Nonconformity Is Skin Deep - New York Times

Nonconformity Is Skin Deep - New York Times: "And thatÂ’s the most delightful thing about the whole tattoo fad. A cadre of fashion-forward types thought they were doing something to separate themselves from the vanilla middle classes but are now discovering that the signs etched into their skins are absolutely mainstream. They are at the beach looking across the acres of similar markings and learning there is nothing more conformist than displays of individuality, nothing more risk-free than rebellion, nothing more conservative than youth culture.

Another generation of hipsters, laid low by the ironies of consumerism."

That about says it all folks. Except for another view of the tattoos; one from a guy who spent a couple of years taking photographs of tattooed and scarified people in Africa, Polynesia, America and Europe. I haven't seen his book yet but I can imagine it and I was impressed by a remark he made on Public Radio when asked if he had
any idea people mutilated their bodies and he said that it was all about "affiliation". Anybody remember the Mexican-American street gangs of East L.A. where every member had diy tattos on his hands and fingers?