Tuesday, April 15, 2008

TATAU


This is my first own blog ever created since I have been to AUT. In fact, I will use this to discuss and post links on the subject that I am researching on, which is Samoan tattoo (tatau). I hope to have more comments in future from those who will be invited.
Please - Keep smiling!

6 comments:

bahram said...

Hi Poe
I hope you had good holiday so far. I am very glad that you have chosen this interesting topic. The art of tattoo is also used in Iran. The specific people in Iranian society have used tattoo to show that they are chivalrous, juggler and bully. The Iranian society doesn’t respect to these people. As you know better me, tattoo has totally different meaning in NZ and in Samoa. The tattoo has a history more than for 4000 years. As I heard tattoo has always had an important role in your culture and it has religion value in the different ceremonies and traditions. In addition, every line in the tattoo has a specific meaning and some of them are the sign of family and clan. And also the tattoo has a high respect in culture of people who live in this area.
I would like to know you opinion too.

poeelama said...

Hi Bahram!

Thank you so much for sharing your opinion on tattoo before I start blogging. I agree with all what you have said about the reason of tattoing in your country,Iran,the importance in cultures, relation to other religion's beliefs, as well as, the meaning of a tattoo.

In fact, this is just the same as a Samoan one. Designs of a Samoan tattoo are based on the Samoan traditional beliefs, and I will talk more about it during my research. However, don't worry, this would be clearly defined and easily undrestood when I start writing about it.

Have a nice holiday my friend - See you later!

Hisako said...

Hi Poeelama,
It's an interesting story to read. I like it.
So in Fiji, women have tattos more than men, don't they?

I'm looking forward to reading more about TATAU.

By the way, do you have any TATAU in your body?

poeelama said...

Hi Hisako!

Thanks for a comment -

I don't really understand about Fijian's tattoos as I haven't yet seen a Fijian's traditional one.

However, when the Samoans got the tattoo instruments about 2000 years ago as I mentioned, they started create their own traditional tattoo (tatau) as seen in the picture.

I will keep posting some more about this research and next week, I'll answer your question whether I have a tattoo or not.

michael.lorigan said...

Hi Poe,

Well chosen topic, and one that you must be very comfortable writting about. The background of the tattoo has allways been a mystery to me, so your published research is very wellcome. The comment that Bahram posted giving us the lenght of time over which the history of the tattoo has evolved is also very intersting. Well done brother.

bahram said...

Hi Poe
I’d like write about tattoo as 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. 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, and 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. An average is about $90.