuation and
individuality. Tattoos are construed as something that should be unique, but as ideals that
would eliminate privilege or distinction are not attainable, tattoos can also be seen as a form
that is abandoning social and cultural differences. (Ryan Force, 2022)
In addition to individual appropriation and transformation, tattoos additionally draw attention
reflecting on and responding to rapid economic and cultural changes, and can be described
and understood as a series of collective movements or cultural tendencies circulating beyond
the limits of individual groups and contexts. Moreover, a growing number of tattooists and
tattooed individuals have begun to offer their own perspectives and experiences with tattoos,
expressing concerns and caveats regarding tattoo culture. On social media, expressions of
doubt or worry toward the tattoo culture often include such ideals as uniqueness, originality,
or distinction, which are said to have been lost, repetitive images, lack of distinctive designs,
and 'badge-like' tattoos that do not seem to have strong personal meanings.
Numerous sociocultural studies in various fields of research, such as visual art, fashion, food,
urban development, etc., have sought to understand the transformation and change
characterizing current tattoos. In addition to a growing interest in sociocultural studies,
research focusing on the history, anthropology, and studio methods of tattoos has also been
undertaken. Tattoos in contemporary popular culture have been widely studied, as have body
art in cosmopolitan urban centers, street culture, and subcultures among ethnic minorities.
With an average of 31.4 percent of South Koreans currently being tattooed, tattoos in South
Korea can be said to be in a similar state as tattoos in other post-industrial countries at the
turn of the millennium, functioning as both a setting for intensive negotiation of cultural
meanings and ongoing discourses and debates on authenticity and ownership.
4.1. Individual Expression and Identity Formation
Tattoos as expressions of individual thoughts, narratives, and emotions are explored. The
analysis emphasizes the meanings and processes involved in getting a tattoo. Contemporary
people have multiple personalities resulting from various social interactions. Hence, they
construct individualized self-expressions that are represented on their bodies by tattoos. The
need to tell stories and reflect emotions and feelings as individuals is also reasoned. Emphasis
is placed on how tattoos offer a bodily space to reflect individuality. With a tattoo, a narrative
continues even when one is silent, as stories are remembered on the body. It is noted that the
meanings of tattoos are constructed during the process of getting one. Prior to going to a
tattoo parlor, individuals already have thoughts to express, ideas to symbolize, and stories to
tell, prompting them to get a tattoo instead of merely thinking or creating. The term "getting a
tattoo" is preferred to "having a tattoo," as the act of getting a tattoo is significant in
constructing the meaning and narrative of the tattoo.
Exploring narratives that lead to getting a tattoo demonstrates how individual thoughts and
meanings are constructed. A tattoo is not merely an artistic design on one’s body. Instead, it
is a symbol that holds an individual’s story and experience, offering a bodily space to express
thoughts. Meanwhile, while narrating a personal story, ideas within a text become public and
shared with others. A tattoo is, therefore, built and understood in the kairos of space and time
in being an individualized and bodily social narrative. (Crompton et al.2021)
Tattoos as individualized bodily narratives are also examined while being tattooed.
Participants experience a realization of individuality as they reflect on how they become
themselves, which involves the body and social imagination. Individual interpretations that
offer a space of diversity and represent uniqueness are also reasoned. While the tattoo is
patterned by an artist, each tattoo holds its own meanings for the tattooed individual. Tattoos
are interpreted personally, and individual meanings with their stories are treated as valuable.
When a tattoo forming a design becomes socially significant, the uniqueness of the tattoo
becomes visible. Therefore, individuality resides in both body and social imagination, as
tattoos signify the individual body and offer a distinction with the social body.
4.2. Economic and Market Trends
Tattooing has evolved from an underground subculture to a generally accepted cultural
phenomenon. The common understanding of a tattoo is a permanent skin pattern created by
introducing colored substances into the skin. In modern society, tattoos are made not only for
religion and ethnic culture but also for individualization, self-expression, and urban street
culture. The tattooing tradition has turned into a growing commercial market with more than
20 million Americans tattooed. It also draws a deterministic interest from researchers with
interdisciplinary approaches and perspectives. (Barron, 2020)
The tattoo culture market investigation is then stratified by types; the market forecast
information is also supported with important statistics, as are key influencing factors.
Additionally, painting styles such as watercolor tattoos, tribal tattoos, and biomechanical
tattoos can be added to the survey. The emergence of tattooed models in mainstream brands
indicates that tattooing has shifted to a 'fashion commodity.' The staging observation notes
the economic transition of tattooed bodies from empowered by resistance, revolt, and
irruption signifiers to sanctioned 'normalcy.'
Tattooing has transformed itself into a defensive and salable opportunity that managers and
business entrepreneurs focus on. Further, popular tattooed bodies and styles are constantly
inflated by the media, advertising, and fashion to regulate public demand and control
scattered commercial interests. Dilemmas and risks accompany the expectations of tattooing
as fashion commodities. Cases of professionalism, brand building, and tattoo styles are
scrutinized in detail to discover challenges and contemporary causes.
5. Future Recommendations and Studies
In consideration of the findings presented in this analysis, future studies on tattoos have the
potential to provide insights in several key areas. The following are potential
recommendations for future studies on tattoos in relation to culture, technology, and gender
in light of their cultural significance.
Research Gaps and Opportunities
As a highly individualized form of self-expression, tattoos may vary significantly according
to one’s culture, religion, and worldview, thus calling for further research on tattoos from a
more localized perspective in anthropology studies. For instance, a study on the tattoo culture
of the Dawra Arab community that focuses on the ritual of body tattooing on women may
find that their tattoo designs reflect their cultural identity while connecting them more closely
to the supernatural world and their female ancestors. Furthermore, the layered meanings of
tattoos as they mutate across different times and spaces would likely contribute greatly to the
current body of tattoo studies as tattoos coexist within the context of globalization and
hybridization of cultures. Such studies, however, face more difficulties in obtaining empirical
data than usual tattoo studies, for tattoos as a highly individualized practice in an ever-
changing context suggest that a tattoo design may mean different things to different people.
Despite this complication, these temporal and spatial angles are welcome additions to the
current research and further highlight the persistence of tattoos in modern society.
Although tattoos are historically more significant among men than women in certain cultures,
following the introduction of tattoo technology through colonialism, tattoos began to
proliferate on women in mass media. The representations of these women and their tattoos as
the quintessential other and the homoerotic exotic would be worth further exploring as they
persistently echo the past colonial discourse on the East in contemporary contexts. In relation
to internet technology, research on the gendered representation of tattoos in websites would
focus on assessing whether women continue to be portrayed in relation to domesticity,
sexuality, and morality, or whether a more gender-neutral portrayal of tattoos as an aesthetic
aid to fashion and beauty on the body and that of tattoos as aids to social circulation is
perceived. (Odle, 2022)
Policy Implications
The rise in aesthetic, ornamental, and decorative tattoos prompts tattooists to conform to
beauty salon regulations and leads to the tattooing phenomenon's exit from the underground
as many fashion and media outlets began to identify with tattoos, setting their management
agenda. On the one hand, the recognition of tattooing as an art form and the commercial and
visual literacy of tattooists mean enriching the option of tattoos from symbolic and readable
to visual aesthetic and re-appreciation of the tattooed body. On the other hand, the tattooing
population’s higher educational background and occupational status may prompt negative
tattoo experiences, as in some cases tattoo images bear an outdated connotation, and attempts
to cover them entail greater costs. Also relevant are the behaviors of those tattooing
companies who profit from tattoos, as in some cases tattoos function as 'branded' scars. The
feminist-inspired tattoo culture accounts for a more egalitarian society where women take
control of their body image.
5.1. Research Gaps and Opportunities
Several key research gaps and opportunities were identified for the exploration of tattoos'
cultural significance in the modernization of society and their future directions. Most of the
current literature is devoid of a comprehensive understanding of the roles that tattoos fulfill in
modern society. Empirical research is needed for qualitative and quantitative exploration of
the significance of tattoos in general society. Furthermore, there is a pressing need to explore
and examine the future of tattoos and tattoo practices in the face of rapid technological
advancements. Future recommendations and studies should address these limitations.
While tattoos are usually demonized, a handful of works hypothesized a variety of roles that
tattoos may fulfill in modernity. Most notably, it was argued that tattoos could invoke a form
of embodiment that is often lost in late modernity. Similarly, ethnographic work suggests that
tattoos may serve as physical markers of social ties. It was briefly noted how tattoos could
also serve the role of social distinction. However, this body of literature is largely
disconnected from empirical evidence that extends beyond subcultures of tattoo practices. In
other words, there is little understanding of the roles that tattoos fulfill in general society.
This lack of clear understanding also relegates literature on tattoo practices almost
exclusively within sociology studies.
Hence, future studies should qualitatively and quantitatively explore the significance of
tattoos in modern society with specific reference to the Seven Scales of Tattoo Reception
Understanding: Social-Statistics, Socio-Demographics, Ambivalent Transmission Modes, and
Contexts of Reception. Knowledge of the social significance of tattoos in modernity would
serve as a point of reference for tackling questions that involve this understanding: Shifting
Reception Context, Respectable in Global East, Rise of the Female Elite Tattoo, and Tattoo
Removal.
As emergence appears to have become the greatest threat to the long-standing tattoo culture
nationally and globally within the brick-and-mortar tattoo industry, there is no pressing topic
for investigations more poignant than this. Studies should examine technology and
algorithmically generated tattoos. Inquiry into the commercialization of tattoos via social
network analysis and the e-sports tattoo consumption among Generation Z is warranted. With
tattoos emerging as a mainstream fashion, knowledge of the tattoos of the avant-garde tattoo
culture beyond industrial reproduction is pertinent.
5.2. Policy Implications
The increasing incorporation of tattoos into modern society raises numerous concerns from
policymakers. Any attempt to regulate the tattoo industry raises questions, such as: What are
tattoos, and how can they be categorized in terms of artistry, craft, culture, fashion, lifestyle,
or something else? Given that tattoos could fall into a multitude of categories, how can they
be organized in a coherent way that informs effective policy? What are the implications for
different stakeholders, including artists, clients, businesses, and society as a whole? There is
also the question of the possibility of different policies being implemented in different ways
in different contexts, fields, or industries. Risky and undesirable consequences could arise if
one group were to be favored over another, without a broad understanding of the implications
for so many stakeholders involved. Tattoo art should be treated strategically and tactically
from several viewpoints, such as art, business, and community. Policymakers should be
aware of the various sectors where different considerations ultimately should be put on the
table. However, caution is required when encouraging or imposing regulations in art, as
harmful unintended consequences can arise. Laws and bans can undermine rather than
elevate the quality of the art or hinder acceptance and dissemination of the art form. One-
size-fits-all creative industry approaches can hinder the art scene and industry by considering
tattoo art as just like any other form of popular or visual art. This would overlook the unique
cultural, artistic, historical, demographic, and social aspects of tattooing.
The robust market for tattoos is only going to grow. But tattoos also raise delicate questions
regarding personal liberty, health risks, and cultural appropriation. Policymakers would do
well to take this diverse landscape into account in devising regulations and designing public
campaigns about tattoos and tattooing. The modern popularization of tattoos should not
overshadow the need for more thoughtfulness about where to draw a line, either ethically or
regarding acceptable materials. Artists and entrepreneurs then have to navigate this landscape
with more care and creativity than merely hopping on the bandwagon and looking to cash in
on anything that seems trendy. Though it would take work to form coalitions to lobby for
more regulation, it would likely be well worth the effort in creating greater buy-in for the
broader punk aesthetic as a cherished part of the collective heritage. Such coalitions would
need to be multi-sector in composition, with artists, health care professionals, scientists, and
business owners working together.
References:
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