RCL #4: Civic Artifact Speech Outline

Introduction

That first jolt of anxiousness and excitement and regret and fear when you hear the piercing pulsation of a tattoo gun being turned on can be overwhelming for many people. For some, the build up to expecting a large amount of pain is almost too much to bear when getting their first tattoo. For others, not having a comprehension for how much tattooing actually hurts in specific areas can be a huge wake up call. Nevertheless, despite all of the pain that must be endured in the process of tattooing, this tradition continues to live on through history since its muddled coming of existence. Tattoos, in modern times, serve as statement pieces and don’t necessarily have to contain any meaning, one of the many social stigmas that has surrounded the practice of tattooing for years but has recently diminished. Additionally, residing in an unsupportive environment, such as working for a company that does not allow any tattoos whatsoever, can be considered as yet another harmful social stigma. Why is the history of tattoos so crucial in curating a conversation about them in modern times, and why are tattoos such a dealbreaker for certain people and situations?

Pause

Body (Queues that will be used on index card)

1. A brief overview of tattoos
   1. How/why they came to exist
   2. Tie-in with traditions/cultures/societies
   3. Why are they so important? (Transition into #2 here)

Pause

1. Tattoos as a modern statement piece
   1. Why do we still tattoo ourselves?
   2. How have they evolved throughout the years?
   3. How they function civically in today’s society (Transition into #3 here)

Pause

1. Social stigmas
   1. Tattoos only being useful for commemorative situations
   2. Tattoos in businesses
   3. Why should we care? (Transition into #4 here)

Pause

1. How to cultivate a meaningful conversation
   1. Tattoos as one example of a call to action in relation to social stigmas

Pause

Conclusion

The art of tattooing has been around for thousands of years, and it doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon, with 47% of millenials having at least one tattoo (Hall). For as long as it has existed, it would seem to be of the utmost common sense for tattooing to have dissolved, even erase, many of its stigmas collected throughout the years. Yet, these still prove to exist, harshening the moods of those who have been tattooed. These stigmas are our call to action as a community to react to the mistreatment of those who have opted to have art permanently drawn on their bodies. Claiming that, “All tattoos must be covered” or, “Tattoos cannot be larger than these specific dimensions” is almost a violation of the First Amendment’s guaranteed freedom of speech in some aspects. Perhaps aiding those who experience certain hardships in relation to their choice to express themselves through the process of tattooing is a true sign of commitment to the betterment of our surrounding community, and puts the possibility for a reaction into our own hands.

Works Cited

Hall, Greg. “Tattoo Statistics.” Should I Tattoo?, 4 Sept. 2016, shoulditattoo.com/2016/09/03/tattoo-facts-statistics/.