Perceptions of Tattoo in Real Life Vs in Anime & Manga
Remember the post that I did on the 1st Singapore Tattoo Show? How was it? (:
My brother’s temporary tattoo.
The common folks’ perception and reaction towards “Tattoo” and “Tattooing” varies from place to place but I can safely say that negative connotations are attached to them here in Singapore. Just like the term “otaku” in Japan, the society here attaches negative qualities to “tattoo”. It is often associated with gangsterism, resistance, and are said to be tell tale signs of a person gone wrong. However, I noted that tattoos seem to be accepted or are at least, more accepted in anime and manga.
Looking into the context of gangs and prison culture, tattoos are used to mark members from the same group where individuals tattoo themselves to show their affiliations. It often presents itself as a form of resistance to authorities as those strikingly designed ones not only invite admiration for its beauty but also serve to warn others of the dangerous and violent lives the bearer wears.
Tattoo as a form of art is not widely accepted in Singapore. Though the 1st Singapore Tattoo Show was held, tattooing is definitely not on the “art list” for the common folks. Going to the Esplanade1 to catch some classy and perhaps free performance triumphs attending a tattoo show. My personal view is that though tattooing is tolerated in Singapore, it is not promoted.
However, if we’re to look at tattoos in another context, e.g. the Holocaust, it would be viewed differently. Karin Beeler mentioned in her book2 that the Prisoner of War (POW) was tattooed as a form of “imprisonment” and “oppression” by the Nazis.
Tattooing the POW with numbers was a practice only in Auschwitz death camp (various death camps have different practices). Below is a quote that I’ve found:
“I became A-7713. After that I had no other name” [Wiesel 1960, 51].
And another quote:
“Henceforth I would be, merely, KZ prisoner Number A 8450″ [Myiszli 1960, 26].
To sum it up, negative attributes like gangsterism, resistance, imprisonment and even oppression are often attached to tattoos or tattooing. However, such is not true in anime and manga for I noted that they’re positively presented for some. Thus the below are my attempts to explain why tattoos are not as negatively portrayed in anime/manga as compared to real life.
1. Characters are non-humans.
Viewers do not judge characters with tattooed-like symbols harshly because they are not normal human characters to begin with. Being a non-human species, viewers can give and take physical variations and are more willing to accept tattoo-like patterns on their skin. Take for example leopards. We accept them for their spot like skin because they are naturally born that way. Thus, some anime/manga characters do not suffer the scrutiny of viewers for having tattoo-like patterns on their skins.
Jo from Bust Angel has tattoos on her but the series established her as a non-human from start.
Another example would be from the series Sekirei where each Sekirei has a tattoo hidden somewhere. Sekireis are non-human and the “tattoos” are inborn on them.
2. Tattoos are for the greater good.
Even for human characters with obvious tattoo-like patterns, there is often a good cause/reason/justification for their tattoos. Instead of negative attributes (like gangsterism), characters are guardians of something (read: human race, damsel in distress) and the tattoos on them are often there not by choice. Their duties include performing Final FantasyVII Aeris-like white magic spells to either bless the group or to die a martyr.
3. Tattoos? There are no tattoos in anime & manga.
Tattoos are not called tattoos in anime; they’re either called “special marks” or “symbols”. Take a look at Zero from Vampire Knight. He has a tattoo “special mark” on his neck and it acts as a guard to his humanity. Thus to reduce viewer’s negative perception towards tattoos, they’re presented differently to achieve a positive effect.
Zero from Vampire Knight has a “special mark” on his neck.
Of course there are those stereotypical presentations of tattoos in series too.
4. Anime is a lie.
a) Tattooed characters are evil.
They’re those characters who fulfill their roles as antagonists with obvious one-glance-can-tell-that-they’re-the-bad-guys type. Building on the stereotypical presentation where tattooed people equals bad people, characters with crouching tiger hidden dragon tattoos enter scenes and take on the antagonist role.
The tattooed faced guy (top left corner) is obviously the antagonist.
b) Tattooed characters are gangsters.
Black Lagoon has tattooed protagonists and antagonists.
Though tattoos still hold some negative qualities above, I still find gangstress Levy an awesome character. Somehow viewers are not as biased against those tattooed evil characters or so called gangsters (e.g. Levy from Black Lagoon) when they’re in anime/manga. Arguably at the end of the day, what is in anime, manga, or a Hollywood flick might just be works of fiction and thus not to be treated seriously.
So what are your thoughts regarding this? Does the society you live in view tattoos in a positive light?
Tattoos are pretty widely accepted in the US, I think, though it could just be that that’s the dominant impression I get from those I’m more commonly around — which is the middle class, and at the moment, I’m in art school, so there’s kind of an upward skew to the number of people with tattoos. On average, I would say that maybe 40% of my classmates have tattoos, and actually, my boss at the small financial firm I work at has tattoo sleeves on both his arms (as do several other coworkers), so even in the business class, it isn’t too frowned upon. It’s a symbol of youth and rebellion, in a way, but even as those people find their way back to mainstream society, people don’t really care that much.
Of course, some conservative people may still look down on tattoos and associate them with various negative stereotypes, including gangs, but I even know some conservatives that have tattoos, so it all just varies.
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Tattoos are generally accepted over here and wont be a problem unless you work in a conservative enviroment like a bank.There are several different views on this:
Tribals and other “cool” tattoos are seen as a teenagers wannabe rebellion fashion.It went that far that nearly every young girl over here wanted a lower back tattoo since it was cool and people started to call them Arschgeweih ->arse antlers.People with those are seen as easy to get girls or wannabe “tough” guys
Then theres the usual Band,Logo,chinese sign whatever Tattoos thats seen as a statement,pledging allegiance to something.Those are sometimes smiled upon but generally accepted.
The last category would be the heavy tattooed people that are usually associated with Bikers,Rockers or Sailors.
My own opinion on Tattoos is that they can be neat if they are custom and have a meaning behind it.All those people that get them for fasionable reasons are meeting 10 years later at the dermatologist for lasering.
Are you interested in Tattoos? / Are you tattooed?
Like Kiri, I too live in the US and tattoos are generally accepted here. That ‘gangster’ stereo-type no longer applies to tattoos, at least in my area, but of course there’s those people who still frown upon it, by the older generation…
I have the same opinion as Blowfish. I am more acceptable to tattoos if they have some meaning behind them. If its there just to look cool, I just brush it off and change the subject! ^_^’
I would NEVER get a tattoo though…I’m afraid of needles…>_>
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If I understand anything about Singapore, it is a pretty strict society. But as you would say, tattoos are not something really accepted in Asian societies…
I can say that my mom was pretty pissed off she found out of my own tattoos.. she questioned if I had too much money or something. I guess its an individual perception.
I live in the U.S. and let’s just say some friends think its cool, but others think of it as ick.
Personally… if people get it, then they get it. It’s really cool that there’s a tattoo show, you got to see.. wish I can see something like that where I live.
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Conservative societies — either religious or socially conforming — view tattoo and its related culture in a negative light. Their connotations as being in league with all the “wrong kinds of people” aside, I’ll explain the religious viewpoint concerning tattooing.
In most conservative societies, the notion of body modification is seen as a dereliction and disobedience towards God’s command and will. To modify the human body, unless otherwise instructed or for great benefit of the person, is to deny His perfection in his creations, and is seen as ursurping His position as the Sole Creator of all things.
You might say that tattooing is Nietzsche-like.
As far as I know of, many cultures around the world are re-embracing the tattooing culture. The Dayaks in Borneo, the Maoris in New Zeland and the Hawaiians are slowly beginning to accept the art of tattoo as a cultural symbol. Previously, social pressure from majority conservative groups enforce a hidden code of conduct to these indigenous people: now globalization has brought forth a new meaning towards what it means to belong to their indigenous people.
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@Kiri
I feel that the industry matters and the art industry is generally more accepting towards the idea of tattooing worldwide.
It’s great that tattooing is widely accepted in the US. Here, the guys have to serve compulsory army service but they’re screened and divided into tattooed and non-tattooed folks. From such, we can see that it’s a pretty “serious business” and there are deeper meanings to having a tattoo here.
@Blowfish
Neh, I have no tattoo and am not getting one. I’m merely interested in the artwork of tattooing.
Associating tattoos to “bikers, rockers, or sailors” is uncommon here. Though surrounded by the sea, the first thing that comes into mind would not be the 3 categories that you’ve mentioned. They would usually surface after much brain storming and usually after the factor, “gangsters”.
E.g.
Gangsters
Factor 2
Factor 3
Factor 10
Bikers
Rockers
Sailors
Rather interesting perspectives I’m learning here. (:
@53RG10
Same here for me too! I love myself (& my skin) so much to the extent that I would not let others tattoo me even in the name of art. I guess getting a tattoo to look cool is not really an appropriate reason; there are other ways to become cool or look cooler. (:
@animemiz
The 1st Singapore Tattoo Show was an expensive to attend event if I’m to compare the ticket prices to the usual conventions or other classy events.
I feel that Asian civilizations have a more negative outlook towards tattooing because of media’s negative portrayals of the Chinese triads (They are something like the mafia or the yakuza). Hong Kong (e.g. Various Hong Kong triad series), South Korean movies (e.g. Marrying the Mafia), Japan (Shows with Yakuza) and many more.
@TP
Thanks for sharing from the religious point of view. Wow, I didn’t know that it is viewed as disobedience towards God’s will. I realized I left out an important part when you pointed out that certain societies might be “re-embracing” the tattoo culture. Looking back, tattooing is actually part of some culture of Southeast Asian tribes. The indigenous folks believe that tattoos might empower or bless them and hence, view them positively.