Inked Well By David Kirby: History Of Tattoos

Rhetorical analysis of Inked Well by David Kirby

“What we have said to the girls is, “If you guys ever decided you are going to get a tattoo, and then mummy and I will do the same.” President Barrack Obama said during an interview before Boston Marathon Bombings. In his response, US President is giving a chance to his daughters to decide on whether to have a tattoo or not.

Thesis: What does a tattoo signify? Different individuals have differing opinions concerning the inscription of tattoo marks on the human body.

David Kirby in his article, Inked Well, explains the origin of tattoos and what they signify among varied groups of individuals.

David Kirby’s main idea dwells mainly on the origin of tattoos and what they signify to different groups of people. He gives background information of when the first tattoos were spotted. He says, “People have spotted tattoos for more than five thousand years. In some cultures, tattoos have marked the rite of passage into adulthood.

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They have also symbolized the spiritual protection, status within a clan, fertility, and social ostracism, among other things.” David tries to prove that tattoos have been there for quite a long time, it is not something that came into existence recently. By giving what they symbolize, David is trying to rub the idea that tattoos are evil. Toward the end of his writing, David Kirby gives his stand and says that tattoos are OK. Therefore, his main idea lies between the supports of the practice of making tattoos.

Kirby in his writing supports the practice of making tattoos. Although at some point he gives the disadvantages of tattoos, he still supports its practice. David in his writing says, “The point of all this is self—expression-, and we seem to be living in a time where that’s what nearly everybody wants to do, in one way or another.” He noted that there have been an increasing number of tattooed people, and he carried out research. In his research, he concludes that tattoos are a means f self-identity. Each of the respondents in his research had their reasons for having tattoos. He also says that having a tattoo of a friend’s picture signifies a friendship bond. Therefore, through his writings, Kirby expressed full support of the practice of making tattoos.

David Kirby’s main purpose of writing his article was to enlighten the people on the history of tattoos and give an idea on the reasons why people should have the liberty of choosing whether to have tattoos or not. Although he gives his stand that having a tattoo is OK, he goes ahead and says that the choice of having a tattoo lies on an individual. In his writings, his main purpose came out clearly when he said that tattooing has been and would always remain. He says, “The ancient Egyptians practiced simple tattooing. Today, radically different cultures share an obsession with body remodeling that goes far beyond mere tattooing.” Evidence in his conclusions shows that; David’s purpose was to give evidence on the existence of tattooing since time immemorial. Therefore, through is article, his purpose of trying to enlighten the masses, on the freedom of having tattoos, was well passed.

The main target audience in David Kirby’s Inked well is everybody (all over the world) who has the will, power and, the urge to have a tattoo. In his writings, he touches almost every continent in one way or another. The different parts of the world featured either in his history, praise or criticism of tattoos. His piece of writing targets everybody, both those who have tattoos and those who have never had. He says, “But more and more people who wouldn’t have dreamed of being tattooed a few years back are paying good money to have sketches.” Moreover, most of his interviews were persons aged between eighteen and fifty years of age. According to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, most of the people who have tattoos consist of persons aged between eighteen and fifty years. Therefore, persons aged between eighteen and fifty years are the main audience of David Kirby.

Conclusion

Thesis: What does a tattoo signify? Different individuals have differing opinions concerning the inscription of tattoo marks on the human body. David Kirby in his article, Inked Well, explains the origin of tattoos and what they signify among varied groups of individuals.

David Kirby in his writing talks about tattoos, their origin and the freedom of having tattoos. Although he supports the idea of having tattoos, he gives his readers the freedom to choose between having them and not having tattoos.

US President Barrack Obama’s response during the BBC interview has a strong message. He seems to support the idea of tattooing, but on the same note, he gives his daughters the freedom of choosing whether to have tattoos or not. Therefore, David’s purpose of writing is valid to a greater extent since he only gave his stand. He does not rule that we should all have tattoos.