In this introduction section, I argue that the traditional Samoan tattoo meanings are not known by many people and that there is actually meaning behind it in the Samoan culture. It is important for the American society to learn about tattoos from different cultures, especially when Samoa is a territory of the Unites States and also the fact that tattoos are slowly being accepted into American society, because then there would not be any discrimination and stereotypes towards people with tattoos, in this particular topic with Samoans. On top of that, with the traditional Samoan tattoos and the act of tattooing, there is a much more deeper meaning behind each detailed design and the ritual itself. This argument is based on my six different websites, the analysis of them and an interview. The general argument of this whole project is that the practice of tattoo in Samoa is gendered.
In my website, I will analyze the traditional Polynesian tattoo websites and at the same time, I will discuss two questions that are commonly asked (when doing a traditional Samoan tattoo) “Can anyone get a Samoan tattoo?” and “Does it hurt?” (Well of course it does!) to understand the reason for why men and women have different kinds of tattoos. I will also include some of my personal experience but not much because I do not want to take away the focus of my topic and turn it into a journal. In television media nowadays, there is some sort of “acceptance” of showing or better yet, allowing people on shows with tattoos, because I remember back in the days I hardly saw people with tattoos on television. Slowly, tattoos and even piercings are making their way into mainstream culture. I even notice that there are different approaches or reactions towards women and men with tattoos when someone sees their tattoos whether it is that person’s curiosity to disapproval on the art. And also, it matters who is that individual, whether a male, female, transgender, etc. because each gender has their own feeling and reaction when looking at either a male, female, transgender, etc tattoo.
This argument is based on my thoughts and reading the signs of: freetattoodesigns.org, pbs.org, hankefamily.net, samoa.co.uk, huffingtonpost.co.uk, and pasefika.com. In the Google search bar, I typed in 'Traditional Samoan Tattoos' and I came across samoa.co.uk and hankefamily.net. Next, I typed in 'free tattoos designs' and I went into the freetattoodesigns.org. I came across the Clyde Cowley article in Huffingtonpost.co.uk by typing in ‘Clyde Cowley’ in the Google search bar. After that search, I typed in ‘Tatau history’ in the Google search engine. Lastly, I figured to give the PBS.org a chance since it is an educational site with lots of research already done. In these websites, I will also be analyzing the layout of the site and the design on who it is supposed to attract. Throughout this project, instead of saying 'Samoan tattoo', it will be referred to as 'Samoan tatau'.
In freetattoodesigns.org, it mentions the spreading of tattoo in the Polynesian Triangle, the motives in getting a Polynesian tattoo (maybe some of the reasons could even apply in the West), and lastly, briefly mentions Dwayne Johnson, The Rock, having a Polynesian tattoo (we see there are a handful of other celebrities that have poly tattoo). While in the PBS website, there is an article, titled “Skin Stores: The Art and Culture of Polynesian Tattoo” and there numerous sections of the role of the tattoo from the common elements and the traditions of Samoan, Maori and Hawaiian tattoo. An interesting one that surprised me was samoa.co.uk website because it is a United Kingdom website, not a United States one. I also like this one because this is the only one that actually has some images of a handful of motifs in Samoan Tattoos and explains what they mean and used for even goes into detail of the stages of tattooing in the Samoan tradition. An article in the huffingtonpost.co.uk is a quite short one because it mostly displays pictures. Clyde Cowley is a Samoan male who is quite known to display his pe’a. In pasefika.com, there are the history of Tatau Samoa and also the meanings behind the meaning of Tatau. Lastly, the hanke.family.net is my favorite of all because how the author’s voice came out strong their ‘Preparation’ section, it was straight up about getting a Samoan tattoo and the types of Samoan tattoos and their meanings are very important to the culture. On these websites that I will be analyzing are set to be a neutral, meaning that they are not assigned to a specific gender (male or female) because it is more of about keeping it of a more “natural” look and feel and also, incorporating the Samoan designs and diagrams of the different meanings behind each Samoan tattoo design. This analysis is intended to explain the reason why Samoan men get a pe’a and women get a malu and that these created separation of the two genders.
In my website, I will analyze the traditional Polynesian tattoo websites and at the same time, I will discuss two questions that are commonly asked (when doing a traditional Samoan tattoo) “Can anyone get a Samoan tattoo?” and “Does it hurt?” (Well of course it does!) to understand the reason for why men and women have different kinds of tattoos. I will also include some of my personal experience but not much because I do not want to take away the focus of my topic and turn it into a journal. In television media nowadays, there is some sort of “acceptance” of showing or better yet, allowing people on shows with tattoos, because I remember back in the days I hardly saw people with tattoos on television. Slowly, tattoos and even piercings are making their way into mainstream culture. I even notice that there are different approaches or reactions towards women and men with tattoos when someone sees their tattoos whether it is that person’s curiosity to disapproval on the art. And also, it matters who is that individual, whether a male, female, transgender, etc. because each gender has their own feeling and reaction when looking at either a male, female, transgender, etc tattoo.
This argument is based on my thoughts and reading the signs of: freetattoodesigns.org, pbs.org, hankefamily.net, samoa.co.uk, huffingtonpost.co.uk, and pasefika.com. In the Google search bar, I typed in 'Traditional Samoan Tattoos' and I came across samoa.co.uk and hankefamily.net. Next, I typed in 'free tattoos designs' and I went into the freetattoodesigns.org. I came across the Clyde Cowley article in Huffingtonpost.co.uk by typing in ‘Clyde Cowley’ in the Google search bar. After that search, I typed in ‘Tatau history’ in the Google search engine. Lastly, I figured to give the PBS.org a chance since it is an educational site with lots of research already done. In these websites, I will also be analyzing the layout of the site and the design on who it is supposed to attract. Throughout this project, instead of saying 'Samoan tattoo', it will be referred to as 'Samoan tatau'.
In freetattoodesigns.org, it mentions the spreading of tattoo in the Polynesian Triangle, the motives in getting a Polynesian tattoo (maybe some of the reasons could even apply in the West), and lastly, briefly mentions Dwayne Johnson, The Rock, having a Polynesian tattoo (we see there are a handful of other celebrities that have poly tattoo). While in the PBS website, there is an article, titled “Skin Stores: The Art and Culture of Polynesian Tattoo” and there numerous sections of the role of the tattoo from the common elements and the traditions of Samoan, Maori and Hawaiian tattoo. An interesting one that surprised me was samoa.co.uk website because it is a United Kingdom website, not a United States one. I also like this one because this is the only one that actually has some images of a handful of motifs in Samoan Tattoos and explains what they mean and used for even goes into detail of the stages of tattooing in the Samoan tradition. An article in the huffingtonpost.co.uk is a quite short one because it mostly displays pictures. Clyde Cowley is a Samoan male who is quite known to display his pe’a. In pasefika.com, there are the history of Tatau Samoa and also the meanings behind the meaning of Tatau. Lastly, the hanke.family.net is my favorite of all because how the author’s voice came out strong their ‘Preparation’ section, it was straight up about getting a Samoan tattoo and the types of Samoan tattoos and their meanings are very important to the culture. On these websites that I will be analyzing are set to be a neutral, meaning that they are not assigned to a specific gender (male or female) because it is more of about keeping it of a more “natural” look and feel and also, incorporating the Samoan designs and diagrams of the different meanings behind each Samoan tattoo design. This analysis is intended to explain the reason why Samoan men get a pe’a and women get a malu and that these created separation of the two genders.
Date Accessed: January 25, 2013
Date Accessed: January 27, 2013
Date Accessed: January 27, 2013
Date Accessed: January 25, 2013
Date Accessed: January 26, 2013
Date Accessed: March 20, 2013