Introduction
Understanding one’s culture is an important personal achievement that has to be linked to being a mindful citizen and a community leader. When cross-cultural interactions are necessary, it brings out the challenge of switching between cultural appreciation and appropriation. Hence, the question is whether people can create equitable environments where microaggression and cancel culture can be addressed peacefully.
Accordingly, cultural appropriation is a means of borrowing other cultures without giving credit or supporting the original creators (Gertner 875). When a person adopts a certain cultural element without taking the time to educate themselves on the topic, they can be considered engaging in cultural appropriation.
On the other hand, cultural appreciation stands for an uplifting practice where the person in question tries to broaden their perspective and learn more about the target culture (Salvador-Amores 384). These differences influence the tattoo industry because there are specific tribal designs that can be considered unavailable to people who do not pertain to the given culture.
The current paper explores the concepts of appropriation and appreciation in rich detail to gather enough evidence to prove that not all tattoos represent cultural appropriation.
Cultural Appropriation
One of the main reasons why cultural appropriation occurs is the increasing popularity of tattoos, especially with unique designs that pertain to certain cultures. The biggest contributor to the growing occurrence of cases involving appropriation is globalization (Davis 73). It means that more people have begun traveling across the globe recently, expanding their cultural reach. It exposed both tattoo artists and their potential clients to a number of dilemmas related to the process of tattooing. Traditional designs became significantly more underestimated, contributing to the loss of identity and devaluation of cultural peculiarities. The increasing radius of tattoo conventions makes it much harder to avoid appropriation because human memories become immortalized in different shapes and sizes. It is also vital that pop culture contributes to the increasing popularity of tattoos, where the overall aesthetic beauty becomes superior to the cultural undertones (Barron 109). Hence, people could follow celebrities’ examples and get culturally significant tattoos while overlooking the importance of the context.
Another point that has to be made about the cultural appropriation of tattoos is the history behind some of the most renowned tattoos. In Japan, tattooing was a means of punishing criminals at first, but later it turned into Irezumi, also known as a traditional form of Japanese tattoo (Skutlin 113). The primary reason for people to get Irezumi was to create a dangerous image for themselves and possibly link themselves to crime and violence. Nevertheless, a high level of public acceptance across Japan does not mean that a person outside the country would be perceived in the same manner.
The associations with Yakuza could get people banned from numerous locations if they cannot conceal their respective tattoos (Buss and Hodges 24). The controversy surrounding the cultural appropriation of tattoos must be investigated in order to understand how people could damage other societies while simply following their interests. The fashionable value of tattoos leads the way and creates additional obstacles for people willing to protect their cultures from invasion.
The problem with cultural appropriation, at this point, can be associated with the fact that numerous civilizations came up with tattoos in order to go beyond a mere fashion statement or an art form. The history of tattoos proves that cultural appreciation can be rather hard to achieve when the client does not recognize the complex background behind the iconography on their skin. Without thorough research and explanations, it will be impossible for people to avoid cultural appropriation, especially if they are not interested in being respectful (Patterson 585). The idea is that tattooing is not appropriative at its core, but the lack of empathy and recognition generates all the damage that could hinder traditions and cultural identity. Thus, when a person does not give back to the community of interest, they cannot be considered culturally appropriate even if they get a respective tattoo. The culture should be kept alive as a real-life legacy and not a mere fashion statement.
Cultural Appropriation Example: Lack of Credit
One of the most vivid examples of cultural appropriation was the development of a dominant image that allowed Western countries to overpower smaller cultures and borrow some of the specific elements. For instance, Polynesian tattoos were appropriated by American tattoo artists because of their looks (Davis 148). Not only is this a means of exerting dominance, but it is also the unwillingness to give credit where it is due that affects the tattoo culture across Western cultures. Evidently, every culture has to possess a certain grade of fluidity, but an established dominance cannot be considered a display of equity. The same can be mentioned about the Western world and the willingness to appropriate African culture, including tribal tattoos. The overall cultural value included in tattoos and body marks is devalued by globalization and the lack of knowledge regarding the cultural context. Hence, when a person does not give credit and chooses to ignore the legacy behind certain cultural symbols, it can be considered an example of cultural appropriation, especially if it is a tattoo.
Cultural Appropriation Example: Tribal Traditions
Another example that has to be mentioned when discussing cultural appropriation in the form of tribal tattoos is the existence of traditions that are ignored by people willing to get a specific piece of iconography on their bodies. When the entire meaning gets left out of the discussion, it becomes clear that the whole sense of identity is refuted by the representatives of the Western world who choose to have Japanese or Polynesian symbols tattooed on them, for example (Carter 83). The sense of identity experienced by Polynesian people gets devalued while becoming a marketable item. Unknowingly, one could steal another person’s identity and culture without ever giving credit or understanding the consequences of their actions. The whole idea behind Polynesian uniqueness is going to disassemble if there is a person somewhere with an identical tattoo design anywhere across the globe. Tribal traditions continuously get disrespected because tattoos have become a form of fashion statement with no real meaning behind it. Polynesian heritage will be hard to preserve if the trend continues.
Cultural Appreciation
When considering a tattoo that pertains to a different culture, the person should carry out extensive research to understand how it could affect them or the originators. Sometimes, it can be possible for outsiders to get tattoos, but only if they are regarded as worthy (Gertner 874). It means that cultural appreciation begins when a person becomes able to distinguish between what is appropriate and what is unforgivably wrong. The correct way to get a culturally appreciative tattoo would be to consult culturally relevant masters and find the best ways to show respect toward the given art form. The significance of traditions cannot be overlooked either because the quality of tattoos may depend on the instruments used by the master to create art. In a sense, cultural appreciation begins with people who appreciate the original craft and pay homage to it in every way possible. A thorough understanding of cultural backgrounds is essential if the person willing to get a tattoo does not recognize the impact of it on one’s existence.
The strongest feelings of resentment are often displayed by Indigenous American tattoo artists who believe that outsiders should not be allowed to tattoo Native American images. Therefore, Indigenous tattoo designs are directly linked to the history of colonization and the need to heal Indian people and dismantle the annexation (Salvador-Amores 388). The best way to show cultural appreciation, in this case, would be to visit an Indigenous tattoo shop and communicate ideas to a culturally relevant artist. There is an opportunity for outsiders to show their appreciation by purchasing specific products instead of getting tattoos which could be considered offensive by certain individuals. It is much more productive to support cultural appreciation by means of asking for permission and communicating with respective artists consistently.
Cultural Appreciation Example: Dwayne Johnson’s Tattoo
The best example of cultural appreciation is Dwayne Johnson, who has a tribal tattoo linked to Polynesian culture. The actor picked an intricate design that tells a story about his life, and there are also certain elements that serve as a form of safeguard. The fact that Johnson is linked to the culture makes it possible to assume that his knowledge of the symbols that go into his tribal tattoo is the main reason why his willingness to wear a culture-specific tattoo is valid (Enari and Taula 216). From the deflection of wicked spirits to the connection with ancestors, Johnson has numerous elements included in the bigger picture. With the past, present, and future of the culture being included in Johnson’s tattoo, it is safe to say that the actor clearly realizes the edifying background of Polynesian tattoos and follows the path of cultural appreciation. The intricate approach to how Johnson views himself is the reason why he got the tattoo. Hence, his sense of cultural appreciation is incredibly strong because he values the heritage and tries to protect it.
Cultural Appreciation Example: Honor and Celebration
Another important example of cultural appreciation related to tattoos is when people go beyond giving mere credit. The existence of scenarios where brands and celebrities reference a culture but take an extra step to celebrate its uniqueness is what moves cultural understanding forward. Thus, it requires dedication and honor to ensure that cultural appreciation does not turn into appropriation (Barron 114). Therefore, there are just a few examples of celebrities being able to rationalize the meaning behind their tattoos, for example. In order to foster an appreciation-based environment, tattoo artists and their clients have to recognize that poor choices might disconnect them from a culture or make it impossible to come to terms with the target population. To achieve honor and celebration, everyone involved in the tattoo industry should acknowledge experiences pertaining to the given culture prior to exerting any kind of appropriation-like behaviors. The only way to escape the problem is to avoid imitating the cultural significance and focus on how the celebration of one’s love toward a certain culture could be founded on honor and not ignorance.
Conclusion
Considering the initial thesis statement, it is safe to say that there are numerous scenarios where it is hard to distinguish between cultural appropriation and appreciation. The increasing popularity of the tattoo culture makes the question even more complex. The incorporation of ancient symbols and iconography in various tattoos makes it impossible to ignore tattoos as a cultural phenomenon. For the most part, tribal tattoos can be perceived as a means of cultural appropriation due to the lack of comprehension among the majority of Western world representatives. Except for the visual appeal, there are no other justifications intended to validate the use of tribal tattoos by people outside the given culture. Nevertheless, the presence of a genuine argument on the topic does not take away the fact that tribal tattoos are not always disrespectful. When a person understands the background and significance of the given tattoo, it can be viewed as a means of cultural appreciation, even if the person being tattooed does not belong to the culture.
Overall, it is acceptable to have tribal tattoos, but there are several important factors to consider in order to remain on the side of cultural appreciation. The first would be to have a local tattoo artist complete the design and the tattoo itself. Also, a tattoo with a cultural context should be seen as something that goes beyond a purely aesthetic purpose. If a tattoo can be justified by both the artist and the person getting the tattoo, it can be considered cultural appreciation.
Works Cited
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