INTRODUCTION

Is Fashion Popular Culture?

Semiotics and Tattoos

History of tattoos

Focus groups

Independent Research Project (what is it)?

Learning outcome 2: key terms and debates – identity and tattoos (and semiotics)

Learning outcome 4: level 6 research project

1

IS FASHION POPULAR CULTURE

2

• Fashion is not limited to popular culture

• but can be associated with culture as a way of life

• (Raymond Williams) See week 1 Power Point

SEMIOTICS AND TATTOOING

Evidence of tattooing in early civilisations

Marked group belonging, social status

3

SYMBOLIC

Stories, key moments and developments

Tattoos speak to the world semiotically

Barthes Mythologies

Saussure – signs drawn from language

Signified and Signifiers

What they are not

Reader is important

Tattoo culture – past and present

4

TATTOOING

Scars that speak

Maori Moko tattoos

Picts tattoos

Crusades

Cook- tattooing widespread

Tahiti – ta-tu

5

Maori Tattoo

DISREPUTE

Lombroso (1835-1909) – tattooing as sign of inherent criminality

Circus/Carnival Era (1990s-1920s)

Viewing tattooed bodies

6

SYMBOLIC ASSOCIATIONS

7

Wisdom and eternity

strength Love and constancy

REBEL ERA

Disrepute (post WWII)

Rebel Era

Youth gangs and tattoos

Prisoners and tatttoos

8

TATTOOING AROUND THE GLOBE

Japan

5th century BC to 5th century AD

Revised 13th century – marking criminals

Irezumi – underground practice

Russia

Prisoners tattoos, secret codes

Social and political significance

U.S.

60s tattooing denoted gang affiliations

9

SYMBOLIC CONTEXTS

10 Russia – skull represented thief

NEW AGE ERA

1970s onwards

Tattooing as symbolic expression and statements of self

Group affiliation

80s onwards viewed more positively

11

TATTOOS AS STORYTELLING

Designs may symbolise personal issues, interests, hobbies, fandom,

Magazines tend to have designs around

Religious iconography

Cinematic horror icons

cultural and historical figures

Popular culture

12

WHAT TYPE OF SYMBOLIC ASSOCIATIONS?

13

religious Horror icons Popular culture icons

Film, television and media

Consumer culture Celebrity tattoo artists

MEDIA

Series of documentary. Reality television shows 2005 onwards

Miami Ink, LA Ink, London Ink, NY Ink,

My Tattoo Addiction

14

CONTEXT

Stable and lasting in unstable postmodern society

May be interpreted different to what the wearer intends

15

CELEBRITIES AND TATTOOS

16

FOCUS GROUPS

Group interaction and discussion about a topic

Equality and confidentiality assured

Moderator – must not get involved in discussion (neutral)

6-10 people about right

Recording (audio) and writing transcripts

Used in marketing, film, research companies (amongst others)

17

VIRTUAL FOCUS GROUPS

Via Facebook

Not anonymous

Easier to record

Via Second Life

Can still be anonymous

Larger groups may be easier to manage

People might be more willing to give viewpoints

18

WHAT IS THE INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PROJECT

The Research Proposal hopefully leads into the Independent Research Project

6000-7000 words

Extended essay or research based

Specific chapters and considerations

MECS3301 (1 semester)

MECS3302 (over 2 semesters)

Supervisor (different to academic tutor)

See examples

19

SUMMARY

Take the quiz on Semiotics

Quiz about the Independent Research Project.

Tattoos can be linked to identity through personalisation and symbolism (attached or pre planned).

May have group symbolism related to tattoos

Focus groups are another research method that you can use

The second half of this module focuses on Research Methods in more detail and helps you to think about the Independent Research Project.

20

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Barthes, R. (1993) Mythologies, London, Vintage.

Bignell, J. (2004) Media Semiotics. Manchester, Manchester University Press.

Atkinson, M. (2003) Tattooed: The Sociogenesis of a Body Art. Toronto, Toronto University Press.

Sanders, C. (2008)Customising the Body: The Art and Culture of Tattooing. Philadelphia, Temple University Press.

Stokes, J.(2013) How to do Media and Cultural Studies. London, Sage.

21