Tattoes...

I guess when one is in the teens...one goes through an emotional roller coaster ride. Sometimes the train finds its way rather quickly to flat grounds...so the ride becomes smoother. For some, the mountainous and hilly regions of their lives take a while longer to even out....hence a longer yo-yoing around. I guess each one of us who are older can recall those rebellious years. And the rebelliousness, the need to exert one's own identity, to be heard and acknowledged, the awareness of new feelings.... all these show themselves in various ways.

This is one way...emo of love and hate...in two languages here. The first feelings of 'perceived love' (I use the word perceive cos they're very sure the relationships they're in is definitely for them). This boy fell in love... so now he's grappling with all these intense feelings..... Leaves me wondering how can there be so much hate and love at one go? The markings display his mixed-up emotions.

Maybe I'm getting old cos at any signs of conflict, I'd move my butt out of the conflict zone these days... too draining for me with limited amount of energy to spend each day... 8)

Anyway, back to this boy..he wears his markings insolently, in a way subtly challenging the teachers to say something so that he can 'unleash' his pent-up frustrations, anger....

This is from another boy....and what's 'tattooed' on his fingers...the same stuff as the first boy's. Boys in love...control is not in their vocabulary. And it seems to be a very in-thing...this painting on their bodies.

These days, the general perception is that we've to make this undeviating climb towards an accepted set of rules, we tend to romanticized the past and try out what is 'forbidden'. Sociologists term this pursuit modern primitivism, where body modifications, piercings and body distortions have become practices sought by many, especially the young. Kinda like the rebel in James Dean thingy.

So to be tattooed means you are different....or trying to be different...or making a stand. But in ancient days, tattoos were meant as a mark that you have been set aside...for war, to be sacrificed in rituals, as a mark of ownership....yup! These kids are marked!!! Marked and owned by their emotions.

Everything is permissible but not everything is good. Some people mutilate themselves to look cool......but a tattoo is also generally associated with punk lifestyle, gangster groups. The choice is ours!