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It is interesting that the Roman empire, and later Charlemagne's, banned tattooing in order to fight against tribalism, and to unite the different peoples and tribes into a single political sphere. With a little bit of speculation, we can consider from a historical and anthropological point of view that the recent epidemic of tattooing is a sign of the decline of a common unifying framework in our Western societies.

Tattooing can also be analyzed as one of the most symptomatic examples of another major issue in our contemporary societies: mass narcissism. Therefore we have two powerful trends that can account for the rise of tattooing: political and cultural neo-tribalism and unbridled self-promotion.

Matias 8 Aug 22
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What would say a sparrow about "frameworks"? Humans too need more autonomy and interindependence. #panarchysavesfreedom #stopofficialtyrannism #equitynotprivilege

tipi Level 7 Aug 22, 2019
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Yes, that is interesting, but I doubt today’s tat-mania has as much to do with tribal tattooing of the past as with generational identity, like long hair and bellbottoms did for my generation.

There’s an age at which developmental psychology urges us to demonstrate a separation from parental oversight, so each generation finds something that will make the previous generation queasy, and it goes viral.

In that sense, ink is a unifying generational identity marker rather than a political tribal display. You can be sure that the children of the tatted generation will find a completely different way to signal their coming of age, no matter how politically fragmented we continue to become.

Political tribalism and mass narcissism cycles run on larger timescales than just a single generation. They will continue to worsen until there is a major collapse of the old order, and a realignment of moral and political values. Meanwhile hipster beards and colorful sleeves will have become as passé as the 90s obligatory shaved-head-with-Willisonian-soul-patch combo is to the current generation.

skado Level 9 Aug 22, 2019
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I'm going to sound really annoying and out of place here, but please answer my question ASAP.

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Thanks for this posting. You have just taught me something.

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You make very good points.

BD66 Level 8 Aug 22, 2019
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I have no idea what the connection between narcissism and tattoos is, that sounds like lazy social engineering to me.

As far as tribalism goes, not a lot of people get the same tattoo as a form of identity like they used to. Not to say it doesn't happen because gang symbols are still common in prisons across the world.

However many people get tattoos as a means of expressing their individuality, to say "I'm not a part of your machine"

@Matias They are their own machine.

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