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The Philosophy of Tattoos

Series: Philosophies
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( 106 ratings, 17 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Philosophy of Tattoos by John Miller explores the cultural, historical, and personal significance of tattoos. It delves into their role as a form of self-expression and storytelling while examining how they have been perceived in various societies over time. The book invites readers to reflect on the profound meanings and artistry behind the ink etched on skin.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are fascinated by the cultural and philosophical significance of body art. It offers insightful reflections on why tattoos have become powerful symbols of identity and personal expression throughout history. Perfect for art and philosophy enthusiasts looking to explore the deeper meaning behind the ink on skin.

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In this impressively broad yet personal account, John Miller 'a conventionally dressed middle-aged academic with a full bodysuit' explores tattooing as a unique expression of individual, cultural and national identity.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Tattooing is an ancient practice with profound religious and cultural significance. While Western tattooing centres on three main traditions—Polynesian, Japanese, and Euro-American—it has been recorded more or less everywhere.

Beginning with the birth of the tattoo, John Miller explores this unique expression of personal, cultural, and national identity, the tension between tattoo’s status as a fashion item and its roots in subculture, and the relevance of magic—a crucial part of tattooing’s origins—in contemporary society.

As the inherent shock factor of tattoos decreases, tattoos are becoming more extensive, public, and challenging in response, prompting an upsurge in avant-garde tattoo projects and 'extreme' tattooing. The Philosophy of Tattoos investigates the innate human desire to mark the skin and what tattooing might tell us about that obsessively asked question: what does it mean to be human?

Series: Philosophies

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  • The Philosophy of Beer
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  • The Philosophy of Coffee
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  • The Philosophy of Tea
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  • The Philosophy of Wine
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  • The Philosophy of Tattoos
    Tattooing is an ancient practice with profound religious and cultural significance. While Western tattooing centres on three main traditions—Polynesian, Japanese, and Euro-American—it has been recorded more or less everywhere. Beginning with the birth of the tattoo, John Miller explores this unique expression of personal, cultural, and national identity, the tension between tattoo’s status as a fashion item and its roots...
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  • The Philosophy of Board Games
    Throughout history, people have wanted to conquer, plot and travel across the world in two dimensions. From the murky origins of humanity's earliest pastimes, where fortune-telling and play blur, to modern ventures into Monopoly, board games have shaped everything from how we conduct war to the art we create. What is it that makes them so addictive, so constantly inviting...
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  • The Philosophy of Beards
    'The absence of Beard is usually a sign of physical and moral weakness.' 'Take two drawings of the head of a lion, one with and the other without the mane. You will see how much of the majesty of the king of the woods, as well as that of the lord of the earth, dwells in this free-flowing appendage.' 'There...
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  • The Philosophy of Whisky
    The true pioneer of civilization is not the newspaper, not religion, not the railroad but Whiskey! - Mark Twain From illicit distillation to worldwide export, whisky has a powerful and multi-faceted history. Writers including Robert Burns, James Joyce, and Haruki Murakami have all mused on it, and there are strong opinions on every aspect, even down to how the word...
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  • The Philosophy of Cheese
    Patrick McGuigan is a British food journalist and cheese writer, who contributes to The Telegraph, Delicious and The Financial Times, among many other titles. He has travelled the world, from the Swiss Alps to the hipster cheese bars of New York, to write about cheese makers, maturers and retailers. A senior judge at the World Cheese Awards, Patrick also teaches...
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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780712353083

Publisher: British Library Publishing

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 25 March 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: British Library Publishing

Illustration: 30 black and white illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 200.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 112

About the Author

John Miller is Senior Lecturer in Nineteenth-Century Literature at the University of Sheffield and editor of the classic fiction collection Tales of the Tattooed, published by the British Library in 2019.

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