The Philosophy of Tattoos

Hardback

Main Details

Title The Philosophy of Tattoos
Authors and Contributors      By (author) John Miller
SeriesPhilosophies
Physical Properties
Format:Hardback
Pages:112
Dimensions(mm): Height 200,Width 130
Category/GenreBody art and tattooing
ISBN/Barcode 9780712353083
ClassificationsDewey:391.65
Audience
General
Illustrations 30 black and white illustrations

Publishing Details

Publisher British Library Publishing
Imprint British Library Publishing
Publication Date 25 March 2021
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

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?

Author Biography

John Miller is Senior Lecturer in Nineteenth-Century Literature at the University of Sheffield and editor of the classic fiction collection Tales of the Tattooed, published by the British Library in 2019.