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LA Ink And Our Thoughts

Page history last edited by Veggietales 14 years, 3 months ago

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      Event:

After looking at the history of tattooing and the countries that it is prevelant in, our group decided to go in more depth about modern tattooing. We decided to each watch an episode of LA Ink individually to see our own personal reactions to the episodes without the influence of others.

 

Kenyetta Kitchens

     As a group we decided to watch a couple of episodes of LA Ink separately to develop our own views and opinions about the show and how tattooing is viewed to society through the media. I watched the episode in the computer lab on campus. The space was very calm and quiet which was easy for my identity to be stabilized. While watching the episode clips I noticed the environment in which the tattooing was taking place. The walls were bright pink, the floor was red, and the furniture was all black and silver. I feel the tattoo shop setup was created to grip the customer’s eye and draw them in to the artwork that was on the walls and tables throughout the shop. Although I watch numerous clips from the LA Ink episodes there was one that stood out to me the most. The first was called the “Frankenstein Beauty Queen “which was a story about a model who decides to get this tattoo of a pretty female version of Frankenstein to symbolize her enter beauty. What stood out to me about her was that she was a model within society that had a bunch of tattoos covering her body which in the fashion world is not usually accepted. However, she loved her tattoo once completed and explained how she was able to identify with the artwork which can be considered as an identity artifact.

 

 

Sara La Salvia

     I watched my episode of LA Ink at my house in my living room with my boyfriend. I was laying on one of the couches and covered in a blanket. I was very comfortable and calm being at my own home. The episode I watched dealth with a woman recently overcame three life changing events and wants to celebrate the start of her new life with a tattoo of three sparrows being released from a cage, each becoming bigger. I was actually in shock that she got the tattoo that she did. The tattoo was so large and looked painful. Katie, the one getting the tattoo, said the birds represented her newly single life (divorce), going back to school, and finally battling an eating disorder. Watching it being done Katie was calm which made me not so anxious about the tattooing process. Her emotions towards the meaning behind the tattoos showed me that there was really something special behind the purpose of the tattoo and that her life was truly moving forward.

 

http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/la-ink-tattoo-stories/

 

 

Braden McDannell

      I chose to watch an episode of L.A. ink where Rita Darrell former wife of Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrel get tattooed by Kat Von D. the owner and most famous person from the show.

 Rita came into the studio looking foreword to Kat Von D to do her tattoo in remembrance of her late husband, and wanted to get something that would tell a lot about who he was as a person and something she could show in any pictures she got with his fans, “I think it would be appropriate for him to be in the photos, that’s the reason why kids come and ask me, and I want him right here on my forearm in every photo said Darrell.” 

Kat and Rita spoke of the tragedy of Dime’s death and how memorable he was as an artists and friend to everyone. Dime was a big influence in Metal music and always will be. I chose this episode because I myself am a big Dimebag fan and was curious as to why some people may get portraits of different people tattooed on them. What motivates them to do this? What experiences in their life drive people into getting a loved one tattooed on their body?

I watched this video in my room with no distractions on my computer, and I felt pretty relaxed but became interested when the episode took into account Dime’s wife and the hardships she had to overcome when she saw her husband murdered while he played on stage during a show.

 

 

Jessica Heitzer

      The atmosphere that I was in when watching this clip of LA ink was on the ground floor of the library. While being in this social space I could have multiple identities and discourse while being at the library. Sometimes I am a student when I am there while working on homework or group work. Also I work at the library and when I am there at that time I am a worker. When I was at the library I was my identity as a student stayed stabilized for awhile until it destabilized because a bunch of people came to the library and it got loud so I really could not focus on this. By moving to a quieter floor I was able to re-stabilize my identity as student because I was able to focus on writing this. The clip that I watch was when a guy named Max had an appointment with Kat Von D to have a portrait of his daughter touched up because it was fading. When he was getting this tattoo he talked about how having his daughter changed his whole perspective on how he lived his life before, like he was a biker and was in jail and did not really care about anything so his discourse when getting a tattoo was because of person growth. The first thing that I noticed when watching this show is that they are very friendly from when you walk in to when you leave. I think this is because it makes the atmosphere of their shop feel welcoming. They also are very personal as well because when Max was talking about his daughter Kat actually listened and even says some stories about her and her father.

 When looking at this film I noticed that they used the mid shot technique of framing because they wanted you to be able to see them actually tattooing the person but you could also see Kat and Max when he was getting the tattoo. Also they used the big close up when Max was talking about his daughter so you could see the emotion in his eyes and face. The show also used a Reaction shot technique when Max’s tattoo was finished. They showed how happy he was with her work. The lighting in this clip light or a warm coloring which is said to mean comfort.

      The atmosphere when watching this show seemed to be more feminine because the colors of her walls were a shade of pink and had a lot more pictures on the walls. Which pink is the color of happiness and stimulates energy (Color Symbolism website 2009). This can make the clients feel welcomed and have them be energetic to get a tattoo.

 

 

Ryan Kennedy

     In this episode of LA Ink I watched a young man who was going to get a tattoo that was in tribute to being the first son of his mother and father. He talked of how being the first son that their was an added pressure on him growing up and that his parents were very strict. Now that he is grown up and is successful and has a child of his own, he realizes why his parents pushed him to be the best he could be. The tattoo was a chinese symbol which meant "first son". He sees how his mother and father act with his child and know that what they taught him at one time will also rub off on his child and help them grown up.

     I watched the episode of LA Ink while laying on my couch in my apartment and drinking a hot cup of coffee after being outside in the cold for several hours while at golf practice. I felt comfortable in my setting as their was nothing that could distract me.

     I once watched LA Ink and Miami Ink and watching these shows helped me to feel more comfotable in getting tattoos of my own. I at this time do not watch these shows that much but from watching this episode it got me thinking again how I want to get a tattoo for my parents which I have thought about many times in the past.

 

Brittany Bond

      The episode of L.A. Ink that I chose to watch featured the model Sabina Kelley, who has full sleeves of beautifully, bright colored tattoos on both arms.  She is one of few professional models that aren’t afraid to show their personality through permanent art on their body. Sabina came into the tattoo parlor with the idea of getting a tattoo of a monster head pin-up girl. “I like the whole concept of it being beauty queen and it’s like ya know, still like… she’s like a monster.  Cause I think like a lot of people like look at girls like us that are heavily tattooed and portrayed in that stigma.  It’s like we can still be beauty queens and all that without conforming to like the regular.” 

 

 Kat Von D and Sabina spoke about the troubles that Sabina faces being in the model industry and being covered in tattoos. Instead of conforming to their idea of what a model is, she made an image for herself and expressed herself in a way that most models are scared to do. I am envious of the dedication she has to self-expression. She knows that she will make it with what she’s got, even if that means tattoos.

 

I chose to watch L.A. Ink alone in my bedroom with minimal distractions and full concentration on the conversations being had in the episode. It’s important to learn the story behind the tattoo while watching a show like L.A. Ink or Miami Ink.

 

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Discussion Questions

 

 

 

1. Do you believe most people in today's society get tattoos for special meanings or do they get them to feel "cool?

 

2. Do you think that shows like LA Ink and Miami Ink play into Baudrillard's concept of a simulacra? Why?

 

3. Do you feel it is possible for the art of tattooing to be stabilized within society through the media?

 

4. Would you consider a tattoo to be an identity artifact or just artwork?

 

 5.  What influences people to get actual pictures tattooed onto their body?

 

 6.  Why might getting a picture of a loved one tattooed on you, maybe be a form of therapy for that person?

 

 7.  Why do you think that the producers of both these shows use a reaction shot after every client is done getting a tattoo?

 

8.  Why do you think that the colors of the walls at the tattoo shops could affect how the client feels when walking into the shop?

 

9.  Do you think the tattoo stories of each client are fabricated for television?            

 

10. Do you think that including color in a tattoo is a way of showing more self-expression?

 

11. What factors would you consider before getting a tattoo in today's society?

 

12. Is tattooing a form of art that is accepted and recognized today?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Comments (3)

Esther Miller said

at 9:44 am on Nov 12, 2009

8. Why do you think that the colors of the walls at the tattoo shops could affect how the client feels when walking into the shop?

Most tattoo shops want you to feel comfortable so they tend to use relaxing colors. Many places often have a soothing water fountain to help you feel relaxed. Especially when people go for their first tattoos they tend to be really nervous because they don't know how much pain it is going to cause them. The people working there want you to be as comfortable as possible to avoid any complications.

Bridget Brenner said

at 5:15 pm on Nov 12, 2009

I am addicted to tattoos so I loved this Wiki. I thought it was different and since tattoos have become a part of our culture now, it was neat to see how most of the class had tattoos. I have watched this show and it is hilarious. I have heard that the waiting list for this tattoo parlor is a few years! That is crazy because there are so many tattoo parlors in the country, but everyone knows how great and famous this place is that they're willing to wait the few years just for a tattoo. The model in the you tube clip you showed was cool too. It is nice to see that tattoos are so acceptable, more and more models will have tattoos and not plain bare skin!

Amanda Renninger said

at 8:24 am on Nov 30, 2009

Do you feel it is possible for the art of tattooing to be stabilized within society through the media?

This kind of goes a long with this question but I was just wondering if anyone saw the magazine photo shoot she did where she had all her tattoos covered? I just thought it was interesting and wondering what the concept was behind covering all her tattoos for the picture. If it made her prettier? just a thought.

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