Category: Tattoo

Who Is Tennessee Williams?

According to The American Masters (1999) website Tennessee Williams was born as Lanier Williams from Columbus, Mississippi on an undisclosed date in the year 1911. A happy and carefree young man, he was born to a shoe company executive and Southern belle in a highly loving and secure environment. His family moved to St. Louis, Missouri later on, causing the young man to grow inward and write because he felt a lack of satisfaction in life (The American Masters).

He was considered to be one of the best and brightest playwrights of his generation, producing such unforgettable plays like a Streetcar Named Desire, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, and The Rose Tattoo. His huge popularity stemmed from his risk taking in the stories that he wrote and controversial use of explosive dialogues and topics like infidelity, impotence, alcoholism, and unhappy marriages.

In fact, critics were his stage plays were & simultaneously praised and denounced for addressing raw subject matter in a straightforward realistic way.  (The American Masters).

Just like all highly prolific writers, he was a troubled soul who turned to alcohol and drugs in order to try and find a sense of purpose in his life. He died in a New York City hotel in 1973, surrounded by half open bottles of hard drinks and bottles of pills. (The American Masters).

The Rose Tattoo  The Stage Play

Tennessee Williams wrote and informally staged The Rose Tattoo in 1950s Chicago. The New York Broadway premiere took place the next year to critical and audience acclaim. Considered to be the least emotionally drenching of his stage plays, it is believed that Mr. Williams dedicated this particular play to his sister Rose and Frank Merlo. (eNotes: The Rose Tattoo).

The original stage play cast Maureen Stapleton and Elli Wallach in the roles of Serafina Delle Rose and Alvaro Mangiacavallio respectively. (IBDB: The Official Source For Broadway Information)

The central character of the play is Serafina Delle Rose. A woman of boastful pride whose life is turned upside down by the death of her husband Rosario. Rosario is killed by police while committing the crime of smuggling.

Serafina who is pregnant at the time miscarries their second child and is left only with her daughter Rosario. As Serafina heads into a downward spiral over the years, she tries her best to manipulate her daughters life into becoming similar to hers. But Rosario manages to escape her clutches and she learns that her husband was unfaithful to her during his lifetime.

The main point of the story is the importance of and the lessons that can be taken from having humility in ones life. As a mixed genre play, it borrows elements from ancient Greek tragedies, Greco-Roman celebrations, and comedic elements (eNotes: The Rose Tattoo). The Broadway play opened at the Martin Beck Theater on February 3, 1951 and closed on October 27, 1951 after 306 performances (IBDB: The Official Source For Broadway Information).

Maureen Stapleton who was born on June 21, 1925, actually took over the role of Serafina from Anna Magnani, the original choice of Tennessee Williams for the role, because Ms. Magnani did not have a good grasp of the English language and refused to do the role on Broadway. So Ms. Stapleton, who is of Irish Catholic origin took on the role to critical acclaim. (Maureen Stapeleton: Imdb.com) She also participated in another Tennessee Williams stage play, she appeared in Orpheus Descending as Lady Torrance.

She won the Tony Award for Featured Actress in 1951 for The Rose Tattoo. Her prolific career spanned quite an impressive number of decades, having appeared in various movie and television roles in both major and supporting roles until 2006. Maureen Stapleton is best known as Mama Mae Peterson from the movie Bye Bye Birdie. Her last film appearance was as Mrs. Lundt in Living and Dining. Ms. Stapleton died on March 13, 2006 at the age of 80 (Maureen Stapleton: Imdb.com)

Elli Wallach was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 1, 1915 as Eli Herschel Wallach. Known as one of the true method actors of his time, he worked on the Broadway stage for over 30 years. His stage training was completed at The Actors Studio and Neighborhood Playhouse.

He was cast as Alvaro Mangiacavallo in The Rose Tattoo in 1951 for which he also won the Tony Award that year. He is still currently living with his long time wife Anne Jackson with whom he has 3 children. In 2005 he published his memoir entitled The Good, The Bad, and Me: In My Anecdotage. He continues to remain active in both film and television work. His latest film appearance was as Julie Steinhardt in Wall Street: The Money Never Sleeps back in 2010. (Elli Wallach: Imdb.com)

The Rose Tattoo  The Film Version

The film rights to The Rose Tattoo were acquired by Paramount Pictures and was subsequently turned into a motion picture in 1955. The film cast Burt Lancaster in the role of of Alvaro Mangiacavallo and Anna Magnani, in the role of Serafina. Ms. Magnani was the original choice of Tennessee Williams for the original Broadway stage play but she declined the role as she had a difficult time speaking in English at the time and felt she would not be able to do the role justice.

Luckily for the film producers, she had already improved in her grasp of the English language by the time the cameras began rolling on the film version so she was finally able to portray the role. The film was directed by Daniel Mann from a screenplay by Tennessee Williams, as adapted by Hal Kanter. (The Rose Tattoo: Imdb.com)

The Rose Tattoo was one of the most multi-awarded films of 1956. Anna Magnani swept the Best Actress categories at the Oscars, BAFTA, Golden Globes, National Board Of Review, and the New York Film Critics Circle Awards. The film also won the major Oscar categories Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography for that year. (The Rose Tattoo: Imdb.com)

Anna Magnani, who surname is pronounced as mahn-YANEE was born in March 7, 1908 in Rome, Italy as an illegitimate child of Marina Casadei and Francesco Magnani.

Raised by her grandmother in poverty stricken surroundings, she was a self supporting student who completed her education at the Elenora Duse Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in Rome. Supporting herself by singing in various cabarets and clubs earned her the monicker The Italian Edith Piaf. Known as the perennial toast of Rome, she was once described by drama critic Harold Clurman as having a volcanic acting talent. (Anna Magnani: Imdb.com)

Discovered by Italian film maker Goffredo Alessandrini in 1933, he gave her her first big break in the film La Cieca di Sorrento 9The Blind Man Of Sorrento) in 1934. Having met and impressed Tennessee Williams later in her life, he wrote The Rose Tattoo specifically with her in mind for the title role.

It was his full intention that she star in the original Broadway version but she declined to do so due to language issues. In 1955, the film became her first and most marked English speaking role. It was the role that would earn her a place amongst the greatest and enduring Hollywood talents as she won an Oscar for her portrayal of Serafina, the proud and boastful wife in the film. (Anna Magnani: imdb.com)

So drawn was Mr. Tennessee to this actress that he actually based the character of Serafina on Ms. Magnani and insisted that she be cast in the movie role after she had turned him down a few years before for the same role in the stage version. He described her acting ability as an:

& unconventional a woman as I have known in or out of my professional world, and if you understand me at all, you must know that in this statement I am making my personal estimate of her honesty, which I feel was complete.

She never exhibited any lack of self-assurance, any timidity in her relations with that society outside of whose conventions she quite publicly existed&. [s]he looked absolutely straight into the eyes of whomever she confronted and during that golden time in which we were dear friends, I never heard a false word from her mouth. (New York Times Review: Movies)

She was a highly active actress working in both the Italian and American cinema until 1972 when she was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. She died on September 26, 1973 at the age of 65. She was laid to rest at the Rosellini family vault having counted director Roberto Rosellini as one of her ex-boyfriends and lifetime friends. (Anna Magnani: imdb.com)

Burt Lancaster was born Burton Stephen Lancaster on November 23, 1913. Known for his tough guy image in films, he is regarded as one of the best actors of his generation. He was known to be an acrobat enthusiast and often did acrobatics to keep him in shape during shooting breaks, this is because Mr. Lancaster was once a member of a circus troupe.

He appeared in mostly manly films such as From Here To Eternity , The Cassandra Crossing, and Seven Days in May. He was the first leading man to appear with Anna Magnani in The Rose Tattoo, which, although a big name feature film for the award winning international actress, is actually one of Mr. Lancasters lesser known movie works. He died on October 20, 1994 at the age of 80 from natural causes. (Burt Lancaster: Imdb.com)

Why Was There An Intellectual Revolt Regarding The Rose Tattoo?

Tennessee Williams plays were known as the envelope pushers of its time. He was constantly testing the limits of public morals and the censors with his sexual overtones and intriguing dialogue. He normally got away with doing these kinds of things in his stage plays but it seems that for one particular group of English people, The Rose Tattoo finally went one innuendo too far.

The Rose Tattoo opened at the Pike Theatre in Dublin Ireland on May 12, 1957 with Anna Manahan in the title role. The play itself was well received by the theater-goers and was doing pretty well in terms of theater attendance and box office receipts. It was to be a short run however.

The director of the play, Alan Simpson was arrested by the police due to reports from some sectors of society regarding inappropriate scenes in the play. It was only one scene in The Rose Tattoo that was in question but the authorities thought it best to have the play shut down on grounds of decency. (The Pornographer Who Invented Wanderley Dragon).

Mr. Williams had written a scene that required the actor to insinuate that he had dropped a condom onto the floor. Technically, the condom fell out of the actors pocket.

The scene was not explicitly shown in the other theater showings of the play but in this presentation, director Simpson decided to actually show the scene even though he knew that it would cause a world of trouble for the production. (The Pornographer Who Invented Wanderley Dragon). It was that one act of censorship defiance that started the intellectual revolt regarding the closing of the play. According to the police report from that fateful day:

It had been brought to the attention of the police, read the document, that the play being produced that evening contained objectionable passages. These passages were to be removed if the performance was to proceed. If the play went ahead without cuts, Simpson and the co-owner of the theatre, Carolyn Swift (also his wife), would be liable for prosecution. The Inspector would not identify what passages were to be removed, and Simpson and Swift went ahead with the performance.(The Pornographer Who Invented Wanderley Dragon)

This was a revolt that was backed by the likes of noted playwrights Samuel Beckett, Sean OCasey and Brendan Behan. So unjust and without legal basis was the closing down of the play that the presiding judge himself, Justice OFlynn found himself declaring that their only objective was to close down the play which is why the director was arrested. There were no real charges that could be brought forth upon the theater or the plays producers at the time.

The belief of the police at the time was that the play was sex-obsessed and therefore was not fit for public performance. In actuality, the play was caught between a power struggle between the church and the state. It was the events surrounding this highly publicized international incident that became the basis of the book The Pornographer Who Invented Wanderley Dragon.

Current Stage Portrayals Of The Rose Tattoo

Like all the other plays of Tennessee Williams, The Rose Tattoo is considered to be one of the classic American stage plays. That is why it continues to be in production across the states and internationally today. The Huntington Theater Company is running the stage play from May 14  June 13. It stars Andrea Martin and Dominic Fumusa in the lead roles ( What Happened In Boston Willie).

The Manoel Theater began staging the play on May 20, 2011 as part of the centenary birthday celebration of Tennessee Williams and the 60th anniversary of the Broadway play. (Celebrating Tennessee Williams With A Rose Tattoo). Nyacks Elmwood Playhouse raised the curtains on their current production of The Rose Tattoo on May 21 and it will be running through till June 21. The lead roles are portrayed by Robin Peck and Andrew Lionetti under the direction of Jackie Poquette.

Having this many current theater production open all at the same time more than attests to the timelessness of the romantic and human interest story being portrayed in The Rose Tattoo.

References

Anna Magnani. Imdb.com imdb.com. n.d. Web.

Burt Lancaster. Imdb.com.imdb.com. n.d. Web.

Celebrating Tennessee Williams With A Rose Tattoo. timesofmalta.com. 9 May 2011. Web.

Eli Wallach. Imdb.com.imdb.com. n.d. Web.

Elmwood Playhouses production of The Rose Tattoo. Nyack  PiermontPatch. 20 May 2011. Web.

Maureen Stapleton. Imdb.com.imdb.com. n.d. Web.

Tennessee Williams. The American Masters. PBS. 8 February 1999. Web.

The Pornographer Who Invented Wanderley Wagon. Murphy, Colin. 15 February 2010. Web.

The Rose Tattoo. IBDB. The Internet Broadway Database. n.d. Web.

The Rose Tattoo. Dir. Daniel Mann. Perf. Anna Magnani, Burt Lancaster. Paramount Pictures. 1955.

The Rose Tattoo. Crowther, Bosley. New York Times: Movies. 13 December 1955. Web.

The Rose Tattoo. eNotes.com. n.d. Web.

What Happened In Boston Willie. Rossi, Carl A. n.d. Web.

Introduction

While analyzing the role of young people in Stieg Larssons novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, some basic ideas of the book must be revealed. First of all, it is necessary to point out that the novel belongs to the postmodern crime story. Larssons novel covers a variety of themes, which most important are serial murder, contemporary Swedish society, feminism, right-wing extremism, and the darkest sides of human nature. Generally, the role of young people is mostly associated with the last listed theme.

Family upbringing in Larssons novel

As far as abuse of young girls and women is considered to be one of the key events the author highlights, one can probably conclude that family upbringing is the burning problem of the society Larsson depicts in his work. The author gives readers an opportunity to trace back how sexual assault spoils peoples mind and distorts the way they accept the reality.

Thus, the protagonist of the story Lisbeth Salander is one of the young girls who has been subjected to violence by a man. When reading the novel, it becomes evident that there was not only the protagonist who experienced sexual assault, but almost every woman described in the novel. In order to prevent future abuse, Lisbeth neglects certain societal norms and rules for politeness (Book Review  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo par. 5).

The importance of the equality

One is to keep in mind that Lisbeth is not depicted as a fighter for justice. When describing abuses of young girls, Larsson shows the importance of the equality between genders. However, it should be noted that the term equality goes beyond its original meaning.

Therefore, the issue of equality should not be regarded in its common sense; equality does not mean seeking for social, economic or any other parity. Lisbeths case proves that equality must be regarded as a condition, when a person has no need to look round the corner before he or she takes a step.

Lisbeth Salander and other victims in Larssons work

Lisbeth Salander is considered to be the character of promise and redemption. Keeping in mind that most of women cannot defend themselves against sexual crime, Salander seems to represent a new response to violence. Of course, the girls bitter experience impacted on her mode of life.

Thus, Lisbeth Salander is a girl of spirit: she lacks femininity and some kind of vulnerability. It is no accident that most of women in Larssons story were raped and killed. The author wanted to show readers the level of social injustice. Larsson clarifies that sexual abuse is recognized to be the global problem.

So, the victims depicted in the novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo have a symbolical meaning. Larsson paints Swedish society as a place where financial reporters treated mediocre financial whelps like rock stars and violent crimes against women frequently go almost completely unnoticed and unpunished (Kyzer par. 5). In other words, one can conclude that there are two major problems Larsson is deeply concerned about: white collar corruption and violence against females.

The issue of morality

The issue of morality is also one of the major themes of the novel, which is to be discussed in detail. Thus, it is necessary to notice that sex education plays an important role in peoples life. Most of the young girls and women who were raped in Larssons novel were morally deprived. For this reason, their immoral behavior was associated with some biblical quotations.

Violence as one of peoples future determinants

Most of critics agree that the protagonist of the story Lisbeth Salander is mostly associated with a feminist avenger. Thus, the author gives us an opportunity to trace back what other characters of the novel think about Salander: Armansky wondered whether he might be mistaken or whether Salander really was unsure how to continue.

The Salander he knew was never unsure or hesitant (Larsson 42). When analyzing the plot of the novel, it becomes obvious that her prickly personality was probably formed on the basis of constant abasement she experienced when was younger. However, it should be noted that most of victims cannot resist violence and make no attempts to stop offenders.

If one divides victims into two categories (those who can resist offenders and those who are ready to suffer), he or she will notice how violence frustrates peoples future. Stronger people will probably start to lead a secluded life, in order to avoid future abuse; the perspectives for those who have been cracked because of violence are of wide range: some victims can ruin themselves with alcohol, drugs, etc.; others can go off their heat.

Larsson gives his readers an opportunity to understand how violence changes peoples values, expectations and beliefs. Moreover, he shows the way peoples bright hopes are replaced by certain worthless expectations.

The author reflects how violence impacts on the young girls worldview; he gives us a chance to compare two personalities of those who have been abused the so-called personalities before and after: on the one hand, he describes the girls who believe in future, who have a lot of opportunities, who enjoy life; on the other hand, he shows the way sexual abuse transforms peoples desires: he depicts how violence destroys peoples faith, and outlines peoples existence.

Stieg Larssons novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo reveals the importance of gender and social justice. Nobody will deny the fact that there are new generations who determine a countrys future. It depends upon young people whether the society will be civilized or no. However, grown-ups are to think about security of their children.

The society is to take security measures, in order to protect individuals from domestic violence, rape and other sexual assault. Lisbeth Salander as one of the young girls who experienced violence is considered to be a powerful person who shows readers the roots of feminism. Haunted, resilient, savvy, dark, unpredictable, and endlessly resourceful, she delivers ingeniously planned and colorful acts of vigilante justice to the irredeemable criminals who have the misfortune or poor judgment to cross her path (Lyubansky and Shpungin 1).

Despite the fact that Lisbeth withstood sexual abuse, one can notice that her life is gloomy and she is alone. Lisbeth has no friends, she is unhappy and morose. Such traits in her character can be regarded as the so-called consequences of violence she faced. The protagonist of the novel is considered to be the authors personal angel of justice. Keeping in mind certain symbolical interpretations of Larssons work, one can state that the main character is the only appropriate tool of doing fairness.

Conclusion

Finally, it should be pointed out that the young people in Larssons novel symbolize the most important problems the modern society faces. Showing violence the young girls and women have been subjected to, the author highlights the importance of equality and social justice.

Works Cited

Book Review  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Seattle Pacific University. Web.

Kyzer, Larissa. Three Percent Review. Rochester.edu. n.d. Web.

Larsson, Stieg. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, NY: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2008. Print.

Lyubansky, Mikhail and Elaine, Shpungin. The Cost of Justice. Illinois.edu. 2011. Web.

Introduction

In the ancient period people adopted many cultural practices and the use of tattoos was one of them. Tattoos served different purposes in various societies. For instance, in ancient Egypt, people used tattoos as part of body decorations. In some societies, people used them to identify a group of individuals.

Around 2000 B.C, the Chinese also started using them for the purpose of identifying notorious offenders in their society. In Japan, members of criminal gangs could also use them to identify their colleagues in the gangs. In addition to these, soldiers in England also used tattoos for identification.

The word tattoo seems to be fairly modern. The word was derived from the Polynesian or Samoan root word tatu, a verb meaning to strike (Gilbert 23). This word first featured in 1796 in the diary of a prominent captain in Britain called James Cook. A tattoo is a marking made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment (Rainer 34).

In some cases, tattoo means a military operation, and it can also refer to continuous drumming. In England, the use of tattoos became prominent in the Victorian era. The tattoo machine also originated During the Victorian period.

During that era, many explorers were fascinated by the communities that used tattoos, and they always took some individuals who had tattoos for exhibitions. This paper seeks to analyze how tattoos were used in the Victorian era, and how they also affected other social values. The above highlighted uses of tattoos will also be examined in detail.

Cultural context of Tattooing

A study of tattoo origin and how people perceived it in different cultures is invaluable. This is because it facilitates the understanding of its social impacts to the societies that practiced it. Tattoo practices advanced in the following regions as follows.

Tattooing in Europe

There is scarce evidence about tattooing practices that were conducted in ancient Europe, especially before the introduction of the art of writing. Tattoos do not lend themselves very well to preservation in the material record (Allen 123). However, archaeological evidence normally depicts the practice of tattooing among the European tribes. For example, ancient equipment for tattooing was located in France.

Other artifacts linked to tattooing were also discovered in sites located in Europe. Those artifacts included tools, ochre lamps, pencils, and also borne implements that were probably used as body piercing objects. These artifacts are intriguing and they were identified as one of the tattooing objects. Nonetheless, a comprehensive ruling about the use of those tools cannot be reached because nobody is sure of their specific uses. This is because ancient human skins that were decorated using tattoos cannot be found.

Prehistoric individuals who had marks on their bodies and foreheads can actually embody the use of tattoos. For instance the body of Ortzi that was found close to the Austro Italian border provides concrete evidence of primordial tattooing in Europe.

He had tattoos inform of small crosses which were inscribed on his left knee. He also has some blotches on his ankle. Anthropologists that examined Ortzis skin contended that the tattoos on his body were probably due to the incisions that doctors made on his skin in the process of treating him.

Greek sources indicate that eastern European tribes tattooed themselves. According to archaeological evidence, tattoos signified high status in society, and they could only be used by influential individuals. These cultures developed a long with horse riding activities that enabled them to have more advantages in military expeditions. In 1993, a discovery of mummified bodies was made in burial mounds situated on Altai Mountains that are found in Siberia.

Two bodies of those bodies had beautiful tattoos. The tattoos were spread on their bodies especially on their arms, shoulders, and legs. The tattoos looked sophisticated and they could much the current qualities. The tattoos represented some creatures like tigers, snakes and fish. Skin pricking techniques were applied in making those tattoos. This technique was not similar to the Siberian sewing-in technique.

In Asia, tattoos had magical connotations. For instance, they offered protection, and they also determined success in hunting and fishing activities. Herodotus noted that the Scythians used tattoos as part of their body art, and he also believed that their contact with other cultures enabled them to adopt this practice.

Athenaeus traced the origin of tattooing among the Thracians. For example, a Thracian vase that was found in fifth century had tattoos inscribed on it. He wrote that the Scythians invaded Thrace and humiliated local women by marking their bodies with blue dots (Rainer 56). The women who had marks on their bodies could then use decorative designs to conceal their marks.

When the Romans and Greeks dominated Europe, decorative tattooing was regarded as barbaric. This believe gradually disappeared and the uses of tattoos also changed. Criminals and slaves had their bodies marked as part of the punitive measures that they were given. This act made people to detest tattooing practices that were conducted by Romans and Greeks. Moreover, military and devotional tattoos, together with tattoo removal began among Romans and Greeks.

The Persians introduced punitive tattooing among the Greeks. The Greeks used tattoos to identify their slaves and prisoners by fixing tattoos on their foreheads. Romans also used tattoos for control measures. For instance, gladiators, slaves, and offenders, could be distinguished using certain tattoos (Rainer 67). Offenders with tattoos often felt so much humiliated and this deterred others from engaging in vices.

Tattooing of soldiers also assisted in classifying soldiers from different territories, and it also bonded soldiers in various units. Apart from punitive functions, tattoos were used in religious cults that preceded Christianity. Members of those cults were tattooed to signify their allegiance to fertility goddess.

Pilgrim tattoos also became popular in the middle ages, and it was part of the devotional tattoos. People who went to holy places received ritual tattoos, to indicate their completion of pilgrimage. For example, William Lithgow had pilgrimage tattoos. Tattoos also remained in use even in the medieval period in Europe. Tattooing later spread to other territories like America, and this process was facilitated by explorers and monks who often travelled.

Tattooing in Asia

Chinese and Japanese tattoos have significantly contributed to the current tattooing culture. The first account of tattooing in Asia occurred around 200 B.C. The Yue individuals practiced tattooing for protection against monsters and dragons. Tattoos were also common among Chinese slaves, criminals, prostitutes, servants, concubines, and soldiers. Tattoos served both punitive and identification functions.

For instance, the Chinese could cut unfaithful concubines eyebrow and then fill it with some pigment as a ways of punishment. Unfaithful husbands were given forehead tattoos. On the hand, convicted criminals had ear tag tattoos. Individuals who were tattooed for wrong reasons faced myriad consequences in the society.

For example, people could ignore and isolate them. Tattooing was also used to compel soldiers to remain in service. This is because they could still be identified even if they deserted the army. After sometime, the stigma associated with tattoos faded and the affluent individuals also started using them. In the nineteenth century, there was a rise in demand for tattoos in Asia. This saw the emergence of tattooists. The tattoos were inscribed using different colors and designs.

Tattooing in Pacific

Many societies have been practicing tattooing but only for specific purposes. However, in the Pacific region tattooing is part of the cultural heritage. Tattooing in Pacific Islands was borrowed from Asia. Tattooing symbolized ones status, and it was also used during mourning. Initiated boys also used tattoos to symbolize the change of their status.

Tattooing among boys was also meant to test the confidence among initiates. This is because the process of inscribing the tattoos was painful and this could prepare them for challenges they would face as adults. The tattoo designs in this region were mainly geometric. Lines, checkers, spirals, and solid colors formed the tattoo design.

The tattoo designs in this place were fascinating because they were beautifully designed. Hence, they were fascinating to the explorers. Some of explorers tattooed their bodies, and they took that practice to Europe. Tattooing was practiced by soldiers, sailors, and the prosperous individuals also embraced them. The missionary influence, however, led to the decline of this practice. They were out to get rid of unacceptable customs and practices. A part from tattooing, cannibalism, and human sacrifice were also eradicated.

Victorian Society and Tattoos

The Victorian era refers to the reign of Queen Victoria in England. She ruled the kingdom between 1837 to 1901.The Victorian era came after the Edwardian reign. This Victorian era had a remarkable stability, and there was also a great economic development. The Victorian morality was different from that of the Georgian era. The Victorian morality can describe any set of values that espouse sexual restraint, low tolerance of crime, and a strict social code of conduct (Caplan 156).

Most of these values were adopted in other places. The Victorian morality, were reflected in all aspects of life. For example, religious values were highly respected. This is because the church was one of the most powerful institutions. The Anglican Church controlled many schools and other government departments. The church also expected people to be submissive, and obedient. These values brought fundamental changes in England.

Tattooing was also conducted during the Victorian era. In this case, tattooing business was conducted just like other commercial activities. For example, adults who wanted tattoos could have them fixed to their bodies at a certain fee. This kind of exchange resembled other commodity exchanges.

James Bradley, who studied the Victorian era, noted that tattooing was a significant practice during that time. People perceived tattooing as an emotive and intimate act. The tattooing practices in the Victorian era mainly originated from the colonial period. Japanese tattooing also had an influence on the Victorian era tattooing. The type and size of a tattoo that a person inscribed indicated his economic background.

For example, the affluent could inscribe big tattoos, while the less privileged had small and poorly designed tattoos. There was nothing trivial about this form of tattooing, for it indicated the depth to which economic relations infiltrated the tissues of the body (DeMello 267). Apart from monetary attachment, a tattoo signified ones ability to endure pain. Heavily tattooed individuals had to be ready for criticisms because they could be negatively perceived by others.

Therefore, the tattoo was treated as a product, and it had various meanings to individuals who used it. A given tattoo design did not have a specific meaning to people. This is because people used and constructed their own meanings to them. A tattoo could mean varied things depending on the cultural context that an individual used it. Individuals from one cultural background had the same understanding of a given tattoo.

For instance, in the nineteenth century, if a person engraved an anchor tattoo, it showed that he was a fisherman or a sailor. In the Victorian England, many people including the aristocrats practiced tattooing. For example, Prince of Wales visited Jerusalem, and he got a tattoo design that resembled Jerusalem cross.

During the Victorian era, many tattoo artists exited, but the aristocrats hired popular Japanese tattooists to engrave for them tattoos. They used Japanese tattoos simply because they were more refined, and unique compared to the indigenous ones that were widely used by the people in low classes.

Some affluent individuals could even visit Japan to have their bodies tattooed by highly qualified tattooist. A few years after the opening of Japan in 1853, intricate and beautifully stylized tattoos became all the rage among the elites in Europe, a fad that lasted from 1880 to 1920 (Sanders 134 ).

Therefore, Japanese tattoos were introduced in England and they became fashionable. For example, in 1882, Edwards sons, the Duke of Clarence and the Duke of York were tattooed by the Japanese tattooist Hoti Chiyo, and George V also received a tattoo of a dragon on his arm (Rush 456).

However, the British princess never displayed their tattoos in public. Many sources that describe nineteenth century events indicate that tattooing was commonly practiced by seamen, and also by soldiers. Van Dinter noted that soldiers and sailors incorporated new ideas into European tattooing by adding non western symbols and ideas to it.

One fascinating thing about the culture of tattooing is that the middle class influenced the high class to adopt it as one of the fashions of that time. This was quite peculiar because fashion trends normally begin with elites, and then descend to the peasants. In 1846, tattoo shop was opened for the first time in New York, and it mainly served soldiers who wanted tattoos.

Prior to the introduction of tattoo equipment, tattooing posed many health risks. For example, bleeding, and swelling could sometimes occur due to the use traditional tattooing techniques. This led to restrictions on tattooing and some taboos were also created to reduce tattooing activities. For example, women were not allowed to eat oily food staffs after tattooing their lips, and they were also advised against touching the tattooed parts.

Rituals and customs associated with tattooing always varied among the communities, but they all aimed at making the process safe. In 1891, Samuel Reilly developed electric tattooing equipment. This machine transformed the practices of tattooing so much. This is because it made the process of tattooing less painful and dangerous. Many people could also easily access tattooing services. Moreover, the new technique did not involve skin penetration. Hence, infections associated with tattooing reduced.

Apart from serving other purposes, tattoos also provided aesthetic qualities especially to those who were keen on enhancing their beauty. Therefore, ugly tattoos were hated because they would interfere with ones beauty. Beautiful tattoos were mostly applied by young women who wanted feminine images that could attract men. On the other hand, men wore masculine tattoos as a way of enticing women. The aesthetic value associated with wearing tattoos made them popular during the Victorian era.

Among the gangs, tattoos symbolized long term commitment and membership. Some tattoos could also convey some information among criminal gangs. For example, a giant swastika on the forehead included the wearer in a neo Nazi-gang, but also excluded him from regular society (Caplan 345).

It also indicated ones defiance to the established social norms. The Victorian authorities in some cases administered punishments to criminals by branding them using specific types of tattoos that could be fixed strategically on their bodies. Hence, they could be easily monitored by everybody.

While some people really liked tattooing, others who were unwillingly tattooed really detested the act. For example, John Rutherford narrated his nasty experience of how he was captured and forcefully tattooed on his forehead. Besides this, tattooing also received criticism from leading figures, who often linked it to prostitution, urban life, and criminals.

Conclusion

The nature of tattoos can sometimes make them appear superficial. However, when tattoos are keenly observed they look more sophisticated. It is not only on the skin, but also embedded in the living skin, making it unique among all art forms (Gilbert 178). Tattoos convey various meanings and identities.

Tattoos had profound impacts on the European culture that stretched beyond a fad among young people. Tattoos served punitive, aesthetic, religious, and administrative functions. Tattooing is among the ancient practices that have managed to survive at present.

Technology and society have refined tattooing practices. However, the uniqueness of a tattoo as an art form and the layers of meaning that can be taken or imposed upon it have contributed to its continued survival from prehistoric times to present (Sanders 135). The manner in which people practice tattooing is quite distinct from how it was done in the past, however, common themes remain.

People are getting more captivated by tattoos, and its acknowledgment is also on the rise. It is hard to predict the future of tattooing culture, but it will surely continue to be a part of the human experience as it has for millennia (Rainer 198).

Modern tattooing evolved in the1960s, when tattooing as part of body art now became recognized as part of skin art. Tattooing has gained much prominence today especially in Europe and America. This practice is sometimes called tattoo renaissance.

At present, one can easily find a tattoo shop in any neighbor hood in Europe, and its use is quite prevalent among the youth in urban areas. This cultural explosion of tattooing has sparked both scholarly and popular interests. For instance, many people and scholars have written quite a lot of literature on this issue.

Works Cited

Allen, Tricia. The Polynesian Tattoo. London: Mutual Publishing Company, 2010.

Caplan, Jane. Written on the Body: The Tattoo in European and American History. New York: Princeton University Press, 2000.

DeMello, Margo. Bodies of Inscription: A Cultural History of the Modern Tattoo Community. London: Wiley, 2000.

Gilbert, Steve. The Tattoo History. New York: Juno Books, 2000.

Rainer, Chris. Ancient Marks: The Sacred Origins of Tattoos and Body Marking. New York: Earth Aware Editions, 2006.

Rush, John. Spiritual Tattoo: A Cultural History of Tattooing, Piercing, Scarification, Branding, and Implants. Hoston: Frog Books, 2001.

Sanders, Clinton. Customizing the Body: The Art and Culture of Tattooing. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.

Lots of people find tattoos rather interesting because they make human bodies more beautiful and make people unique. In fact, these people just do not want to see how many cons of this activity may be and truly believe that this little picture on their body will make them better.

So, the vast majority of people prefer to make tattoos just because to attract someone’s attention and be interesting to someone else. However, to my mind, it is better to be beautiful inside and be able to communicate with people properly. In this case, tattoos will never be a cause of good communication and attractiveness.

This is why I cannot agree with my child, who is going to make a tattoo on her body. Of course, young people can find lots of pros in order to make a tattoo; however, it is crucially important to take into consideration rather significant cons of tattoos and think more than one time before making this little picture on your own body.

First of all, all teenagers change their mind lots of times within a short period of time. Tattoos are the things, which stay with people for ever. It is crucially important to think so many times in order to be sure that the chosen picture or phrase will be in accordance with her taste during whole life.

For example, Johnny Depp made a tattoo that read “Winona Forever” in order to demonstrate his love to his girlfriend. However, with time, they broke up, and Johnny had to change it into “Wino Forever”. Of course, he is a celebrity and can allow numerous changing on his body with proper medical assistance. Me daughter will hardly spend so much money just in order to change one her mistake into another.

Can you imagine an 80-year old grandmother with a tattoo “I love Rock & Roll” on her hand? Hardly! And if you meet such a grandma, you will certainly smile a bit. This is why children have to think about their future and how they will look like in several years.

It is necessary to admit that my child is a teenage girl, who does not think about future job and career. However, she should know that tattoos may considerably influence her future career growth. Usually, people should have a proper appearance to visit this or that public place.

Lots of establishments do not allow their employees to have tattoos. One my friend has a pretty tattoo on her shoulder; and her job is really serious. Well, she has to change her style of cloth and buy lots of blouses with long sleeves, so that her boss never notices this forbidden tattoo.

Of course, it should be remembered that tattoos may cause certain problems with skin. If a tattoo is done within inappropriate conditions, it is quite possible to get some disease or infection. It is better to remind her that, one day, she will become a mom, and some problems with skin should not bother her and her future child.

So, is it so crucially important to make a tattoo, when you are so young? Maybe, it is better to make some temporary tattoo that can be removed with time. Even more, in order to ensure my girl that she can allow certain things, I will promise to provide her with the necessary financial help to make a temporary tattoo and even buy her another pair of shoes that will suit her new temporary tattoo.

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary (2009) holds that a stereotype is “something conforming to a fixed or general pattern; especially: a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment”. This definition captures the essence of stereotyping as it is prevalent in the world today. Stereotypes have always existed since the formation of first human societies. This essay examines the stereotypes associated with Politicians, Tattooed persons, Feminists, and Senior Citizens.

The word ‘politician’ immediately invokes an image of a devious, manipulative, slimy individual for whom all values are relative. Have you ever heard of an honest politician is a common derisive refrain. “Politicians are/may be evasive when answering questions (Ensink & Sauer, 2003, p. 130)” is a common stereotype. The problem lies in the nature of the job of a politician that require producing results which almost no human can ever deliver. This negative stereotype finds universal acceptance and there is no ‘North-South’ divide on such a stereotype. Occasionally, some politicians do buck the trend, but such personalities are a handful of charismatic leaders such as Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, to name a few, who through their personal example have earned the admiration of others. Currently, Barack Obama defies the negative stereotype that politicians have acquired over the years.

Tattoos in ancient cultures were badges of belongingness to a particular clan or a tribe. Tattoos served to frighten, as camouflage and as a mark of social acceptability in specified cultures. The Western aversion for the tattooed persons grew out of the experience of the colonists when they came into conflict with indigenous cultures that were rightfully fighting for the defense of their lands. This experience extended not only though the Americas, but also much of Africa, Asia and the Oceania. Popular culture, books, movies and television reinforced the image of a tattooed ‘injun’ barbarically ‘scalping’ the poor ‘civilized’ white man. In so much, tattoos became to be identified with the deviant and the wicked. The street culture, punks, skinheads, biker gangs as well as street and prison gangs soon adopted these badges of kinship that further reinforced the common negative perception about tattoos. The ‘straight’ gentry even today look with trepidation when they come across with someone with tattoos. Hewitt (1997) report that studies have held that the psychopathology or social or emotional maladjustment is significantly higher among tattooed than among non-tattooed men (p. 72).A tattooed man is less likely to gain entry to Ivy League communities than those without such ‘marks of mutilation’. Despite the ameliorative effect of television serials such as ‘Miami Ink’, Tattoos by and large invoke a negative stereotype of murderers, rapists, troublemakers, arsonists, anarchists, neo-nazis and such like.

Feminists invoke the picture of Germaine Greer and the ‘Bra Burning’ stereotype (Dicker & Piepmeier, 2003, p. 119). Feminists are often stereotyped as the sorts who want to ‘wear pants’ and are usually ‘Butches’. It has often been said that the glass ceiling has yet to be broken when it comes to dealing with feminists. Much of Continental America is yet quite conservative despite the outwardly appearance of modernity, gender equality and liberalism. In the US, feminists are politely tolerated. This stereotype however, differs from region to region. In Europe, feminists are more widely accepted and not looked at with such derision as they are in America. In more traditional Eastern societies such as the Indian sub continent, the term feminist is received with incredulity. Some parts of India have genuine matriarchal societies where accepting the decisions of the woman of the house is acceptable. However, that does not translate to ‘feminist’ issues as the western world understands it.

Senior Citizens without doubt invoke the stereotype of wisdom and automatic respect universally. ‘Old is Gold’ refers not only to objects but also to people. It is this stereotype of wisdom (Brearley, 1990, p. 5) and sobriety that has seen the preference of national leaders’ world wide being in their mid-fifties to eighties. The trend towards ‘Old is Gold’ is especially prevalent in the Indian subcontinent and China where political leaders as old as eighty one lead active political life and dream of leading their nations. The old also invoke a stereotype of being ‘slow’ and ‘senile’. While it is an undeniable medical fact that the body does slow down after 40 and that the brain’s functioning also slackens in the sixties and the seventies for a large segment of the population, there are always many exceptions to the rule. Negative stereotypes such as a ‘dirty old man’, ‘old witch’ (Osgood, 1992, p. 34) are comparatively rare. Overall, senior citizens are held in positive light the world over.

The author of this essay too falls in the stereotypical category of youth, the ‘brash’ and ‘immature’ segment of human population. The very ‘bouncy’ gait of the author reflects the impatience, over-confidence and effervescence of youth that holds some truth and some over exaggeration. The universally held ‘truth’ that the young ‘do not think’ is a myth as this well thought out essay shows otherwise.

Works Cited

Brearley, C. P. (1990). Working in Residential Homes for Elderly People. Florence, KY: Routledge.

Dicker, R. C., & Piepmeier, A. (2003). Catching a wave: reclaiming feminism for the 21st century. Lebanon, NH: University Press of New England.

Ensink, T., & Sauer, C. (2003). Framing and perspectivising in discourse. Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Hewitt, K. (1997). Mutilating the body: identity in blood and ink. Wisconsin: Popular Press.

Osgood, N. J. (1992). Suicide in later life: recognizing the warning signs. Lanham: Lexington Books.

Stereotype. (2009). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Web.

I have a tattoo on my body, which is often considered a demonstration of deviance. Historically, tattoos are attributed to deviance and marginality, but today there is an opinion that this art form is losing this negative association. In the United States, this art retains both negative and positive perceptions as a new trend wave and stigmatizing mark. Negative perceptions of tattoos are far from unique to the global community. Even Japan’s highly ornate and artful tattoos carry negative connotations and associations with criminals. The instances when I perceive my tattoos as a negative social construct are rare. However, sometimes it is possible to catch a glimpse of depreciation from the older generation of people in public places, which reminds me of such a construct. This situation occurred in the park when I saw an old lady shaking her head, disapproving of my outlook and the tattoo.

The association between tattoos and deviance could be easily understood from several cultural perspectives. Tattoos are prohibited in a wide range of religions, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (Morello, 2020). It could be associated with the belief in the sacredness of one’s body, which should not be stained or defied. However, this view is extremely outdated and provides preferential treatment to conformity, which limits the level of self-expression and does not recognize individuality in tattooing.

People who encourage traditional and overly conservative views despise tattoos. The origin of the negative perception could be traced to early imperialism or Enlightenment. At the time, it was assumed that tattoos represent the culture and practices of communities that are marginalized, such as “natives, remote islanders, sailors, miners, soldiers, and more recently, members of urban tribes and gangs” (Morello, 2020, p. 62). This narrative is changing slowly as the cultures that showed active negativity review the past. Therefore, those who remain adamant about conservative perceptions might feel marginalized and desire everything to return to the past. Nevertheless, those who view tattoos negatively represent a considerable part of the population. Consequently, among such social circles, a perfect version of myself would be a woman wearing clothing that covers most of the body, pure in heart, and behaving like a woman who reveres her husband and dedicates all her attention to the family.

To earn money for my personal needs, I helped high school students prepare for the SATs. It is impossible to predict how their parents will react to the tattoo. People generally accept socialization or learning theory as a fact. Sutherland’s Theory of Differential Association suggests that close socialization of young people with deviants may encourage or motivate them to follow the non-conformist path (Clinard & Meier, 2011). Consequently, before going to work, I ensured that my tattoo was hidden beneath my clothing and never brought up the topic to avoid a slip of the tongue and keep my job as a tutor. However, not all attempts were successful, especially before my conservative parents. I was reluctant to show my parents the tattoo because it might shock them. Therefore, I hid my tattoo in front of them for a long time. I successfully hid it until the meeting with my relatives, who accidentally saw me changing in my room and conveying the news, which brought up a large conflict at home.

I embraced my deviance relatively recently when I became confident in myself and my body. From the beginning, I liked my tattoo as an expression of my inner self. I have a diverse social circle of friends with tattoos. Many of them could understand the struggles of being unable to tell their parents about this small detail. However, after being able to distinguish myself in my parents’ eyes and gain their acceptance, I finally embraced my tattoo fully.

References

Clinard, M. B., & Meier, R. F. (2011). Sociology of deviant behavior. Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Morello SJ, G. (2020). I’ve got you under my skin: Tattoos and religion in three Latin American cities.Social Compass, 68(1), 61–80.

Introduction

Tattoos have been used as skin decorations since ancient times. The word comes from the Tahitian word ‘tatau’, meaning “to mark” (Abramovitz, 2003).

The tattoo itself is a design created by a tattooist, who draws or stencils the desired pattern on the skin. Then the operator guides a small tattooing machine over the skin in a manner similar to the way a sewing machine works. The machine has one or more needles connected to tubes containing dyes. Each needle repeatedly punctures the skin and releases tiny ink droplets underneath. The procedure may involve significant pain and bleeding. Depending on the size of the tattoo, it may take from a half-hour to several hours to complete. If all goes well, the skin heals in one to two weeks. Tattoo shops are illegal in some states. Even in places where they are legal and are regulated by local licensing laws, they may be prohibited from serving minors (Abramovitz, 2003).

Main body

People have different opinions about getting a tattoo. Some abhor it, while some are seemingly addicted to putting prints all over their body. For those who don’t like getting a tattoo, their foremost reason is that they have a low tolerance to pain. They could not imagine themselves being pricked hundreds, or maybe thousands, of times by a needle just to have their body printed. The second common reason is that they despise the idea of having printed marks on their skin.

But for those people who are totally into tattooing, there are a number of reasons why they do.

First, it should be noted that people of all ages can have a tattoo. And according to statistics, teenagers, with ages ranging from 13-21 years old, rank the first of those who have tattoos. These teenagers then revealed that trends and/or fashion statements are the foremost reasons. Having tattoos has become a fashion statement from all over the world. Becoming ‘in’ or trendy is also relative to friends’ pressures. Sometimes, a teenager would feel compelled to having a tattoo because all of his/her friends have one or two. More so, as part of tattooing as a fashion statement, there are some people who use tattoos to enhance their physical appearance. This can be done by getting permanent eyeliner, lipstick, and others through tattoos.

The second most common reason why people get tattoos is the need for the association. Most often than not, tattoos are used as a sign or insignia of a certain group (fraternity, sorority, etc.) or even a cult. If one would like to be a member of such groups, they would need to pass the initiation process of the group and eventually have a significant tattoo on their body. This tattoo is not just a symbol of the group. It also signifies the commitment of each member to the group as if saying ‘the group is already a part of your body, how you take care of your body will exactly be how you will take good care of the group; as the tattoo will be a permanent mark of your body, it would mean that the group will be a permanent part of your life, wherever you go, whatever you do, the tattoo [the group] will always be with you.

A tattoo is a very important symbol of belonging to some gangs. It is one of the most dynamic indicators of gang affiliation to which a gang investigator has immediate access. Many gangs use tattoos to indicate membership in a specific gang. It is not uncommon, however, to find some groups that use no specific tattoos as identifiers.

Tattoos are part of a process of nonverbal communication used by gang members. Without the need to verbally communicate, a gang member, as well as observant non-gang members, can identify a fellow gang member or rival (Riley, 2006).

Often found in books on gangs, both prison and street gang tattoos are available as either illustrations or actual photos. Newer publications often have a photograph of the gang tattoo. While many gang tattoos are somewhat standardized, the variations of tattoos, “artistic license” employed by the individual gang member, or simply the effort to disguise the tattoo, demonstrate the need for education in the understanding of tattoos as an identifier (Riley, 2006).

Not only are the teenagers who seek association. Sometimes, even those adults (parents, workers, community members, and the likes) would feel the need to associate themselves to a group where their beliefs, personalities, and views towards life will never be at stake nor taken for granted. These people who seek comfort in various groups or organizations would not mind having their bodies get tattooed as long as they will be accepted as full-time and/or committed members.

Another reason why people get tattoos is because of machismo, which is of course typical for the men who acquire body tattoos. It should be noted that it is not easy to get a tattoo. One should muster great courage and should have an extra high tolerance for pain before he/she can even try getting a tattoo, especially if it will be just for the very first time. Getting pricked by a needle is not the only painful process, because getting the tattooed part healed in a matter of time is also challenging. Hence, most males who can have at least one small tattoo on their body can proudly call themselves ‘macho’ because they have with them a symbol of a real man. They can go even further by having more and more tattoos. The more tattoos they have, the more masculine and ‘macho’ they look like.

To counteract the male machismo, females, have their own reason for getting a tattoo. If males can, so can the women. As the battle of the sexes is really prominent nowadays, expect that women will do whatever the men do and vice versa, just to prove that males and females are really equal (in all aspects, whether it is for fun or pain). Thus, women would also dare themselves to get tattoos. Like the men, the more tattoos the women can have, the stronger, and audacious they feel they are.

Another reason why people get tattoos is their love for the arts. Tattoo, however painful it may seem, is an art. There are some who consider themselves artistic by having their bodies get painted permanently. Some would even have the tendency to have their whole body (except the very delicate parts like their eyes, genitals, etc) get tattooed. Some would have different designs, whatever design that would pop up to their mind, they will have it on the tattoo. Some prefer having just one design for the whole body, an example of which is an animal design that can be done (choosing an animal and asking the tattoo expert to make him/her look like the said animal thru tattoos). Relative to the love for art is the need to using it as a form of expression. People with tattoos express their thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions through the different designs and prints they have on their bodies.

Acquiring a tattoo is also part of the cultural beliefs and traditions of some minority groups in various countries. Like the Maoris of New Zealand. The ‘Elders’ or the leaders of the Maori groups are normally seen with big tattoos on their faces (including their lips). Any Maori who would see another Maori with significant tattoos on their faces will pay respect even he/she doesn’t know him personally.

Last but certainly not least, the reason is an addiction to pain. Yes, there are some people who are addicted to the pain brought by the pricking of a needle. These are the type of people who look very ecstatic every time they see the tattoo experts. These are those people who would try to get a tattoo almost twice or thrice a month and are always looking forward to seeing a needle being pierced into their skin.

Conclusion

Indeed there are a number of reasons why people get tattoos. But however strange these people may have, there is one common denominator for it… and it is preference. It will be the person’s choice to follow the trend and get a tattoo. It is the person’s preference to get associated in a group, fraternity, or sorority. It is the person’s choice to follow the cultural beliefs of his people. It will always be one person’s choice to get a tattoo, whether it has a valid reason or not.

References:

Abramovitz, Melissa. 2003. What you should know about tattooing and body piercing: find out why getting a tattoo or body piercing can be risky. Current Health 2

Swayne, Nicola. 2002 So, just why are so many people having a tattoo? The Mirror (London, England) 2002 MGN Ltd.

Riley, William. 2006. Interpreting gang tattoos. Corrections Today. American Correctional Association, Inc.

Rohrer, Finlo. 2007. So why do ‘normal’ people get tattoos? BBC News Magazine

Over the years, people have gone for body piercings and tattoos for several reasons. Those who get tattooed argue that it helps them gain recognition from the rest of society. Although tattoos may be socially beneficial, there are many negative impacts of getting tattooed. In this regard, I do not accept tattoos.

Tattoos have more negative impacts than positive impacts. Therefore, people should not go for tattoos because of the negative impacts outweigh the benefits. Some of the reasons why I disagree with tattoos are disadvantages of them as career limitations, negative self-esteem, negative impacts on health, as well as decreased involvement in community affairs. Tattoos are a disadvantage to job seekers since they limit career opportunities.

Moreover, people who have tattoos tend to experience difficulties when interacting with others, and they may experience low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness. Tattoos compromise the health of people since body piercing can cause skin infections. Tattoos also limit involvement in community affairs.

The first reason why I do not prefer tattoos is the fact that they limit career advancement. Employers do not like hiring people who have tattoos. Most workplaces have negative attitudes towards people having tattoos, and it is always hard to get a job when one has a tattoo. On the same note, it is challenging to be promoted when one has a tattoo.

In some cases, employees may even lose their jobs when they wear tattoos because employers do not encourage tattooing. It is believed that tattoos may affect an organization negatively.

For example, in some professions such as business, law, the military, education, and medical professions, people are not supposed to wear tattoos if they want to work in these spheres. Although some professions encourage people to wear tattoos, the employees have to dress in clothes that hide the tattoos.

The other reason why I disagree with tattoos is that they lower the self-esteem of the person wearing them. This happens due to the fact that tattoo wearers always feel anxious and they may also experience depression. People wearing tattoos may develop feelings of low self-worth and low self-esteem because they may not fit into the rest of society.

For example, tattoos may lead to labeling and stereotyping of the individuals wearing them. As a result, the tattoo wearers may not feel as being a part of society and may isolate themselves from other people in society. In addition, persons wearing tattoos may be considered as outcasts and deviants by society. Society views tattooing as deviant behavior, and this lowers the self-esteem of the tattoo wearers.

Thirdly, I disagree with the idea of getting tattoos because they negatively affect the health of the tattoo wearers. The wearing of tattoos may affect health negatively since it may lead to some diseases. Several health complications emanate from the wearing of tattoos. These complications include infections, allergies, as well as chronic illnesses like hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Hepatitis B results from the use of one needle with several clients without properly sterilizing the needle. Another health hazard posed by tattooing includes the use of the same ink for several clients. This is risky because there can be mixing of the ink with blood.

For example, Hepatitis can be transmitted through ink that is contaminated even when the needles have been properly sterilized. As a result of the health risks posed by tattooing, tattoo wearers cannot donate blood since their blood may be contaminated.

Finally, I disagree with an idea of tattooing because it leads to discrimination and the lack of involvement in community affairs. As a result of tattooing, people may not manage to pursue their goals and interests in society since they cannot associate with other people. For example, persons who used to be members of a gang may not be accepted in society despite the fact that they have reformed and become good citizens.

Gang tattoos are always feared in society, and people wearing such tattoos cannot mingle with other people in society. This explains why former members of gangs are not allowed to participate in meaningful activities of society.

Therefore, they may not contribute to the well being of society, especially with regard to the matters of national importance. Although tattoo wearers may be having significant ideas that can lead to development, their ideas may not be embraced.

While concluding this study, it is worth noting that some ideas can be employed in order to address people’s perception regarding the issue of tattooing. One of the approaches that can be used is creating awareness about the negative impacts of tattooing. Tattoo wearers should be advised to go for healthy methods of tattooing. This way, they will avoid the health risks that result from tattooing.

The society should also be sensitized to accept people with tattoos and not to discriminate against them. As such, a tattoo wearer should be treated like any other person who has rights and privileges.

Analysis

Body art in the form of tattoos and piercing is widely discussed by the public because many persons have different visions of this phenomenon while referring to their ideas and personal experiences. The qualitative data received with the help of working with the focus group has been analyzed according to the principles of the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to interpret the participants’ experiences related to their vision of such body art as tattoos and piercing.

The main purpose of the IPA is to provide information on how participants can interpret the meaning of body art in their life with references to the fact that they have or had tattoos and piercing (Palmer, Larkin, de Visser, & Fadden, 2010, p. 100). The epistemological position related to the participants’ experience is based on the idea of meaning-making because it is necessary to find answers to the question of how individuals make meaning about body art. According to the stated epistemological position, it is assumed that individuals make sense of such a phenomenon as body art while referring to their personal negative or positive experiences.

To answer the research question, the received data was coded with the focus on making exploratory commentaries (Tomkins & Eatough, 2010, p. 245). Much attention was paid to describing the participants’ actual vision of body art and its meaning in descriptive commentaries and to analyzing the participants’ interpretation in the abstract commentaries. Commentaries of the linguistic aspects provided the information about the individuals’ emotions associated with perceiving their own and tattoos and piercing, the body art of their partners, and the artists represented on bodies of the other people (Appendix 1; Palmer et al., 2010, p. 101).

As a result of coding the transcript, four master themes as Physical Self, Emotional Self, Personal Growth and Consciousness, and Collectivity were identified (Appendix 2). It is important to note that the participants of the focus group demonstrated the readiness to discuss their tattoos and piercing from the perspective of their connection with the physical body. Thus, tattoos and piercings were perceived as part of the person’s physical body and appearance. The participants also focused on the discussion of the role of emotions, desires, and intentions while choosing body art, deciding to do a tattoo or piercing, and while speaking about their tattoos and piercing.

The other revealed master theme is Personal Growth and Consciousness. The participants actively discussed the role of body art in changing their visions of self. Furthermore, the participants also pointed at the changes in their visions of the other people and their understanding of being a part of the group. Thus, one more identified master theme is Collectivity (Appendix 2). Although perceptions of the body art are often different, young people make meaning about tattoos and piercing while focusing on such four perspectives as physical, emotional, conscious, and collective; thus, the young people focus on the vision of the physical body changed with tattoos and piercing, on emotions and intentions beyond the decision, on the vision of self as a personality, and the vision of self as the part of the group.

Physical Self

This master theme is originated from such superordinate themes as Permanency of Tattoos and Piercings, Necessity of Looking after the Physical Body and Body Art, and Scar as a Mark. The participants did not demonstrate equal participation in the discussion of all these themes, and each of them focused on discussing one or two of these themes.

Permanency of Tattoos and Piercings

Permanency of the modern body art can be discussed as questionable because of the modern technologies which allow removing not only piercing but also tattoos. This possibility to get rid of tattoos and piercing can influence the people’s decision and their meaning of the body art because of providing a kind of choice while regarding the physical appearance (Randall & Sheffield, 2013, p. 112). Thus, David points at the fact that “the permanent nature of tattoos have changed somewhat” (Appendix 1). This idea is reflected in the discussion of Jo’s experience with taking out the nose piercing (Appendix 1). It is easier today to get rid of tattoos and piercing, and young people refer to the questionable permanency of body art while deciding to do tattoos or piercing.

The necessity of Looking after the Physical Body and Body Art

Discussing the issue of care, the participants focus on challenges associated with looking after body art. Four participants accentuated the necessity of care about body art because of possible infections, traumas, and discomfort. Jo states that “piercing does take a lot of kind of care” (Appendix 1). Mandy supports the idea of claiming “if I look after it properly, then surely it shouldn’t be a problem” (Appendix 1). Thus, to look after the body art means to understand the physical self and demonstrate not only the difference but also responsibility for the health (Quaranta et al., 2011, p. 775). The other side of the problem is the readiness to get rid of body art instead of looking after it. Infections caused by the absence of care make people think about physical discomfort. Thomas explains the situation, “I was just like ‘I’ve got no chance of carrying on with this’” (Appendix 1). The aesthetic nature of body art is not discussed when people have problems with healing holes or scars.

Scar as a Mark

The concept of a ‘scar’ was frequently mentioned by the participants in their discussion of the physical aspect of the body art. The risk of scarring is discussed by Rachel who notes that it is “something that you would have considered when choosing” (Appendix 1). Tattoos can be discussed as the scars, as it is stated by Jo who is ready to scar the body “for life” (Appendix 1). Moreover, scars from a piercing can change the appearance significantly. Removing the piercing, people view scars differently, for instance, Thomas points at the ‘value’ of scars (Appendix 1). The risk of scarring provokes the active discussion of the role of physical appearance and its association with body art because a scar can be discussed as a reminder of a person’s wrong choice (Anastasia, 2009).

Emotional Self

The master theme is based on the discussion of such superordinate themes as Readiness to Spend Time and Money and Need for the Best Tattoo. These themes are grouped according to the participants’ desires, motives, emotions, and intentions reflected in their speech, and they should be analyzed as interconnected.

Readiness to Spend Time and Money and Need for the Best Tattoo

The desire to have tattoos and piecing cannot be challenged by such issues as time and money. Thus, David claims that people “don’t think about money” (Appendix 1). This idea is reflected in Jane’s words, “I think I’d rather spend thousands and get a nice one to be fair” (Appendix 1). While describing her experience, Jo states that it was “certainly a large a large amount of time” to do the body art (Appendix 1). From this point, time and money do not influence the persons’ decision, and the origin of the decision is a desire to have body art (Heywood et al., 2012, p. 52). Quality of the tattoo or piercing and the reputation of the master are more important factors in comparison with the time and money aspects. Jo emphasizes that it is necessary to “do a lot of research into the person” while seeking the master (Appendix 1). The focus on the master and quality is important to make the responsible decision and avoid problems (Mayers & Chiffriller, 2008).

Personal Growth and Consciousness

The master theme is associated with such superordinate themes as Importance of Choice to Look after, Remove, or Regret, Vision of Oneself, and Body Art as the Reflection of Independence and Maturity. These themes are connected, and the most important one to explain the young people’s meaning of body art is Changes in the Vision of Oneself.

Vision of Oneself

The participants are inclined to discuss tattoos and piercing as the reflection of their vision of themselves. This vision can change with age, and body art helps to focus on these changes. Thus, changes are observed in decisions on tattoos and piercing and in the persons’ visions of their independence and responsibility (Mayers & Chiffriller, 2008). Furthermore, body art becomes perceived as associated with personality. For instance, Mandy states, “my tongue piercing is part of who I am” (Appendix 1). That is why body art is the physical demonstration of the individual’s vision of oneself.

Collectivity

This master theme is associated with such superordinate themes as Being Part of the Group, Feeling of Identity, and Differentiation. To understand the nature of young people’s vision of themselves as a group, it is necessary to focus on the discussion of two themes: Being Part of the Group and Feeling of Identity.

Being part of the Group and Feeling of Identity

Having the piercing or tattoos, a person perceives oneself as a member of the group. The feeling of personal identity changes with the focus on the idea of collectivity. Discussing people with the body art, Thomas states, “I’m one of these people” (Appendix 1). Thus, his tattoos provide him with a feeling of identity and belonging to a unique group. The participants also accentuate that they discuss people with body art as more attractive because of the focus on likeness (Appendix 1; Heywood et al., 2012, p. 53). Persons with body art are discussed as the impressive community which attracts because of their internal likeness and difference from others (Quaranta et al., 2011).

Summarising the findings, it is possible to state that young people make meaning about tattoos and piercing while focusing on the physical body, on the emotional component, on the idea of the personality’s development, and on the idea of belonging to the community. Those young persons who have the body art focus on the right of the other people to have different visions of tattoos and piercing, but being the ‘part of the group’, they are inclined to accentuate the role of care, the risk of infections and scars, the role of the quality of the body art, the vision of oneself as independent and responsible, and the feeling of identity. Body art serves as a kind of individual expression and emphasis on personal differences.

Reflexive Analysis

Reflexivity as the ability to evaluate oneself and the personal impact on the research is important to be followed in qualitative research because reflexivity can provide answers to the questions about the research’s scope, focus, assumptions, and limitations. According to Shaw, the researcher’s vision influences all the stages of qualitative research, including the collection of data, interpretation, and analysis (Shaw, 2010, p. 234). That is why it is important to focus on reflexivity to avoid biases in the discussion of findings.

Focusing on personal reflexivity, it is important to note that my subject position influenced the research process partially because I am interested in discussing the issue of body art and people’s motivations to do tattoos and piercing. Thus, coding the data and identifying themes, I focused on the themes which can explain why young people decide to do tattoos. I was also interested in the issue of unexpected challenges associated with body art and focused on the theme of hygiene and care in the research.

While discussing the epistemological reflexivity, I should state that I had a particular epistemological position and focused on the idea of meaning-making while referring to the young participants’ experiences. Thus, I assumed that young people with the body art saw themselves as the specific group and focused on this limited area while prioritising the themes. From this point, the discussion of the participants’ other experiences and visions can contribute to further research on the topic.

References

Anastasia, D. (2009). Living marked: Tattooed women, embodiment, and identity. Humanities and Social Sciences, 69(9), 3759-3770.

Heywood, W., Patrick, K., Smith, A., Simpson, J., Pitts, M., & Richters, J. (2012). Who gets tattoos? Demographic and behavioral correlates of ever being tattooed in a representative sample of men and women. Annals of Epidemiology, 22(1), 51-56.

Mayers, L., & Chiffriller, S. (2008). Body art (body piercing and tattooing) among undergraduate university students: “then and now”. The Journal of Adolescent Health, 42(2), 201-3.

Palmer, M., Larkin, M., de Visser, R., & Fadden, G. (2010). Developing an interpretative phenomenological approach to focus group data. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 7(2), 99-121.

Quaranta, A., Napoli, C., Fasano, F., Montagna, C., Caggiano, G., & Montagna, M. (2011). Body piercing and tattoos: a survey on young adults’ knowledge of the risks and practices in body art. BMC Public Health, 7(11), 774-789.

Randall, J., & Sheffield, D. (2013). Just a personal thing? A qualitative account of health behaviours and values associated with body piercing. Perspectives in Public Health, 133(2), 110-115.

Shaw, R. L. (2010). Embedding reflexivity within experiential qualitative psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 7(3), 233-243.

Tomkins, L., & Eatough, V. (2010). Reflecting on the use of IPA with focus groups: Pitfalls and potentials. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 7(3), 244-262.

Appendices

1. Appendix 1: The Annotated Transcript
2. Appendix 2: The Thematic Map

Appendix 1: The Annotated Transcript

Appendix 2: The Thematic Map

Who Is Tennessee Williams?

According to The American Masters (1999) website Tennessee Williams was born as Lanier Williams from Columbus, Mississippi on an undisclosed date in the year 1911. A happy and carefree young man, he was born to a shoe company executive and Southern belle in a highly loving and secure environment. His family moved to St. Louis, Missouri later on, causing the young man to grow inward and write because he felt a lack of satisfaction in life (The American Masters).

He was considered to be one of the best and brightest playwrights of his generation, producing such unforgettable plays like a Streetcar Named Desire, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, and The Rose Tattoo. His huge popularity stemmed from his risk taking in the stories that he wrote and controversial use of explosive dialogues and topics like infidelity, impotence, alcoholism, and unhappy marriages.

In fact, critics were his stage plays were “… simultaneously praised and denounced for addressing raw subject matter in a straightforward realistic way. ” (The American Masters).

Just like all highly prolific writers, he was a troubled soul who turned to alcohol and drugs in order to try and find a sense of purpose in his life. He died in a New York City hotel in 1973, surrounded by half open bottles of hard drinks and bottles of pills. (The American Masters).

The Rose Tattoo – The Stage Play

Tennessee Williams wrote and informally staged The Rose Tattoo in 1950’s Chicago. The New York Broadway premiere took place the next year to critical and audience acclaim. Considered to be the least emotionally drenching of his stage plays, it is believed that Mr. Williams dedicated this particular play to his sister Rose and Frank Merlo. (eNotes: The Rose Tattoo).

The original stage play cast Maureen Stapleton and Elli Wallach in the roles of Serafina Delle Rose and Alvaro Mangiacavallio respectively. (IBDB: The Official Source For Broadway Information)

The central character of the play is Serafina Delle Rose. A woman of boastful pride whose life is turned upside down by the death of her husband Rosario. Rosario is killed by police while committing the crime of smuggling.

Serafina who is pregnant at the time miscarries their second child and is left only with her daughter Rosario. As Serafina heads into a downward spiral over the years, she tries her best to manipulate her daughters life into becoming similar to hers. But Rosario manages to escape her clutches and she learns that her husband was unfaithful to her during his lifetime.

The main point of the story is the importance of and the lessons that can be taken from having humility in ones life. As a mixed genre play, it borrows elements from ancient Greek tragedies, Greco-Roman celebrations, and comedic elements (eNotes: The Rose Tattoo). The Broadway play opened at the Martin Beck Theater on February 3, 1951 and closed on October 27, 1951 after 306 performances (IBDB: The Official Source For Broadway Information).

Maureen Stapleton who was born on June 21, 1925, actually took over the role of Serafina from Anna Magnani, the original choice of Tennessee Williams for the role, because Ms. Magnani did not have a good grasp of the English language and refused to do the role on Broadway. So Ms. Stapleton, who is of Irish Catholic origin took on the role to critical acclaim. (Maureen Stapeleton: Imdb.com) She also participated in another Tennessee Williams stage play, she appeared in “Orpheus Descending” as Lady Torrance.

She won the Tony Award for Featured Actress in 1951 for The Rose Tattoo. Her prolific career spanned quite an impressive number of decades, having appeared in various movie and television roles in both major and supporting roles until 2006. Maureen Stapleton is best known as Mama Mae Peterson from the movie Bye Bye Birdie. Her last film appearance was as Mrs. Lundt in Living and Dining. Ms. Stapleton died on March 13, 2006 at the age of 80 (Maureen Stapleton: Imdb.com)

Elli Wallach was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 1, 1915 as Eli Herschel Wallach. Known as one of the true method actors of his time, he worked on the Broadway stage for over 30 years. His stage training was completed at The Actors Studio and Neighborhood Playhouse.

He was cast as Alvaro Mangiacavallo in The Rose Tattoo in 1951 for which he also won the Tony Award that year. He is still currently living with his long time wife Anne Jackson with whom he has 3 children. In 2005 he published his memoir entitled “The Good, The Bad, and Me: In My Anecdotage”. He continues to remain active in both film and television work. His latest film appearance was as Julie Steinhardt in Wall Street: The Money Never Sleeps back in 2010. (Elli Wallach: Imdb.com)

The Rose Tattoo – The Film Version

The film rights to The Rose Tattoo were acquired by Paramount Pictures and was subsequently turned into a motion picture in 1955. The film cast Burt Lancaster in the role of of Alvaro Mangiacavallo and Anna Magnani, in the role of Serafina. Ms. Magnani was the original choice of Tennessee Williams for the original Broadway stage play but she declined the role as she had a difficult time speaking in English at the time and felt she would not be able to do the role justice.

Luckily for the film producers, she had already improved in her grasp of the English language by the time the cameras began rolling on the film version so she was finally able to portray the role. The film was directed by Daniel Mann from a screenplay by Tennessee Williams, as adapted by Hal Kanter. (The Rose Tattoo: Imdb.com)

The Rose Tattoo was one of the most multi-awarded films of 1956. Anna Magnani swept the Best Actress categories at the Oscars, BAFTA, Golden Globes, National Board Of Review, and the New York Film Critics Circle Awards. The film also won the major Oscar categories Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography for that year. (The Rose Tattoo: Imdb.com)

Anna Magnani, who surname is pronounced as mahn-YANEE was born in March 7, 1908 in Rome, Italy as an illegitimate child of Marina Casadei and Francesco Magnani.

Raised by her grandmother in poverty stricken surroundings, she was a self supporting student who completed her education at the Elenora Duse Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in Rome. Supporting herself by singing in various cabarets and clubs earned her the monicker “The Italian Edith Piaf”. Known as the “perennial toast of Rome, she was once described by drama critic Harold Clurman as having a volcanic acting talent. (Anna Magnani: Imdb.com)

Discovered by Italian film maker Goffredo Alessandrini in 1933, he gave her her first big break in the film La Cieca di Sorrento 9The Blind Man Of Sorrento) in 1934. Having met and impressed Tennessee Williams later in her life, he wrote The Rose Tattoo specifically with her in mind for the title role.

It was his full intention that she star in the original Broadway version but she declined to do so due to language issues. In 1955, the film became her first and most marked English speaking role. It was the role that would earn her a place amongst the greatest and enduring Hollywood talents as she won an Oscar for her portrayal of Serafina, the proud and boastful wife in the film. (Anna Magnani: imdb.com)

So drawn was Mr. Tennessee to this actress that he actually based the character of Serafina on Ms. Magnani and insisted that she be cast in the movie role after she had turned him down a few years before for the same role in the stage version. He described her acting ability as an:

… unconventional a woman as I have known in or out of my professional world, and if you understand me at all, you must know that in this statement I am making my personal estimate of her honesty, which I feel was complete.

She never exhibited any lack of self-assurance, any timidity in her relations with that society outside of whose conventions she quite publicly existed…. [s]he looked absolutely straight into the eyes of whomever she confronted and during that golden time in which we were dear friends, I never heard a false word from her mouth. (New York Times Review: Movies)

She was a highly active actress working in both the Italian and American cinema until 1972 when she was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. She died on September 26, 1973 at the age of 65. She was laid to rest at the Rosellini family vault having counted director Roberto Rosellini as one of her ex-boyfriends and lifetime friends. (Anna Magnani: imdb.com)

Burt Lancaster was born Burton Stephen Lancaster on November 23, 1913. Known for his tough guy image in films, he is regarded as one of the best actors of his generation. He was known to be an acrobat enthusiast and often did acrobatics to keep him in shape during shooting breaks, this is because Mr. Lancaster was once a member of a circus troupe.

He appeared in mostly manly films such as From Here To Eternity , The Cassandra Crossing, and Seven Days in May. He was the first leading man to appear with Anna Magnani in The Rose Tattoo, which, although a big name feature film for the award winning international actress, is actually one of Mr. Lancaster’s lesser known movie works. He died on October 20, 1994 at the age of 80 from natural causes. (Burt Lancaster: Imdb.com)

Why Was There An Intellectual Revolt Regarding The Rose Tattoo?

Tennessee Williams plays were known as the envelope pushers of its time. He was constantly testing the limits of public morals and the censors with his sexual overtones and intriguing dialogue. He normally got away with doing these kinds of things in his stage plays but it seems that for one particular group of English people, The Rose Tattoo finally went one innuendo too far.

The Rose Tattoo opened at the Pike Theatre in Dublin Ireland on May 12, 1957 with Anna Manahan in the title role. The play itself was well received by the theater-goers and was doing pretty well in terms of theater attendance and box office receipts. It was to be a short run however.

The director of the play, Alan Simpson was arrested by the police due to reports from some sectors of society regarding inappropriate scenes in the play. It was only one scene in The Rose Tattoo that was in question but the authorities thought it best to have the play shut down on grounds of decency. (The Pornographer Who Invented Wanderley Dragon).

Mr. Williams had written a scene that required the actor to insinuate that he had dropped a condom onto the floor. Technically, the condom fell out of the actors pocket.

The scene was not explicitly shown in the other theater showings of the play but in this presentation, director Simpson decided to actually show the scene even though he knew that it would cause a world of trouble for the production. (The Pornographer Who Invented Wanderley Dragon). It was that one act of censorship defiance that started the intellectual revolt regarding the closing of the play. According to the police report from that fateful day:

It had been brought to the attention of the police, read the document, that the play being produced that evening contained “objectionable passages”. These passages were to be removed if the performance was to proceed. If the play went ahead without cuts, Simpson and the co-owner of the theatre, Carolyn Swift (also his wife), would be liable for prosecution. The Inspector would not identify what passages were to be removed, and Simpson and Swift went ahead with the performance.(The Pornographer Who Invented Wanderley Dragon)

This was a revolt that was backed by the likes of noted playwrights Samuel Beckett, Sean O’Casey and Brendan Behan. So unjust and without legal basis was the closing down of the play that the presiding judge himself, Justice O’Flynn found himself declaring that their only objective was to close down the play which is why the director was arrested. There were no real charges that could be brought forth upon the theater or the plays producers at the time.

The belief of the police at the time was that the play was sex-obsessed and therefore was not fit for public performance. In actuality, the play was caught between a power struggle between the church and the state. It was the events surrounding this highly publicized international incident that became the basis of the book The Pornographer Who Invented Wanderley Dragon.

Current Stage Portrayals Of The Rose Tattoo

Like all the other plays of Tennessee Williams, The Rose Tattoo is considered to be one of the classic American stage plays. That is why it continues to be in production across the states and internationally today. The Huntington Theater Company is running the stage play from May 14 – June 13. It stars Andrea Martin and Dominic Fumusa in the lead roles ( What Happened In Boston Willie).

The Manoel Theater began staging the play on May 20, 2011 as part of the centenary birthday celebration of Tennessee Williams and the 60th anniversary of the Broadway play. (Celebrating Tennessee Williams With A Rose Tattoo). Nyack’s Elmwood Playhouse raised the curtains on their current production of The Rose Tattoo on May 21 and it will be running through till June 21. The lead roles are portrayed by Robin Peck and Andrew Lionetti under the direction of Jackie Poquette.

Having this many current theater production open all at the same time more than attests to the timelessness of the romantic and human interest story being portrayed in The Rose Tattoo.

References

“Anna Magnani”. Imdb.com imdb.com. n.d. Web.

“Burt Lancaster”. Imdb.com.imdb.com. n.d. Web.

“Celebrating Tennessee Williams With A Rose Tattoo”. timesofmalta.com. 9 May 2011. Web.

“Eli Wallach.” Imdb.com.imdb.com. n.d. Web.

“Elmwood Playhouse’s production of The Rose Tattoo.” Nyack – PiermontPatch. 20 May 2011. Web.

“Maureen Stapleton”. Imdb.com.imdb.com. n.d. Web.

“Tennessee Williams”. The American Masters. PBS. 8 February 1999. Web.

“The Pornographer Who Invented Wanderley Wagon”. Murphy, Colin. 15 February 2010. Web.

“The Rose Tattoo”. IBDB. The Internet Broadway Database. n.d. Web.

“The Rose Tattoo”. Dir. Daniel Mann. Perf. Anna Magnani, Burt Lancaster. Paramount Pictures. 1955.

“The Rose Tattoo”. Crowther, Bosley. New York Times: Movies. 13 December 1955. Web.

“The Rose Tattoo.” eNotes.com. n.d. Web.

“What Happened In Boston Willie”. Rossi, Carl A. n.d. Web.