18th November 2005, 12:17 AM
Eggy-many thanks. I agree on some points however would emphasise the British monopoly on judgemental attitudes in a big way.Whilst I recognise of course that symbols and signifiers are endemic globally, I would clumsily mirror the apt response of Merc.Britain has/had some real class-based hang-ups. Not only that,we exported it wordwide.I would push the button further by arguing that the British have the more spiteful and vindictive snobbery variety of the phenomena.
as a caveat, all archaeologists by definition talk rubbish!
Merc-absolutely right. Twenty years ago before tats became "chic" many of us had them for all sorts of reasons.For me, at twenty years old, my tats were a virtual members- only card for access to the culture I identified with at the time. In a similar way that poisonous frogs sport fantastic colours-my tats also shouted "dangerous-back off".Going further, similar to brightly coloured birds sticking their chest out in the hope of a jump-at twenty, that was relevent too!
as a caveat, all archaeologists by definition talk rubbish!Merc-absolutely right. Twenty years ago before tats became "chic" many of us had them for all sorts of reasons.For me, at twenty years old, my tats were a virtual members- only card for access to the culture I identified with at the time. In a similar way that poisonous frogs sport fantastic colours-my tats also shouted "dangerous-back off".Going further, similar to brightly coloured birds sticking their chest out in the hope of a jump-at twenty, that was relevent too!