In the Flesh

In the Flesh: By Victoria Pitts

Paraphrase:

            Tattoos have become increasingly popular in the past few decades, climbing upward through American social classes.  Author Victoria Pitts refers to this recent rise as a “tattoo renaissance”, as the definition and symbolism of tattoos has been altered through cultural diffusion. The evidence of this evolution is seen in the change of popularity from traditional American tattoos to “tribal-style black work” tattoos. Americans have discovered a new appreciation for going under the ink, a cultural practice that has existed for centuries in other parts of the world. Tattoos are, according to Pitts “celebrated as an act of technological invention”, as a result tattoos have soared throughout various media outlets to become the “body modification movement”. ( Pitts 10-11) 

Summary:

            The main point of In the Flesh was to emphasize the reasons for continuous evolution and influence of tattoos in America. Tattoos have become popular among higher social classes because of their increased positive depiction in the media; magazines, websites, etc. The introduction of Tribal tattoos by other cultures has offered Americans more choices and is a factor in their spiked interest.   

Quotation:

            Cultural tattoos boosted western interest by giving significance and diversity to tattoos, “Tribal-style “blackwork” tattoos, which look radically different than the tattoos generally used in America and Europe, were becoming increasingly popular…employed by people who did not consider themselves part of tattooing communities” ( Pitt 10)