Tattoos as a Religion
As everyone have once seen actors or actresses tattooed somewhere in one’s body, there is high likelihood of those tattoos are somewhat related to religious symbols. Since when many famous stars start putting tattoo on their body, now many young people those who admire those celebrities also tend to put tattoo. On the other hand, tattoos are traditionally considered as a part of fashion for gangsters and people who regularly engage in antisocial behavior. Even more, there are countries and parts of the world where tattoo is not permitted publically: for example, many of the Asian countries such as South Korea, Japan, and some parts in China still think that people with tattoo belong to the underworld or the world of mafia. For that reason, those people aren’t allowed to use public facilities such as spa or athletic gym because the use of those people will threaten other people who are also using the facilities. Well, then why are celebrities recently on the media are putting tattoos everywhere on their body? (Some of the tattoos are directly symbolizing some aspects of religion)
Some celebrities are just tattooing just as a part of their fashion, but some others show the connection between its tattoos and one’s identity or religious background. First I would like to talk about Katy Perry. Her parents are both pastors, which inevitably makes her-self a Christian. She was born as pure Christian, and in the interview in the magazine, “Esquire”, Katy Perry was asked why she has a quite simple tattoo which only says “Jesus”; and what she answered was like this: “I was afraid to be unconscious of where I came from. Every time I play the guitar, I will look at ‘Jesus’, and ‘Jesus’ will also look at me in response”.
Another celebrity who is famous for its tattoo is Lily Allen. She released her debut album in 2006, and received the premier position in the U.K. music chart in 2009. Other than her singing ability, she was focused among many religion scholars because of her multi-religious tattoos that she had. Here are some of the tattoos she puts: cross (Christianity), moon and stars (Islam), Buddha (Buddhism), and ohm (Hindu). Those are the major religions among the world, but Lily herself commuted to Catholic school which means she doesn’t have deep connection with other religions she curved on her body.
This is the contrary pattern of tattooing compared to Katy Perry. Lily’s use of religious symbol is similar to what Thomas mentioned that, “Like commercial economies, religious economies consist a market, a set of firms seeking to serve it and consumers willing to shop for religious commodities”.[1] Religion is transferred to such an economical commodity, a tattoo, rather than a tradition and spiritual strength. This has a positive aspects because religion used by celebrities will create enormous propaganda, especially when that religion is a minor one. In contrast, there might be mistaken notions of religion that will spread, because of celebrities’ promotion. Both sides of commercialization of religion are inevitable in 21st century because there are too much impact of media and it is impossible to cut off this circumstances.
Source
[1] Thomas,. Pradip Ninan “Whither Televangelism: Opportunities, Trends, Challenges.” In Global and Local Televangelism, ed. Pradip Ninan Thomas and Philip Lee, 240. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.
