Brigita Bernotaite Dissertation

Tattoos on women “For women in the audience the tattooed ladies could represent their fantasy of freedom – the freedom to choose what to do with their bodies, the freedom to live unusual life not limited to the narrow selection of choices that were presented to them” (Thompson, 2015). Through history women had little to no rights and a lot of strict rules of how they should act and what they should do. Previously mentioned human ‘oddities’ that were women with tattoos were an inspiration for the repressed women in the audience of these shows showing that there were possibilities beyond the patriarchal rules that were set for them, and they could be and do more than what society at the time told them.

For heavily tattooed women now feminism and tattoos go hand in hand as both fight for women’s rights to be themselves and not what men imagine they should look or act like. Tattoos erase the image of a clean, innocent presence of a woman and show men that they do not have control over women’s bodies. In “I Want To Be Covered”: Heavily Tattooed Women Challenge the Dominant Beauty Culture it is questioned why tattoos are considered ‘alternative’ beauty standard and is it more empowering than following the beauty procedures like plastic surgery that are normalised for women to fit into the beauty standards. Women describe their tattoos as memories of their lives, search of their identities and so on, but women should not need reasons to get tattoos and the fact they want should be enough. However, women have to justify every move they make as misogynistic society made them feel like they have to because women have to always prove themselves for men. Tattoos are a small but significant step towards the society where women don’t have to explain or defend themselves to others. PaperPlanes will be a place to come to feel empowered and free without judgement not just for women but anyone who feels stuck or unheard.

Surveys

SURVEYS AND AUTHORITIES

Building survey:

This will provide a full building inspection and report the condition and issues of the property. This is vital for the project to be able to make structural changes in the building safely.

Asbestos survey:

Asbestos was a widely used material for building insulation in the past, but it is very harmful to people’s health. This survey will inspect the presence of asbestos in the building. in case of its existence, it can be removed.

Fire containment survey:

This will examine the current building’s fire strategy and escape routes and provide recommendations on the improvement of fire strategy in the site.

Service survey:

This will provide information about existing buildings services such as water, plumbing, and electricity. It will show if any changes or repairs need to be done for the building to operate safely.

Authorities Building regulations:

It is important to know and follow the regulations during the construction and design process, the changes and construction of the building will have to be approved by local authorities before any construction to start.

Planning applications:

Planning application needs to be submitted and approved by local authorities to fit and protect historical building surrounding the site

Advertising consent:

The site has to have a permit to be able to display any advertising like signage, flags, or any kind of branded content on the exterior of the building.

Premises licensing:

This license is necessary in order to sell and distribute alcohol in the bar.

Listed Building Consent:

As the site is I grade listed building it is required to complete the application and the construction is approved by the authorities so the planned construction is appropriate to the building and protects its historic value.

INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH PAPER

Throughout the years tattoo process has involved to a delicate and prestigious procedure. What once was looked down upon and very unsanitary evolved into a clean and careful process that made people become more interested in body art and what it stands for. Tattoos has a long and at times horrific history that was mentioned in a previous document. However, people were always interested in the art and tried to create a more sanitary way to create tattoos.

Tattoos began with simple needle and dotting technique which at the time was not sanitary as people used homemade and randomly found materials to tattoo with, designs were uneven and poorly made. In 1891 Samuel O’Riley invented the first electric tattoo machine, which made tattoos look better (Thompson, 2015). From that point onwards tattoo machinery was developed further to make tattoo industry what it is today. However, today oldfashioned trends are making a comeback as people love to look back at history and try the old ways. Hand-poke is one of the tattoo industry comebacks that has become quite popular in last few years. Nowadays, it is more sanitary and professional as well as arguably more sustainable than machine gun tattoos.

Through primary and secondary research this paper will examine both machine and hand-poke tattoo processes and compare the two to help people learn more about both. Looking at positives and negatives of each technique will inform the atmosphere and progress of both to help picture how would each process go if someone was to get a tattoo. As well, comparing two studios – one practicing hand-poke and the other practicing machine gun method how the aesthetics differ from studio to studio and how the method of tattooing might influence the interior of the space will help to compare the two methods further and display clear differences between different techniques.

Comparison of different techniques is important to know before getting a tattoo but also whilst creating an interior for a studio, it can help to create the right atmosphere for the type of method it will be practicing and elevate the interior to suit the client.

SUSTAINABILITY DIFFERENCES

Tattoo industry like any other can be very wasteful and unsustainable: typical starting supplies like disposable razors, latex gloves, plastic bed covers, ink hold, and waste containers are a few typical supplies used in studios that usually are not eco-friendly (Roberts, 2021). However, growing interest in preserving the environment and promoting more sustainable living has affected tattoo industry. More and more tattoo artists are concerned about producing waste and therefore try to incorporate more sustainable materials in their work. “To hand poke a tattoo, you need a needle, and ink, that’s it, really you should have a few other things too, like a design, ibuprofen, maybe some experience in tattooing, but technically speaking you need very little equipment – which certainly sounds environmentally friendly”( Goldstein, 2022) Due to the nature of hand-poke tattoo process and equipment seems like a more sustainable option as it does not produce electricity and is done manually. But hand-poke is not an alternative to machine gun as it is very hard to make big realistic pieces manually, it is just a different method of tattooing, and it can’t overtake the machine gun therefore systematic change has to happen (Goldstein, 2022). Sources support that machine gun tattoos are not considered very sustainable at this time and while some artists and studios are willing to and are making changes, the majority is not. Hand-poke as mentioned previously is naturally more sustainable but also it only recently started gaining traction and popularity again, so it is easier to make sustainable changes for something new or even start sustainably than make changes to decades of unsustainable practices of machine tattoos. In the interview with a hand-poke tattoo artist, interviewee mentions that even in hand-poke process and in a sustainable studio there are some materials that have to be disposable due to sanitary and health reasons. Disposable razors and bed covers have to be burnt after using but using sustainable or natural materials for example biodegradable paper bed covers slightly offsets that negative impact. That was backed up by Dillon Forte who has created a line of biodegradable tattoo products: “Disposable products are essential to keeping the tattoo process safe and sterile. Creating biodegradable products is key for reducing the waste accumulated each day by the tattoo community.” (Preston, 2020) Tattoo industry is moving forwards by inventing new and more sustainable products for tattoo artists to use and it can change the industry for the better.

Both methods have their pros and cons and it can subjective from person to person. However, it is important to know the differences as it can influence decisions made in tattoo process and can affect the interior decisions while designing a tattoo parlour.