Prison Tattoos [Paperback]

Douglas K. Hall (Author), Richard Stratton (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 1997

Tattoos have a distinct anti-authority appeal. The origin of this appeal might be traced to the early Christian proscription of tattooing and the resulting European laws against the practice. Whatever the source, tattooing today has an aura of the forbidden about it. Second, tattooing may have inherent appeal due to the pain involved in the operation and the permanency of the design; thus tattooing is restricted to the brave and the dedicated. Third, and most important: in some circumstances, people are deprived of the opportunity to acquire and display the ordinary means of identifying and presenting the self. Although all three factors are obviously related it is the final one, that of deprivation of the opportunity to acquire and display the usual and desirable means of self-identification, that we see as the most basic to the understanding of tattooing. --Edgar & Dingman, "Tattooing and Identity," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 1963

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (March 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312151950
• ISBN-13: 978-0312151959
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,892,723 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting commentary and tattoos, mean looking guys., June 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Prison Tattoos (Paperback)

I picked up Prison Tattoos at a college bookstore because it was on sale. It included temporary tattoos made from some of the convicts' designs, which was also novel.

I mainly enjoyed the introduction and conclusion of the book, discussing prison and tattooing, the reasons, the methods, the meanings, everything. It included a discussion of the penal system's dislike of tattooing in prison facilities.

The images were striking, but they were mostly of full bodies and torsos, so the actual tattoos were hard to see any detail in. Also, being a showcase of prison work, there were few pieces that looked particularly good. However, as a gallery of the genre, it got the point across.

I am glad I purchased this book, as I found it interesting, but it was not the valuable guide that I had hoped that it would be.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Worth The Money But Lots Of Pictures, February 15, 2005

By 

C. Mcnabb (Indiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prison Tattoos (Paperback)

I purchased "Prison Tattoos" to study gangs and their tattoos. Being interested in law enforcement and part owner of a tattoo shop this book caught my eye. The intro is about 8 pages followed by 60-70 pages of pictures some fuzzy and crude. The post script is one more page. Lots and lots of pictures of work. But at about a dollar a page of writing, this is a mighty expensive book with little information. Good buy if found of the sale rack or used.