The World of Tattoo: An Illustrated HistoryDespite a growing fascination with tattooing among social scientists--and the popularity of tattoos themselves in general--the practice of tattooing has lacked a comprehensive historical record. Until very recently, there was no good context for writing a serious world history of tattooing. This new volume conveys the richness of the history of tattooing from antiquity to the present day. Unlike most other tattoo books that describe one aspect this book conveys the overall picture. It takes you to each of the seven continents with descriptions of their tattoo history and tattoo practices. Thus the book provides the reader with a truly global view of tattooing. It adds new information and new examples and insights that give the reader a new perspective. By combining empirical history, powerful cultural analysis, and a highly readable style, the author adds an important step to the ongoing effort of writing a meaningful cultural history of tattooing. He does not draw new conclusions or present shocking new theories, but suggests and invites the reader to form his own opinions. This publication presents the reader with a vast amount of textual and visual information. From the well known examples from Tahiti to rarely seen Chinese tattoos, from the Ice Maiden to modern day Western tattoos--they are all there. Many of the approximately 400 color illustrations are unique images that have never been published before. |
Contents
PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS | 8 |
The origin and functions of tattoos | 15 |
1 | 23 |
Copyright | |
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Africa American Amunet ancient animals applied Arawak arms Atayal beautiful Bedouin Berber blue body decoration breasts Burma Burmese cheeks chest chin tattoo China Chinese Christian Chukchi coloured Cook cross custom decorative tattoos depictions disappeared dots dragons enemy Europe European extensively tattooed faces facial tattoos forehead geometric Gilbert Islands girls Gran Chaco groups hands headhunting Hercule Florence Iban images India indigenous inhabitants Inuit Japan Japanese tattoo Karajá Kayan king left column legs lines lived Louis Choris lower Maori markings Marshall Islands Mentawai Middle missionaries motifs mouth mummies needles nineteenth century North pain painted patterns Pazyryk Picts pigment popular pricked protection punishment punitive tattoos region right column ritual rubbed scarification scars Scythians skin slaves Solomon Islands Spanish status stylised symbolised symbols Tahitian tattoo culture tattoo designs tattoo styles tattooing traditions tattooists thighs Thracian Tonga totems tribal tribes trouser tattoo Tungus twentieth century warriors Western woman women woodblock wounds wrist