AN ETHNOGRAPHIC CASE STUDY OF A LOS ANGELES TATTOO SHOP
Open Access
- Author:
- Foemmel, Eric W
- Graduate Program:
- Leisure Studies
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- May 14, 2009
- Committee Members:
- Garry Chick, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Garry Chick, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Geoffrey Clay Godbey, Committee Member
Edward Paul Durrenberger, Committee Member
Harry Zinn, Committee Member - Keywords:
- Leisure
Social Drama
Tattooing - Abstract:
- This ethnographic case study was undertaken to explore the emic knowledge of tattoo artists and tattooed individuals in Los Angeles, California. Four tattoo artists and eleven tattooed individuals were recruited and interviewed about the nature of the tattoo experience in order to determine the nature of the experience and its meaning to the participants. The participants were also interviewed about their knowledge of the social consequences involved with getting tattooed, and whether or not tattooing has become socially acceptable. Two of the tattoo artists did not complete the structured interviews, but each participated in an unstructured interview. Lastly, twelve participants were asked to free-list, sort, and scale their free-list of recreational activities on several attributes of leisure. The data from these instruments affirmed that the idea of leisure is subjective among the participants. Several characteristics of the tattoo experience described by the participants seemed to indicate that for them, tattooing is a leisure activity. The participants discussed the growing acceptance of tattooing in Los Angeles, California, as well as several variables that make some tattoos socially acceptable or tolerated, demonstrating that this morally controversial leisure activity has challenged social norms.