Originally published in 1989, this ground-breaking ethnographic exploration of tattooing - and the art world surrounding it - covers the history, anthropology, and sociology of body modification practices; the occupational experience of the tattooist; the process and social consequences of becoming a tattooed person; and the prospects of "serious" tattooing becoming an accepted art form. Curiously, despite the greater prevalence of tattoos and body modification in today's society, there is still a stigma of deviance associated with people who get or ink tattoos.Retaining the core of the original book, this revised and expanded edition offers a new preface by the author and a new chapter focusing on the changes that have occurred in the tattoo world. A section on the new scholarly literature that has emerged, as well as the new modes of body modification that have come into vogue, are included along with a new gallery of photographs that show some splendid examples of contemporary tattoo art. A directory of artists' websites invites readers to discover the range of work being done around the world from "suits" (full body tattoos) to skulls.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Second Edition; 1 Introduction: Body Alteration, Artistic Production, and the Social World of Tattooing; 2 Becoming and Being a Tattooed Person; 3 The Tattooist: Tattooing as a Career and an Occupation; 4 The Tattoo Relationship: Risk and Social Control in the Studio; 5 Conclusion: Tattooing and the Social Definition of Art; Epilogue, Clinton R. Sanders with D. Angus VailArtist Website Index; Methodological Appendix; Notes; References; Bibliography for Preface and Epilogue; Index

Prizes

Analyses tattoos as art, work, decoration and defiance

Reviews

Praise for the original edition: "This is the most intelligent book available to date on the modern aspects of an increasingly popular form of body decoration." Kirkus Reviews "A fascinating and well-written study, one that finely sharpens the distinction between deviance and respectability." Choice "The book follows the historical, anthropological and social practices of body modification... This second edition contains a new introduction and an interesting chapter entirely dedicated to the changes which took place over the past ten years in the world of tattoo. A new gallery of images shows some wonderful examples of contemporary tattoos." Tattoo Life Reviewed on the blog Decorative Book Arts on February 21