To justify or refute this thesis, however, a closer look is necessary, namely, whether tattoos were actually used in the past as a sign of belonging to a subculture. In fact, in times of industrialization, it was above all members of socially disadvantaged classes who wore tattoos. From overseas, sailors first brought them to the European ports. From there, they spread quickly, carried by soldiers and traveling craftsmen, who received a distinguishing feature over other classes, a welcome demarcation. Unfortunately, it also happened quickly that socially disadvantaged classes from more affluent groups were quickly attributed to being criminals. Therefore, the prejudice, especially criminals would wear tattoos, dating back to the end of the 19th century.
History of Tattoos
In other cultures tattoos are actually considered disreputable, because they were mostly worn by criminals. That the cliché is not transferable to any tattoo carrier, is already proved by the fact that, among other things, King George Fifth of England and Empress Sissi wore tattoos.
Otherwise, especially in Germany the tattoo has a pretty dark story. While it was customary in the SS to tattoo the blood group members, the technique was also used to numerically label concentration camp inmates a good example of how an art form can be perverted. Only after the defeat of the regime did it really start with the triumphant advance of the tattoo in popular culture. The Allies brought with them many cultural peculiarities in the West from America and with it the rock culture. Part of this rock culture is the smoking of cigarettes and the wearing of leather jackets and the wearing of tattoos. In addition, the motorbike is the less bourgeois mode of transport for this subculture and the tattoo the artistic counterpart to the abandonment of the bourgeois habit and the search for one’s own expression.
How much are tattoos already mainstream?
One question that is relatively closely related to historical development is whether the tattoo as an art form is already mainstream. Conversely, this would mean that, on the other hand, it has overcome the rejection of the bourgeois social norm and achieved affirmation. However, it is still only 15 percent of the total population that are tattooed – but with a figure of over eighty million inhabitants, this is not all that low. The tattoo studio is the best option here in Aureo Roma Tattoo & Gallery.
So what now?
Numbers or not, you cannot deny that tattoos have achieved an unprecedented salon ability. Today it is no longer a rarity to find punk band shirts in big fashion chains. Likewise, Chucks, which used to be worn by members of a subculture, have long been common sneakers. Such earlier signals have been absorbed by the mainstream with tattoos it is similar, although this decision is more far-reaching than to buy a shirt.
But that’s also because many of the subcultural movements have lost some of their aura. A picture of tough guys today looks like this: If you used to have real butts in the corner of your mouth, today they probably belong more to the steamers that emit the sweetish vanilla-smoke-puffs. While this may be healthier, it is much less rebellious at the same time. Maybe even the beer they drink today is alcohol-free. This too is a sign of the times: the very blatant provocations that one claims in subcultures, gradually fall away.