National Geographic Taboo: Tattoo

Tattooing represents an ancient yet still taboo art form. Tattoos have served many purposes throughout history. They act as non-verbal identifiers of demarcation, as well as signifying (along with other body modifications) important events in an individual’s life. As they creep into mainstream society, they now also serve as symbols of individuality and subcultural exclusivity.

Historically, tattoos often bore culturally significant information beyond the requirements of spoken communication. Amongst the Iban of Borneo tattoos denoted tribal status as well as affiliation. During periods of inter-tribal warfare, tattoos functioned as rapid indicators – friend or foe. In the heat of battle, misidentification could mean death. A specific tattoo on the hand also heralded a chilling victory – the mark of a successful head hunter. During times of peace, tattoos became a road map. When an individual journeyed across Borneo, each tribe often emblazoned their design on the visitor as a sign of friendship.

In many countries, tattoos or scarification act as rites of passage. In Benin, a young Bétamarribé child’s face is striated with intricate cuts to signify his weaning from his mother. As a child transitions into adulthood, their chest and stomach are laced with small scars as well. These rituals signify courage in the face of life’s trials and tribulations. In societies such as the Bétamarribé, individuals without these marks are often ridiculed and even ostracized from society.

A tattoo convention in generally conservative Oslo, Norway bears witness to tattooing’s convergence with modern aesthetics. Still regarded as taboo by many, even in US culture, tattoos signify a yearning for artistic iconoclasm amongst some individuals. They also characterize a voluntary rite of passage for those who chose the role of a minor outcast. Yet conversely, tattoos also indicate a sense of belonging within the “tattooed” subculture.

Taboo or otherwise, tattoos play a significant role in many cultures. They allow tribal units to identify themselves with one another. They denote a youth’s passage into adulthood. They also serve to separate artistically rebellious individuals from one culture, yet bind them to a different one.