Skip to main content

The philosophy of tattoos

Miller, John, 1973-2021
Book
Tattooing is an ancient practice with profound religious and cultural significance. While western tattooing centres on three main traditions -- Polynesian, Japanese and Euro-American -- it has been recorded more or less everywhere. Beginning with the birth of the tattoo, John Miller explores this unique expression of personal, cultural and national identity, the tension between tattoo's status as a fashion item and its roots in subculture, and the relevance of magic -- a crucial part of tattooing's origins -- in contemporary society. As the inherent shock factor of tattoos decreases, tattoos are becoming more extensive, public and challenging in response, prompting an upsurge in avant-garde tattoo projects and 'extreme' tattooing. The Philosophy of Tattoos investigates the innate human desire to mark the skin, and what tattooing might tell us about that obsessively asked question: what does it mean to be human?
Main title:
Author:
Imprint:
London : British Library Publishing, 2021.©2021.
Collation:
105 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 20 cm.
Series title:
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN:
9780712353083 (hardback)9780712367325 (ebook)
Dewey class:
391.65
Language:
English
BRN:
2418268
Clear current selections
items currently selected
View my active saved list
0 items in my active saved list