Cultural Use of Body Art

Body art has been a part of Polynesian culture since people first landed there. From Hawaii to New Zealand to Easter Island, natives have worn tattoos for a variety of reasons. The Maori men have ornate full body markings and even some women have chin and lip tattoos that coincide with their descent. There markings are sort of a family crest, that designates there social status. In Samoa, the Pe'a, a full body suit, represents initiation into adulthood. No matter what accomplishments one might have, the males are still considered boys until their Pe’a is complete. When a young man is deemed ready to receive the Pe'a, a tattooist is chosen, and the process begins. Once

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Though the styles, methods, and meaning of body art differ from culture to culture, the art almost always boils down to one thing, unity. As a result of this, the middle class adorned themselves with elaborate full body suits. The sailors of the navy made many vast travels picking up things from the cultures they encountered. On trips through the world the men met people who where beautifully decorated. The artist uses a more advanced implement as well. They also mark criminals in a demeaning, public ritual meant to discourage others against crime. The method of marking the skin in these cultures is a very archaic and painful ritualistic process. With its deep ritual meaning, the art united the common people of the culture. Though tattooing in America is a more of a trend, it still results in unifying the masses. It was our culture who finely refined the process, inventing a “tattoo machine”. The Japanese tattoo is very rich in symbolism, from the object that is inked, to the location on the body in which it is placed. Chatham Square was close to a port of call. As the power of the common people of Japan grew in the latter half of the Edo period, it began to flourish as an art form. The Japanese tool resembles a comb on a stick, and the use another stick to tap the needles into the skin.

Common topics in this essay:
Samoa Pe'a, Tribal Religious, Marlon Brando, , Chatham Square, Easter Island, York City, World War, America Body, body art, War II, common people, art form, world war, bone chisel, chatham square, people culture, culture culture, edo period,

Approximate Word count = 1163
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

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