Into The Minds Of Inked Adolescents

In the article, “On Teenagers and Tattoos”, Andres Martin brings up the growing trend of tattoos in today’s youth and the reasons for this occurrence. Martin starts off by bringing up his idea that the relationship between tattoos and teens are quite prevalent today. Even to the point that they are causing tension between parents and their kids. Next Martin goes on to explain the relationship between tattoos, and identity. He introduces his thought that tattoos are helping teens show personality and allow them to create a sense of who they are. He even goes on to say that teens are able to display their uniqueness via tattoos.

In his next section of the article, Andres Martin writes about the meaning behind the ever prevalent tattoos teens are getting, and the imaginational process behind them. He states that tattoos are “Thickly embedded in personally meaningful representations and object relations”. Martin even conforms the idea that tattoos can “quite literally become the relationship itself”. Aside from his idea of the meaning behind tattoos, Martin goes on to write about “The Quest for Permanence”. His theory is that tattoos can allow a person with an unstable/hectic lifestyle, to have something that is never-changing and always the same. It gives that person something permanent and comforting to hold on to. Andres Martins argument for teenagers and tattoos has strong and un-contradicting arguments, but sometimes can lack in the use of real life examples, making his argument slightly weaker to other child psychiatrists.

Looking in the Andres Martins article, Not only did he have a decent level of formality in his article, but it was also well researched. He also seems to look at both sides in the article so it really broadens whomever he is reaching out to. “Seeking individuation, tattooed adolescents can become unambiguously demarcated from others and singled out as unique”. This quote from Andres Martin’s article shows his higher level of formality in his writing. Not only does the vocab show his formality but also his thought behind the statement. He really researched his subject and came up with his own thoughts and beliefs. Metaphors, analogies, and other comparisons are among the many tools that writers have been using for years. And, for good reason. Metaphors and other comparison tools are a way for the author to get a point across or make an impression on their audience, in a simpler and much more efficient way. They even help the author explain something that they can’t necessarily put into many words. Metaphors and other comparisons make an impression by explaining and putting a thought into simpler words, and then into audiences mind.

Looking into the article “On Teenagers and Tattoos”, Andres Martin uses comparison tools to leave an impression on his audience. In Martin’s opening paragraph he expresses his thought that, “Like hairdo, makeup, or baggy jeans, tattoos and piercings can be subject to fad influence or peer pressure in an effort toward group affiliation”. Andres Martin is expressing his belief that tattoos are relatively related to other common fads that run through the teen culture. With this comparison, Martin could be leaving an impression on child psychiatrists that teens get tattoos for the same reason that they conform to other common trends. They are looking for a way to be accepted and be “affiliated” with some sort of group or clique.

Martin’s use of this metaphor should in fact be Miguel 3greatly persuasive to a child psychiatrists. It makes the thought that Andres Martin is trying to express, easy to understand and easy to grasp. Another tool that writers may use, is the connotation of their words, and the impression that it leaves on their audience. Connotation meaning, the feeling or the way the words leave the reader thinking. I do not believe that Andres Martin undermines his own purpose by the use of the word “radical”. The word radical may mean “extreme” or “intense”, but that does not in any way mean bad. He is basically saying that tattoos may be extreme, most likely because of their permanence, but they’re still a good way for teenagers to express themselves. A good decision or thing can still be a positive one. For example, it’s a radical or intense decision to pick a president, but that in no one means that it’s a negative decision. Right after Martin’s use of the word “radical” he uses the word “dramatic”.

I believe that the use of the dramatic does indeed not undermine his stance on teenagers and tattoos. Dramatic may seem like a bad thing, but looking at the literal definition of the word, it is not. The word dramatic, relates to a quick or sudden thing or decision. Once again, just because a decision or act is quite sudden, in no way does that mean a bad and/or negative thing. Some may argue that Martin’s use of qualitative evidence may be undermining his purpose to his article. But when really looking at it, his use of qualitative evidence does not undermine his purpose. In fact, the qualitative evidence that he uses, helps his purpose. It goes along with what he is saying, and backs up his arguments. Also the fact that it is based off an actual teenager, helps make his argument even stronger.

The use of a real life factor/person is just in-arguable. You can’t argue with what is a fact, and that is what Martin brings to his article. He even goes on to explain why he includes the “case vignette” or the use of qualitative Miguel 4evidence. “The case vignette also serves to illustrate how tattoos are often the culmination of a long process of imagination, fantasy, and planning that can start at an early age”. One of Andres Martin’s arguments for condoning tattoos and adolescents is that it gives them a sense of control over their changing bodies. “Alternatively, feeling prey to a rapidly evolving body over which they have no say, self-made and openly visible decorations may restore adolescents' sense of normalcy and control.

I agree with Martin on his thought that teens get tattoos to have a sense of control over their changing bodies. Puberty and how our bodies change is, and always will be, one of the things that we don’t have much control over. And for some, this could be a scary or uncomforting thing. A tattoo is a permanent factor on the body that we have the choice to have. And in this sense, could bring the person getting the tattoo, that sense of control they were looking for. Another argument that Martin uses is that tattoos give the person a sense of permanence.

“Tattoos, unlike many relationships, can promise permanence and stability. A sense of constancy can be derived from unchanging marks that can be carried along no matter what the physical, temporal, or geographical vicissitudes at hand”. Looking into this argument, I also agree with Martins take on the tattoo wielding person, having the need to have some sort of permanence. We sometimes live in such busy and hectic lifestyles with constant changes, that we feel lost. A tattoo is something that you can decide upon and have on your body forever. It’s always there, and quenches that thirst for an organized and familiar lifestyle. In my personal beliefs, I believe that there is nothing wrong with teenagers getting tattoos. When looking into the bible, Leviticus 19:28 reads, “You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead, nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD. ” This passage is Miguel 5specifically addressing the leviticans and their practice of cutting themselves with swords and other objects during religious ceremonies. They did not necessarily “tattoo” their bodies the same way as we do today. Also this passage is from the old testament, which in my personal religious belief, does not apply to us today.

“In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away”. This here shows that God made a new law for us and that the old law will soon be outdated and will not apply to us. So, since the New Testament does not address tattooing our bodies, I see nothing wrong with it. As long as the tattoo itself is not condoning something or going against God in any way.

In essence, Andres Martin writes a well thought-out article on teenagers and tattoos. He uses numerous amounts of writing tools that in turn, help him with his purpose of the article. Through the article, we can see that this is a subject that he is surely passionate about. He displays that in his many arguments and writing style, which includes some emotion. In the end, I believe that Andres Martin wrote an article with good points and with the right idea. Including the fact that it is not against the bible in any way. Of course, everyone will have their own opinions on his article, but I believe that many will start to see things, his way.