Representações sociais da Tatuagem: a perspectiva dos tatuadores

Abstract

Body modifications are practices adopted by various cultures throughout human history. Tattooing, as an ancient practice, holds diverse meanings and significations attributed in various cultures. In Brazil, tattooing was initially associated with marginalization, stigmatizing those tattooed individuals for becoming a practice among the less privileged classes in port cities. However, throughout the 20th century, there was a significant shift in its social perception, especially from the 1960s onwards. During the 60s, tattooing began to be adopted by middle-class and elite youths, gradually altering its representation in Brazilian society. During this period, tattooing came to be seen as a collective and youthful expression, contrasting with its previous association with marginalization. The main objective of the research was to identify and analyze the social representations of tattooing from the perspective of tattoo artists. Concerning specific objectives, efforts were made to identify and analyze tattoo artists' thoughts on the practice of covering up and removing a tattoo. To this end, ten interviews were conducted with tattoo artists from Rio de Janeiro. The analysis of the interviews was based on the theory of social representations, as well as studies on body, social memory, and aesthetics within the cultural context. Two main themes emerged from the analysis of the interviewees' discourse: memory and aesthetics. It was identified that the social representation of tattooing has undergone changes, being increasingly recognized by tattoo artists and valued as a form of individual and aesthetic expression, even though the relationship with memory is present. Furthermore, there was a noticeable normalization and even encouragement, evident in the speeches of tattoo artists, towards covering up tattoos, indicating a change in the perception of tattooing from an indelible mark to a potentially transient one.