BDx13
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interesting article about tattoos in Iran
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060809/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_tatt...
Tattoos go undercover with Iran's youth
By BRIAN MURPHY, Associated Press Writer Wed Aug 9, 3:12 PM ET
TEHRAN, Iran - It's an undercover movement ? literally: Tattoos have become a fad among many young Iranian women who proudly display them in private
but must keep them under wraps from authorities.
"This is the tattoo generation," said Milad, a 24-year-old artist who does body art as a sideline in his Tehran studio. He gave only his first name,
fearing police might crack down.
"It's the new sign of being hip."
It's a select, largely female clientele, mostly teens and 20-somethings in Tehran's most affluent and style-savvy districts. But these have been the
birthplaces for nearly every limit-testing trend since the strict dress codes of the Islamic Revolution began to erode in the late 1990s. It began
with nose jobs then moved on to makeovers, body-hugging jackets, funky sneakers and head scarves that leave more hair exposed than covered.
As the Islamic coverings shrink, the next fashion frontier appears to be what's underneath, and it's catching on with men, too.
But officials don't yet seem ready for tattoos, and even block access to tattoo Web sites.
Maryam, who is 20, wears a fish-shaped tattoo on her shoulder and won't give her full name. "We have so many secrets from the authorities that they
know about but can't stop: our parties, our music. This is just another one," she says.
The tattoo wave is so new ? and with such high chic appeal ? that few people have paused to think much about the consequences of being marked for
life, said Milad. The only real plan for the future is that some girls pick intimate spots that only a spouse would see ? such as places normally
covered by undergarments.
"Most girls don't want their future mother-in-law, for example, to see they have a tattoo," said Milad.
His back-room tattoo parlor is one of dozens in Tehran, its lights wrapped in brown paper for mood. His paintings ? loosely rendered human and organic
forms ? cover the walls. Clients rest on a low divan as he works, using ink and a needle-tipped pen. Professional tattoo equipment is nearly
impossible to find.
He relies on word of mouth through the places where the tattoo generation flocks: the house parties with Western music and dancing; the malls and
fast-food spots in leafy north Tehran. Milad's business card has only his name and cell phone number.
"This is an underground business," said Milad, wearing baggy shorts and purple Converse high-tops. "I'm not too scared of the police anymore. But you
still have to be careful."
He gets a call for a job about once a week, and the customers are getting noticeably younger.
"When I started two years ago, it was rare to get a teenage girl," said Milad. "Now that's the typical client."
For an average of 800,000 rials ? about $90 ? they choose from Milad's standard designs ? interwoven flames called "Creeping Death," a burning cross
dubbed "Dragon Sword," or, for the less daring, butterflies, flowers and unicorns.
But he'll work up anything for an extra fee. He's done marijuana leaves and symbols from Iran's pre-Islamic Zoroastrian faith. A Muslim girl asked for
some Hebrew letters ? in a country whose leaders repeatedly call for Israel's destruction.
"She didn't even know what the letters meant," said Milad. "She just liked how they looked."
Placing also is getting more adventurous; Milad said more women are asking for tattoos on the small of their backs or on their breasts. "No big deal,"
shrugged Milad. But it would be an outrage in a society that still tries to segregate the sexes at some colleges and public events.
A growing number of men, too, are exposing themselves to the tattoo pen.
Yasha, a 20-year-old student, asked Milad to put his calligraphy skill to work on his back. Yasha now sports the English letters KMKKY to represent
the names of his family.
He's discussing another design for his right calf.
But Milad remains tattoo-free.
"You can't do them on yourself well, and I don't like anyone else's work," he said.
If I fail math, there goes my chance at a good job and a happy life full of hard work.
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DaveMoral
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Doesn't surprise me one bit. I was watching a travel documentary about Iran once and I swear I saw a kid wearing a Blind Guardian shirt. Lots of Shi'a
Muslims from Lebanon to Iraq have tattoos, tattoos of names of Shi'a Imams. Really, and I'm not Islamic Law expert, the only thing that they could
bust these girls on according to Islamic law is exposing themselves to a dude who isn't family or a spouse. Theoretically though, there's ways around
that for unmarried women.
Iran would embrace a lot of things if they weren't afraid of it going against Islam.... I think if there were punk rock bands that did songs against
Israel they would be into them(which means there's at least one Israeli punk band they might be into, Dir Yassin).
I think people have a distinctly different impression of Iran based on what the wealthy Shah-loving refugees said about the place over 20 years ago
and have no clue about the changes that have gone on in that time. They're in the height of their boomer generation, and they are changing things.
Don't be surprised if you start hearing about Iranian punk rock in the future.
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Discipline
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It's so fucking stupid to outlaw shit like tattoos. There are way more important things to worry about in life than what people are wearing.
‘Do you know what a love letter is? It’s a bullet from a fucking gun. Straight through your heart.’
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DaveMoral
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I don't think it would be a problem if say.... women were tattooing women... but that's not what's going on there. It's a way more traditional culture
than here.... even were it not an Islamic republic there would be taboos against tattoos in Iran and it would still be pretty underground...
especially with women getting tattoos.
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sinister
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We kinda have some Iranian hardcore already, isn't Lou + Pete's (from sick of it all) father Iranian?
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Voodoobillyman
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They ban access to tattoo involved websites and pro equipment is near impossible to get there, so they do it jailhouse. Whats more important to them?
ban on tattoos based on their beliefs, or a health crisis that could kill literally thousands if it were to spread. If anything they need to
familiarize themselves with the health risks posed by underground tattooing. I don;t work in a shop, but I will be damned if anyone will call me a
scratcher. I own all the equipment necessary to keep everything sterile, I have attended all the classes required by most states to become licensed
and I get my vaccinations every year. I think the authorities that keep these people scared and underground need to rethink in a bigger picture kind
of way.
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CR83
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Voodoo, I was thinking the same thing. It is terribly unsafe and unhealthy to have it so "underground". I promise you the government doesn't give
one shit if people get sick from it.
Cool article BD.
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