I keep my arm covered up at work and in the daylight to avoid both questions and sun damage, haha.
I think it's telling that the couple rudely asked, "what if you get sick of it?". They and the tees they wear are the product of a fast-food/instant gratitude culture. Their tees are a status symbol of their status as consumers. The tees will necessarily be replaced by another symbol of privilege the next year. (Not surprisingly, Christian Audigier used to head the Von Dutch fashion line, which is now out of vogue.) The folk-art, the historical and the personal aspects of tattoo are completely lost on them.
That couple (and countless others) have a lack of imagination. They can't fathom making an aesthetic/personal decision that would last a life time,( little lone last longer than a trip to a drive-through window.)
Of the hundreds of people I see wearing those tees in Times Square, I'd say more than 98% don't have any tattoos at all. About 75% are wearing gym shorts or sweats...
At the same time, I have to wonder at the difference in the way I'm approached nowadays and 10 years ago when these t-shirts weren't trendy and those tattoo shows weren't on the air. Not that if things hadn't changed, I'd ever regret my tattoos for a minute. It's just...different and sometimes easier, especially when it comes to getting jobs, etc. Being admired, complimented sure is nicer than people barely concealing their disgust or saying stupid shit to you.
I think those tattoo shows, books in the '90s, and the "recent" legalization of tattoo in two big cities (New York and Boston) have all been contributing factors in both the increased acceptance and the visibility of tattoos in the United States. I think there are definitely more shops open, and there are more folks getting tattoos than ten years ago.
I think Ed's tees are totally riding on the popularity surge of tattoo, but I don't think they're contributing to the popularity of tattoos as an art form much. (I'd like to think the tees generate some interest in Ed's books.) The tees are an end unto themselves as status symbols. They're acceptable/sought-after weekend attire, where as actual tattoos still do carry a certain amount of stigma outside of large urban environments...and in some workplaces.
I wear long sleeves much of the time at work to keep the sun off and to avoid the "comments" issue entirely. : )
Thanks! I was just trying to piece together what bothered me about Ed's teeshirts. I needed more of a put-together reason than my gut telling me, "The people who wear those tees are douche-bags!", haha.
Anywho; Yes! We must get together to chat over brunch or dinner drinks! Weekends are generally best for me. In fact we should have you over to our house. 917-601-1613
Oh gotcha'. When the chance comes along, I'm sure I'll have more to spew about Ed's tees too, haha. ; - ) I know how it is with new work...hey I'm at work right now!
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I think it's telling that the couple rudely asked, "what if you get sick of it?". They and the tees they wear are the product of a fast-food/instant gratitude culture. Their tees are a status symbol of their status as consumers. The tees will necessarily be replaced by another symbol of privilege the next year. (Not surprisingly, Christian Audigier used to head the Von Dutch fashion line, which is now out of vogue.) The folk-art, the historical and the personal aspects of tattoo are completely lost on them.
That couple (and countless others) have a lack of imagination. They can't fathom making an aesthetic/personal decision that would last a life time,( little lone last longer than a trip to a drive-through window.)
Of the hundreds of people I see wearing those tees in Times Square, I'd say more than 98% don't have any tattoos at all. About 75% are wearing gym shorts or sweats...
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At the same time, I have to wonder at the difference in the way I'm approached nowadays and 10 years ago when these t-shirts weren't trendy and those tattoo shows weren't on the air. Not that if things hadn't changed, I'd ever regret my tattoos for a minute. It's just...different and sometimes easier, especially when it comes to getting jobs, etc. Being admired, complimented sure is nicer than people barely concealing their disgust or saying stupid shit to you.
Ehhh, I'm rambling.
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I think Ed's tees are totally riding on the popularity surge of tattoo, but I don't think they're contributing to the popularity of tattoos as an art form much. (I'd like to think the tees generate some interest in Ed's books.) The tees are an end unto themselves as status symbols. They're acceptable/sought-after weekend attire, where as actual tattoos still do carry a certain amount of stigma outside of large urban environments...and in some workplaces.
I wear long sleeves much of the time at work to keep the sun off and to avoid the "comments" issue entirely. : )
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I needed more of a put-together reason than my gut telling me,
"The people who wear those tees are douche-bags!", haha.
Anywho; Yes! We must get together to chat over brunch or dinner drinks! Weekends are generally best for me.
In fact we should have you over to our house.
917-601-1613
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Alas, i'm not coming out to NYC with Joi this time, so we'll have to when I get the chance to come along, too!
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When the chance comes along, I'm sure I'll have more to spew about Ed's tees too, haha. ; - )
I know how it is with new work...hey I'm at work right now!
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