Monuments and Mosques: A Debate Over What's Sacred (An American Indian's Perspective)

CrazyHorse Memorial, South Dakota

(Image source.)

AK note: Today's posting comes from Simon Moya-Smith, the author behind I Am Not A Mascot. Simon is Oglala Lakota, writes for the Denver Post, and offers engaging and poignant commentary about what it means to be a contemporary Indian in America. You can also follow him on twitter, @IAmNotAMascot. 

So the controversy – for the moment – is over the mosque slated to be built near the site of the World Trade Center bombings in New York City. Don’t you worry, though. We’ll get back to that ugly immigration debate momentarily.

None the less, I feel compelled to share some not-widely-known wisdom with my mosque-naysayers, for if there’s one thing citizens in this country get instantly aroused by it is some good old American Indian wisdom, so here you go, folks:



Since time immemorial, the Black Hills in South Dakota have been a holy place for the Lakota Sioux – my people. And to the Lakota the Black Hills is where Life began. Although the story of creation significantly differs between Sioux and Christians (our messenger from The Creator came in the form of a woman) Paha Sapa is not unlike Christianity’s Eden in its significance.

But here is where today’s debate over the mosque and my peoples’ sacred site come together: It didn’t matter to the Christians, those innumerable settlers who came west seeking gold, land, riches and religious freedom (ironically) that the Black Hills was our holy site, our sacred location, our Jerusalem. No. What mattered was that their monument – Mount Rushmore – be chiseled into it.

And the key word here is “on,” not “near.” The American Muslim community wants to build their 13-story mosque near the World Trade Center bombing site, not on it. Only if we – American Indians – were lucky enough to have seen Christians build their much coveted religious institutions and monuments to their leaders near our holy sites, and not on them.

And for some odd reason, the desecration of the Black Hills continues in the form of the Crazy Horse monument, still in construction. Although it is said that Lakota councils support the depiction of the never-photographed war leader on its rock face, I remain of the opinion that Crazy Horse would want his likeness carved into the Black Hills as much as a priest would like someone disfiguring his cathedral.

Sadly, and much to my chagrin, there seems to be no stopping in sight for the desecration of American Indian sacred locations. Take DIA in Colorado for example.

Denver International Airport, built in 1995 and residing only 20 minutes east of downtown, is on sacred Indian burial ground, and it now appears the city is considering a $1 billion facelift of the airport including the construction of more facilities.

Albeit, if the voices of protest aren’t speaking loudly enough, the spirits most certainly are.

Pass through any one of the concourses at DIA – especially Terminal A – and one will detect the subtle, familiar sounds of American Indian flute. The high harmonies play on a continual loop, serenading frequent fliers from out camouflaged speakers behind glass cases displaying old Indian trinkets and blouses.

These flute tunes aren’t there to pay homage to the plains Indians that once inhabited the area. Nor do they play to create a “Welcome to the West” ambiance for airport patrons on layover to Seattle. No. The Indian flute plays to pause the pranks and creepy occurrences that sweep the facility.

During construction, innumerable unexplained phenomenon occurred at DIA, and reportedly continues today 15 years after its unveiling. In the late 1990s, airport big shots summoned Colorado American Indian elders to place blessings on the airport in a last ditch effort to rest the restless spirits and mitigate the often frightening, reoccurring events airport staff were reporting on a consistent basis.

In 2000, paranormal researcher Dennis William Hauck placed Denver International Airport on his list of spooky spots around the world in his book “The International Directory of Haunted Places.” Whether you believe in the paranormal or not, the principle matter still looms: A building was constructed on a sacred site.

Christians obviously feel they have the constitutional right to build what they want, where they want, when they want. I find it most hypocritical that the same Christians who are for building edifices on sacred Indian sites are the very same voices of opposition regarding the erection of a Muslim mosque near Ground Zero.

So I present the obvious: Why not build a mosque near the hallowed grounds of the WTC? American Indian holy sites are desecrated by Christians all the time.

I am one of the last few true natives in this country, and I don’t expect many - or any outside of Indian Country for that matter - to subscribe to or even comprehend this rare perspective. But for the sake of doing away with double standards, I think this unfortunate reality for Indian peoples was worth pointing out today.

OK. Now back to the immigration debate.

Still Not A Mascot,

-Simon Moya-Smith


See the original posing here:
I Am Not A Mascot: Monuments and Mosques: The Debate Over What's Sacred (An American Indian's Perspective)

(Thanks Simon!)

PS-Want to see your writing on Native Appropriations? I'm always looking for guest posts. Send an idea, completed piece, or any questions over to NativeAppropriations@gmail.com. Don't hesitate, just do it!

Sexy Girl Tattoo

Sexy Girl Tattoo

Random Appropriation of the Day! ("Money House Blessing" Air Freshener?)

One of the things I love most about having this blog is getting Random Appropriations from my friends as they go about their lives all over the world. Last week I got a text message from my friend Shane in Taipei showing an "aboriginal" cartoon at the airport, my friend Steven sent me some great ones as he drove cross country this summer, and then this weekend my friend Genia tags me on Facebook...as this. I burst out laughing in the middle of the library. I love it.

Let's discuss.


Things I am partial to: "100% Genuine!" and "Contains Genuine 'Indian Strawberry'"(?) and the nice aesthetics of the Mr. Stereotypical Plains (we're getting pretty well acquainted on this blog, aren't we?) with the cornucopia of strawberries. Award-winning graphic design, right there.

But the best part is the "Money House Blessing." While, as Genia pointed out, we all can probably use some Money House Blessings...I'm not sure even the included "Genuine Indian Strawberry" is gonna get it for you. Sorry.

I'm guessing the company is playing off of the tradition of smudging (burning of certain sacred herbs, roots, or grasses) that many tribes use as a form of blessing or purification, but trying to commodify that in a pink can? Ridiculous.  

Also amazing, I googled to see if I could find any more information about the company, and found this:

Shoprite.com has a glorious typo--"Monkey House Blessing." Pretty fitting, actually. Cause there's about the same probability spraying this stuff will bring monkey blessings to your house as there is that it'll bring money blessings. That's all I've got to say.

(Thanks Genia!)

"Navajo" Fashion Spread in Seventeen

(via my culture is not a trend, click for bigger version)

Cultural appropriation in fashion has now gone seriously mainstream. The favorite read of tweens and teens everywhere, Seventeen Magazine, featured this "Navajo" fall fashion spread in their August issue. On many levels, I find this even more offensive than having a generic "tribal fashion" spread. I know I always point out that those spreads lump a million different Native tribes, images, and traditions into one catch-all, otherizing, "tribal" idea--and at least this one listed a tribe, right? Yeah, not so much. 

They still rely on generalized Native stereotypes, but this time are referring to a specific culture. This points to the fact that in the collective American consciousness, all tribes are interchangeable. Navajo, Ojibwe, Kootenai, take your pick. They're all the same! For instance, dream catchers: definitely not Navajo. Would I still be upset if they had paid attention and made taken inspiration from actual Navajo culture? Like if they had a white model dressed up in a rug dress? Of course. But hopefully you see my point.

My friend Marlon did a little research, and found out that in January 1973 Seventeen actually did a cover story entitled: "Special Report: Today's Young Navajos". I love the cover image (below) for many reasons, but mainly because they didn't have her pose in traditional clothes or try and have her conform to a more stereotypical image. She looks like she's about to laugh, just hanging out with her friends. Well done. I can't find the article, so I have no idea if the accompanying story was a shining example or a cringe-inducing piece, but it's still pretty interesting to examine the cover alone: 
 

As I was pulling together this post, I wanted a shocking, over-the-top example to illustrate how these fashion spreads make me feel every time I encounter them in magazines or on other fashion blogs...so I turned to polyvore and MS Paint, and made this:

UPDATE 8/28: After sleeping on it, I took it down. What was here was a "fashion" spread made up of various Africa/Urban/other Black stereotype "inspirations". It didn't illustrate my point, and any point it did make was at the expense of another marginalized group with not nearly enough context or description given. I was going for a visceral reaction, but in a blogging world where most page views are a matter of seconds, it's definitely not enough to throw that up there alone. I also want you to focus on the juxtaposition of the two Seventeen images rather than my misguided attempts at making a point. Apologies for my initial transgressions, and in the words of Kanye West's prolific Twitter: IT'S A PROCESS.  Thanks for bearing with me.  

I bet every fashion blogger making an Native-inspired version relies on the same tatic--pulling together complete stereotypes of what they think of when they hear "Native American". We are so much more than that--but to the readers of the August issue of Seventeen and the fashion blogosphere, we are simply feathers, dream catchers, headdresses, warpaint, moccasins, and beads. Nothing more. 

(Thanks Lauren and Marlon!)

Awesome Contemporary Native Art: Indian Shrek and More

(image source, (c) Bunky Echohawk)

Reader Carleen sent over this image, which comes from an exhibition of contemporary Native art that Susan Shown Harjo curated in DC back in 2007. I know it's old, but you know how much I like art and images that call into question preconceived notions about Indian identity, clashing with stereotypes and challenging ideas of Natives in the historic past, as fantasy characters, ect. This painting definitely fits the bill, and let's be honest, it's pretty fun too.

Lots of other great images from the show can be found at the Washington Post here. The show was entitled "American Icons Through Indigenous Eyes", and The Post noted that the exhibition was a "rare chance to see modern works by Native Americans that don't necessarily reflect craft traditions, anthropology or history, but instead a viewpoint and a vision for art." Exactly what I love about contemporary Indian art. There are even some images that play with cultural appropriation--I especially liked this one by David Bradly, called "Land O Fakes":

 Have I mentioned my undergrad thesis was on contemporary Indian art? It might be obvious by now. :)

Today's my first-ish day of class (still "shopping"), so expect posting to return to normal next week!

Colorlines: Must See Political Native American Art
Washington Post: American Icons Through Indigenous Eyes

Earlier:
Masking Tape and Markers=Beautiful Native Street Poetry

"I bead contemporary Native life": The Art of Teri Greeves

Native-themed Banksy Street Art in San Francisco

(Thanks Carleen!)

"Hipsters Like to Put Things on Their Heads": Links, Links, Links...and More!

• Hipster Wife Hunting did a piece on appropriation of Native culture in fashion. I thought it was satire at first. I was wrong. Though, all my curiosities about the hipster headdress have been cleared up in this sentence: "Hipsters like to put things on their heads". But of course! And here I was giving them credit for trying to make a societal statement or something! 

• Rosetta Stone released a Navajo Language version of their software--I want a Cherokee version next, please?

• Debbie Reese at American Indians in Children's Literature spots a headdress-wearing, war whooping child in Tommy Hilfiger's new campaign. 

• Style Bubble (UK fashion blog) brings up the issue of cultural appropriation in fashion. Interesting comment discussion too. Also: not offended by the dress in question, if you were curious.

• Sociological Images looks at a vintage tobacco ad showing an ethereal (and benevolent) white woman bringing the gift of tobacco to the wild Natives. 

• Jess Yee writes a great post over at Racialicious about the recent apology by the Canadian government to the Inuit for forced relocation. 

• More coverage about the ongoing crisis of violence against Indigenous women.

• Charles Trimble proposes a tax on "Wanabee" Indians. "This past week I had the opportunity to attend a social event, and to observe white culture in action. There were 80 people at this event and five of them represented to me that they had a great-great-grandfather who married a Cherokee" (story of my life).

• Great narrative piece about confronting racist costumes (i.e. Native headdresses) over at Theloop21.

• Yurok Tribe receives the largest-ever repatriation of sacred objects (over 200 pieces), from the NMAI in DC. Awesome.

Just some cool stuff to keep you posted on what's been happening around the 'ol internets in the last few weeks. Thanks to everyone who sent me these--sorry I was bad about keeping track this time. But I am very much in appreciation for your tips!

Mid-Week Motivation: Adriel Luis Spoken Word+Pocahontas

If anyone needs an extra push to make it through your Wednesday, check out this awesome video via Sociological Images. This mash-up came out of a class assignment to use art to "inspire a critical perspective". Socimages gives the context:

Last semester my colleague, Mary Christianakis, assigned her students a mash up.  The idea was to take two forms of art (loosely defined) and combine them to inspire, instead of state, a critical perspective.  Below is one of the exemplars, by her student, Samantha Figueroa.  It combines scenes from Pocahontas with a spoken word poem, Slip of the Tongue, by Adriel Luis.

 I've watched this almost daily since it was posted, so I thought I would share. Here are the full lyrics to Luis' piece:

My glares burn through her.
And I’m sure that such actions aren’t foreign to her
because the essence of her beauty is, well, the essence of beauty.
And in the presence of this higher being,
the weakness of my masculinity kicks in,
causing me to personify my wannabe big-baller, shot-caller,
God’s gift to the female species with shiny suit wrapping rapping like,
“Yo, what’s crackin shorty how you livin’ what’s your sign what’s your size I dig your style, yo.”
Now, this girl was no fool.
She gives me a dirty look with the quickness like,
“Boy, you must be stupid.”
so I’m looking at myself,
“Boy, you must be stupid.”
But looking upon her I am kinda feelin’ her style.
So I try again.
But, instead of addressing her properly,
I blurt out one of my fake-ass playalistic lines like,
“Gurl, you must be a traffic ticket cuz you got fine written all over you.”
Now, she’s trying to leave and I’m trying to keep her here.
So at a final attempt, I utter,
“Gurl, what is your ethnic makeup?”
At this point, her glare was scorching through me,
and somehow she manages to make her brown eyes
resemble some kinda brown fire or something,
but there’s no snap or head moement,
no palm to face, click of tongue, middle finger,
roll of eyes, twist of lips, or girl power chant.
She just glares through me with these burning eyes
and her gaze grabs you by the throat.
She says, “Ethnic makeup?”
She says, “First of all, makeup’s just an anglicized, colonized, commodified utility
that my sisters have been programmed to consume,
forcing them to cover up their natural state
in order to imitate what another sister looks like in her natural state
because people keep telling her
that the other sister’s natural state is more beautiful
than the first sister’s natural state.
At the same time,
the other sister isn’t even in her natural state,
because she’s trying to imitate yet another sister,
so in actuality, the natural state that the first sister’s trying to imitate
wasn’t even natural in the first place.”
Now I’m thinking, “Damn, this girl’s kicking knowledge!”
But, meanwhile, she keeps spitting on it like
“Fine. I’ll tell you bout my ‘ethnic makeup.’
I wear foundation,
not that powdery shit,
I wear the foundation laid by my indigenous people.
It’s that foundation that makes it so that past being globalized,
I can still vocalize with confidence that i know where my roots are.
I wear this foundation not upon my face, but within my soul,
and I take this from my ancestors
because I’ll be damned if I’d ever let an American or European corporation
tell me what my foundation
should look like.”
I wear lipstick,
for my lips stick to the ears of men,
so they can experience in surround sound my screams of agony
with each lash of rulers, measuring tape, and scales,
as if my waistline and weight are inversely propotional to my value as a human being.
See my lips, they stick, but not together.
Rather, they flail open with flames to burn down this culture that once kept them shut.
Now, I mess with eye shadow,
but my eyes shadow over this time where you’ve gone at ends to keep me blind.
But you can’t cover my eyes, look into them.
My eyes foreshadow change.
My eyes foreshadow light.
and I’m not into hair dyeing.
but I’m here, dying, because this oppression won’t get out of my hair.
I have these highlights.
They are highlights of my past atrocities,
they form this oppression I can’t wash off.
It tangles around my mind and twists and braids me in layers,
this oppression manifests,
it’s stressing me so that even though I don’t color my hair,
in a couple of years it’ll look like I dyed it gray.
So what’s my ethnic makeup ?
I don’t have any.
Because your ethnicity isn’t something you can just make up.
And as for that crap my sisters paint on their faces, that’s not makeup, it’s make-believe.”
I can’t seem to look up at her.
and I’m sure that such actions aren’t foreign to her
because the expression on her face
shows that she knows that my mind is in a trance.
As her footsteps fade, my ego is left in crutches.
And rejection never sounded so sweet.


So powerful. I love it. Enjoy!

Sociological Images: Pocahontas Meets Adriel Luis' Slip of the Tongue
Youtube: Once Tongue Tied

Why don't you write?: Some reflections of 7 months of blogging

(Leather postcard found at an estate sale by Jodi--great use of the alcohol, right? geez.)

Many of you have probably noticed the blog has been a bit quiet this summer, going from about five posts a week during the school year to, like, one--if that. I'm not going anywhere, I promise! I've just been finding it a bit hard to balance summer life with its lack of schedule and blogging, which requires a fair amount of discipline. But it's given me some time to think about the direction of Native Appropriations, and definitely lots of time to reflect on what I've learned over the last few months of writing.

Back in January, when I started Native Appropriations, it started with a Facebook-note blitz to all of my friends, asking for suggestions and contributions, for a "project" on cultural appropriation and images of Natives. The response I received was overwhelmingly positive, and I never realized how many of my friends kept files on their computer (like me) where they stuck the offensive images they encountered in everyday life. From that, le blog was born.

I can't believe it's really only been 7 months, I've learned so much since that first trip to urban outfitters. We've dealt extensively with The Strange Case of the Hipster Headdress, endured a wave (that's turned into a tsunami) of tribal fashion, seen an "Indigenous Olympics," and survived a sh*t storm created by discussing non-Native participation at powwows. But there were some great things too--like Native street art, powerful advertising campaigns, representing ourselves, and beading contemporary life. 

I should also thank the "big" blogs--Sociological Images, Racialicious, Shakesville, and even Jezebel(!), for believing in the message and featuring my blog. I've truly been humbled by the response.

Through it all, I've had my identity as a Native person questioned more times than I can count, had my character attacked ("no better than a pedophile" I think was the best one), and been told I have "no life" or should find "something better to do." But for every scathing, negative comment, there have been 10 people who've emailed to say how happy they are to have found the blog. I've definitely gained a thicker skin and a desire for constructive criticism, which has already begun to serve me well in my grad student life. 

So, Dear Readers, thank you. Thanks for sticking with me, for coming around even in these dry months of summer, telling your friends, neighbors, and colleagues, and sending in all the fantastic tips from around the world. I truly wouldn't be anywhere without you! 

With that, here are some things (minor changes) to be expecting from Native Appropriations this fall:

Guest Posts:

I want more voices than my own on this blog. This started as a collaboration, and I want it to return to that. There are millions of Native perspectives on these issues, and I represent only one. I'm in the process of trying to work out some formalized relationships, but I'd rather just have you send in your thoughts on an issue. Write it up: 250-500 words (or a little more), include some pics, a little snark, and you're on the blog. Truly. Don't hesitate, just send it over! 

Comments: 

I'm going to start moderating comments on older posts--it's not productive to the conversation to have trolls jumping in on old issues. I'm also going to try and contribute in the comments a little more, up until now I've tried to stay out, since I didn't want to seem like the all-knowing "expert" on everything. (see #1) But do know that I read and appreciate all of your contributions, and do take them to heart.

Emails: 

I read them. All of them. I get a ton of tips, and admittedly I've been bad about responding--so I'm going to be better! I love hearing your thoughts.

Posts:

Expect a bigger mix of the usual Random Appropriations and longer posts, but I'm also going to start talking about some of the "bigger" issues in Indian Country too, and linking Native Approp's readers up with some other great Native blogs and resources on the internets. 

Now:  

What are your thoughts? What would you like to see more of on the blog? Less of? Anything I didn't cover that's been bugging you? Let me know! 

Thanks for a great start, and let's get the word out about Native Appropriations--remember, you can also interact with the blog in other ways:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/NativeApprops

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nativeappropriations (I tend to post some interesting articles and links here in between posts, and "fans" post some great stuff too, so check it out!)

Random Appropriation of the Day! (Totem Cups)

 (source)

I initially didn't have much to say about these "Totem Cups" by designer Rob Southcott--they're cups. That look like a totem pole. Oh, but they are made in the land of many great Native appropriations: China.

Southcott is a Toronto-based artist, and his pieces seem to incorporate a lot of the natural world with "functionality". Lots of driftwood looking things, kinda pretty.

But then I got to thinking. What irks me about this product is not only the "totem pole" as interpreted by a non-Native who has no knowledge of the sacredness or intentionality behind the designs of Northwest coast/Alaska totem poles, but also the fact that the revenue of this product, clearly based off Indigenous designs, goes to the non-Native artist. So he benefits, while the tribes that created and maintained this style of art do not. That doesn't seem fair, does it?

If I decided to market a product that was clearly a direct rip off of one of Southcott's other designs, I would have a lawsuit slapped on me before it even hit shelves. The slippery slope of intellectual property clearly falls on the side of those in power, doesn't it? 

Totem Cups: http://www.neatoshop.com/product/Totem-Cups

Rob Southcott: http://robsouthcott.com/

(Thanks Marj and arkityp!)

"Sioux Chief" Drain: Honoring Natives in a Bathroom Near You!

(image source)

It's definitely an honor to have the place where dirty, disgusting water drains in rest stop bathrooms to be named after the most revered position in your tribe, right? According to the Sioux Chief Manufacturing Company, that's exactly what they were going for.

Tipster Ann spotted this tribute to the "proud and resolute people" of the Sioux Nation in a skeezy rest stop bathroom somewhere in Indiana. She did a little research and found the website of the company, where they describe the origin of their company's name and logo:

Sioux Chief’s founder, Martin E. “Ed” Ismert Jr., was greatly interested in Western Americana. Ed’s father, Martin Sr., was a collector and Midwest authority of Western and Native American artifacts in the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s. When the time came to name his new company, it did not take Ed long, as he had learned from his father all about the Sioux Indian Nation. The Sioux Nation were a very proud and resolute people that, while being fierce and competitive, held in highest regard the family, the Earth, and especially Wakan Tanka, the Great Spirit. Ed commissioned his brother Bud, an artist who studied under Thomas Hart Benton, to draw the “Young Determined Sioux Chief” in full ceremonial dress as the logo for his young determined company. Sioux Chief Manufacturing, being named and patterned after such a distinctive people would put forth an image not easily forgotten.

Let's examine this language a bit, shall we? So Ed learned from his father (a white collector and "authority" on Indian stuff) "all about the Sioux Indian Nation". Another great example of how many non-Natives can have extremely limited encounters with Native peoples but then call themselves "experts" and sell themselves as foremost authorities on all things Native. I'm sure he knows all about the Lakota/Dakota. All about them.

Then there's the ubiquitous past tense--The Sioux "were a very proud and resolute people", "held in highest regard", etc. He also manages to throw in a whole bunch 'o stereotypes in there too--The "Spiritual Warrior" syndrome. Competitive and fierce, yet deeply tied to the earth and "The Great Spirit". And hey, Mr. Ismert, the Lakota didn't go anywhere. They're still here.

So then we asks his non-Native brother, with presumably the same limited knowledge as himself, to draw a "Young, Determined, Sioux Chief" for their logo, in ceremonial dress, of course (with no regard to how that might be, you know, special or sacred):

...and we get the stereotypical Plains Indian Warrior. At least they got the regalia semi-right? considering how often this dress is attributed to other tribes for advertising and marketing. Not that it makes it any better.

I also keep coming back to the fact that it's the Sioux Chief company. Chiefs and leaders of tribes are deeply revered positions of power, and to me it just seems so absolutely degrading to have that position of wisdom, trust, and authority placed on a bathroom drain. People are literally (excuse the language) pissing on our culture.

If any Lakota or Dakota tribal members want to weigh in, definitely let me know.

 Sioux Chief Manufacturing Company: http://www.siouxchief.com/Company

(Thanks Ann!)

Tattoo Writing Designs with Wide Range of Fonts and Colors

Tattoo writing designs are popular among people, as these are the simplest method of clearly conveying a specific message. While there are chances that some other symbol or image used in an inked tattoo can be misrepresented by various people, these designs are most effective in conveying the message in the most unambiguous manner. Some of the most popular designs use famous phrases, love poems, religious verses, philosophical or life quotes along with names and small words. Along with the English alphabets, these tattoos also use characters from some of the eastern languages like Chinese and Japanese. People also ink some of the popular designs containing Chinese philosophy, Chinese translation and a set of Chinese characters in elegant calligraphy styles.

Before inking any of the tattoo writing designs on your body, you have to decide the exact message you want to convey through your tattoo. The Asian writings are used for conveying a particular message in a unique manner that represents your values, experiences, beliefs and other aspects of your personality. So it becomes essential to choose the exact message which will be represented by means of the inked tattoo. People interpret the tattoos with English fonts in different ways and accept the message based on their own interpretation. But the Chinese language is pretty much complex and needs to be accurate for conveying a particular message. So it is always better to choose an artist who understands the Chinese language and is able to translate the exact meaning for you.

Kanji tattoos are a popular version of these tattoo writing designs. These designs use Chinese character in a specific arrangement for producing a special meaning in the Japanese language. Each of the Chinese fins is ideographic and bale to represent a complete idea or meaning by itself. The Japanese people reconfigured the language according to their own tongue and included two more characters like katakana and hiragana. Most of the modern Kenji tattoo designs use both Japanese and Chinese fonts in their designs. With combining different languages, the tattoos became more obscure for the westerners who are attracted to these designs only because of their stylish look.

The bearer has to be careful about his tattoo writing designs as a wrong or substandard design will reveal his poor taste and choice. If these tattoos are inked in a rush without proper consultation with an experienced tattoo artist, it may convert the object as a matter of joke and laughter. So it is always better to select the exact message you want to convey through the writing tattoo and the select a word in English or some other language. Always spend some time in researching on various way of representing the chosen message and then take the help of an experienced professional to give the tattoo its required effect.

Polynesian Tattoo Designs Representing the Art of a Thousand Islands

Polynesian tattoo is an inherited body art from Polynesia which is a group of over thousand islands in the Pacific Ocean. The style and pattern of these designs differ from one island to another even though the body art was common across all the islands. These designs are further a classic combination of a rich history along with a set of traditional meanings and significance. A large number of rituals are associated with these tattoos as these were considered as sacred and pious by the Polynesians. The bearer has to follow these regulations before as well as after getting the design inked on his body parts. Ancient people were inking the Polynesian tattoo designs using a set of traditional instruments like bamboos, bird bones, and turtle shells. These people were considering the entire tattooing process to be of great significance and were accompanying the tattooing with song and dance.

The healing process was very much time consuming and painful, but the islanders loved to bear these designs as a symbol of courage, power and even their position, rank, or standing in the society. A person was eligible to bear this tattoo after completion of twelfth year which is considered as the transitional period from boyhood to manhood. The person was further bearing additional tattoos with any addition to his existing admiration and respect. Both men and women loved to bear these Polynesian tattoo designs. Most common feature of these tattoos was their elaborate designs, abstract style, and significance based on their tradition and customs. But the features were varying based on the expression the bearer wants to convey through these designs. Based on his intended self-expression these tattoos were inked with different size, shape, style, color and placement on the body. The bearer and artists had options to manipulate the designs based on their preference and meaning.

Most of the women love to sport smaller sized tattoos on their arms, hands, chins, and lips. Whereas, the men prefer to bear elaborate designs covering their entire shoulders or a large part of their backs. These Polynesian tattoo designs also vary based on the associated style like Tahitian, Hawaiian, Samoan, and Marquesan. These deigns were further distinguished based on a specific island and skill of the tattooing artist. Before inking such a design on your body, you have to be 100% about the exact meaning you want to convey through the tattoo. Spend some time selecting the exact design after going through the various designs along with their associated symbolism, meaning, and significance.

Polynesian Tattoo Designs Representing the Art of a Thousand Islands

Lady Gaga Hip Tattoo

Wondering about Lady Gaga's lower back and hip tattoo?

Lady Gaga has a large tattoo which contains a total of six roses and a lot of vines, the tattoo design starts on her lower back and reaches around her left hip and then goes up her left side.

The tattoo was drawn by famous tattoo artist Kat Von D

Lady Gaga Hip Tattoo

Temporary Henna Tattoos

Temporary Henna Tattoos - Creating Beautiful Henna Tattoo Designs

One of the major benefits of using henna tattoos is that they are natural, easy to apply and to remove, and very reasonably priced. As a matter of fact, the absence of chemicals makes henna tattoos a much sought after temporary tattoo in the market today. Besides being one of the best alternatives to permanent colour, the henna tattoo is much in demand for its cosmetic value. These tattoos are ideal for a temporary design for weddings or parties. Once it completely wears off, you could create a new design.

Traditional henna has been in use for decoration and beautification purposes for thousands of years. Its usage was restricted for a long time to the Middle East, Africa, and India. However, in recent times, the concept of temporary tattoos has gained considerable popularity in western countries, particularly the US and the UK. In India and Pakistan, the cultivation of henna was encouraged by the Mughals who used it for beauty and decorative purposes. Henna was also used for its medicinal value. Today, the use of henna tattoos has spread far and wide as its popularity grows.

Guide to Creating Beautiful Henna Tattoos

Henna tattoos are made from the henna paste, which is created from ground henna leaves, mixed with water and other natural ingredients. This paste, when applied to the skin or hair, leaves a colour that could vary from orange to rich mahogany. You don’t need to be a skilled artist for creating a beautiful and long-lasting henna tattoo. With some practice and proper guidance, you can get amazing results for yourself and your friends.

Instead of preparing henna paste, it is advisable to use a tube or pen (Ie henna penna) containing pre-made henna extracts. This would help you during the application process and also ensure strength and consistency. The use of modern pens offers easy and safe application directly onto the skin, and helps in creating beautiful designs quickly and easily. The step by step guide to creating henna tattoos is described below:

Creating Henna Tattoo Designs

Creating henna tattoo designs is one of the most critical parts of creating detailed henna tattoos. It is always advisable to wipe your palms with cotton balls dipped in astringent to remove any form of unwanted body oils. Beginners would be advised to opt for simple designs with thick lines – ideally a design which is not too complicated. You could also use stencils as a guide to create a flawless design. It is always better to ensure the painted henna lines are tri-dimensional (raised) for best results. Once the drawing has been completed, it should be left for drying.

Henna Tattoo Aftercare

After completing the henna tattoo design, you should try to follow certain tips for getting a sharp and long lasting tattoo design. Applying a solution of lemon juice and sugar will help keep the design intact for longer. Use of heat or a hair dryer to warm the henna tattoo would give you a great and deeper colour. Applying olive or eucalyptus oil just after drying will yield a further intense colour effect. You should try to make sure the tattooed area does not come in contact with water for at least eight to twelve hours.

Henna tattoos are absolutely natural and do not cause any harm to the skin at all. So, don’t wait! Try henna tattoos to adorn yourself with a beautiful temporary tattoo design. If you wish to purchase quality henna tattoos with long-lasting results,

Sexy Tattoo Ideas For Women

Sexy Tattoo Ideas For Women - Classy Yet Sexy Feminine Tattoos

The first thing you want to think about is what you want in a tattoo—do you want a specific shape or graphic, or something that is a tattoo artist’s original design? Or maybe you want a word or character, whether in English, another language with Roman characters, or something in Gaelic, Chinese, or Russian, for example. The best advice is just to be creative and have fun with this—it’s all up to you, after all.

Based on what specific image you have in mind, that will be related to where you will want to put it—for example, you wouldn’t want a tattoo of angel wings on your face, would you? On your back, though, that’s a completely different story. One idea that’s really popular right now is to get a ring of flowers or a word or phrase spelled out tattooed around your belly button, waist, wrist, or ankle.

Other locations which are less image-specific which are really hot right now include the upper chest, inner thigh, hand, hip, lower back, upper back, back of neck, shoulder (front or back), and toes and fingers.

Some classic images for women have always been hearts and flowers. With the talent and creativity of today’s tattoo artists (and yourselves!), though, almost anything is possible. Particularly interesting when designing or selecting the perfect tattoo for you is the wide variety of colors from which you can choose. There’s also different kinds of ink out there from which you can choose, depending on what you’re looking for.

One thing that’s really great about tattoos is how much freedom you have when you make your selection(s). Since tattoos can be about expressing yourself to the world, if you can dream it, a talented tattoo artist can make it yours.

The most important thing about the decision process, however, is that you have fun with it. Knowing what you want is part of what makes you unique, but you don’t have to go it alone—hence why there are tattoo ideas for women available here!

Random Appropriation of the Day! (Crate & Barrel "Hogan" Rug)

Another Random Appropriation courtesy of my parent's house in San Diego. My mom got some beautiful new rugs for our bathroom from the Crate & Barrel outlet, and I don't know if you can read it, but this style of rug is called a "Hogan" rug.

Still missing the Native connection? This is a Hogan:

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Hogans are the traditional home of the Navajo--which are definitely still widely in use today for ceremonial purposes, driving through the Navajo Nation you often see a hogan next to the more "modern" homes.

Just I thought it was a random name for a rug, and immediately thought of the Navajo/weaving/rugs connection. But I'll admit, it could be an appropriation of another Hogan:

 (image source)

I mean, that bandanna looks kinda like the rug... :)

But here's the screen grab of the Crate & Barrel rug:

I'm beginning to be more and more intrigued by the use of Native names/imagery in product naming, even when the product has nothing to do with Natives.

Random Appropriation of the Day: "Seneca Warrior" Paddle Ball

My sister re-discovered the joys of beach paddle ball when she was on her senior trip to Myrtle Beach, and since I'm home visiting my parents in San Diego for a couple of weeks, we dug around in the garage to see if we still had an old set. Lo and behold, not only did we have an ancient (and complete) set, it happened to be a random appropriation.

This muscle-y "Warrior Seneca" dude is pretty old, like probably from like the late 80's early 90's, back when we were more active beach-goers (i.e. I was like 5). I couldn't find anything online about the company, but I would like to draw attention to their tag line:

"Seneca: The New Breed." That feels weird to me.

So funny, I'm sure when my parents bought this 20 years ago they would have never thought it would end up their daughter's blog. Well considering blogs didn't exist back then...haha.

But anyway. Random appropriation courtesy of Adrienne K's childhood home!

(Thanks Sees!)

Foot Tattoos Words

Here we have a picture gallery of some beautiful foot tattoo word saying, which have hints of inspirational wisdom and meaningful text, which is perfect for both men and women.

Foot Tattoos Words

Girls Tattoos - Extraordinary Cool Tattoos For Girls

In these fashion days, having a tattoo art on different parts of the body have to become in fact a passion for girls. These Tattoos stands for women style as well as fashion. Sometimes they can be appeared as a symbol of love or something else. As there is a multiple range of tattoo design, girls have the options to pick up their particular choice from angel wings, sacred hearts, sparrows, butterflies and so on.

Choice can vary even in girl tattoo designs. Where one girl finds a particular tattoo design sexy, another might take it very cool. As there are available so many cool tattoos for girls in different styles, colors and characters for girls, it is really difficult to say what would be your hottest item.

The most famous and cool tattoos for girls include different designs like a butterfly, tribal, star along with shooting star, flower, fairy, heart, dragonfly, dolphin, Celtic, zodiac. While each of the star tattoos bear a symbolic meaning, heart tattoos represent the sign of romance and love, flower tattoos hold natural beauty along with feminine exclusivity.

To cover whole legs or back, flower pattern tattoos attract many girls. Popular flowers such as daisies, roses, sunflower, lilies, and cherry blossom are commonly found in flower tattoo designs. Besides, the designs like lotus flowers, orchids, peonies, chrysanthemums are some of the name that crossed the attention of many girls.

Butterfly and heart are very cool tattoos for girls and much popular among young girls. Butterfly stands for many symbolic meanings representing simplicity, peace, new life and a new beginning. There is no romantic tattoo like heart. It is very feminine and gives you the opportunity to put your beloved name within it.

When you choose tattoos for girls it should be kept in mind that it is not only drawing a tattoo design rather the tattoo comforts that would be a vital factor for your fashion. Similarly, you should know how to draw tattoos and follow some guidelines to use those properly. Sometimes you might go to the salon or beauty parlor, and sometimes you can make your design by yourself. And always try to keep your tattoo design dry and clean keeping away from sun.

It is also important to decide how long your tattoo will stay on your body. Sometimes it would cause your pain or allergy as well. So be careful regarding tattoo choosing, drawing and using as well. Finally, there are some well established and experienced websites offers cool tattoos for girls. For more information and details, please do not hesitate to visit their valuable website.

Laser Tattoo Removal - How Effective Will it Be?

People are crazy about having tattoos on their bodies but there are times when they are desperately looking for tattoo removal. Teenagers particularly are obsessed with getting tattoos inked on their bodies. Middle aged people, looking at the strange-looking tattoos on the young ones often fall for the temptation of having tattoos inked on their bodies. Just as we have a lot of people getting married and a lot getting divorced, we find that many people want their tattoos removed, even as many others are obsessed with having tattoos inked on their skin!. Laser tattoo removal is a popular method of getting yourself rid of the tattoos that you once loved to mount on your body!

It will be interesting to study why people wanted to have the tattoos on them in the first instance and why they would think of laser tattoo removal subsequently. Having a tattoo inked on your body, though a physiological operation, has psychological overtones. Wearing a tattoo makes many people feel better. People also have the satisfaction of altering their skin, though only partially. People may also feel more confident and more powerful. But as with many things in life, the fascination wears out after a while and people want to get rid of their tattoos for good.

But I would like to confine myself to laser tattoo removal in this article. The reference to the psychological aspects is only incidental. After all, it is quite understandable that you want your tattoos removed. I appreciate your decision to have the tattoos removed for whatever reason and would like to help you with getting your tattoos removed using laser equipment.

Admittedly, laser tattoo removal is a safe and effective method but you need to take some precautions. Sometimes, the tattooed spot on your body may be affected by infection. This may happen due to various reasons. The ink used might have been of non-standard quality. The artist might have had skills deficiency or he might not have bothered to sterilize the skin before applying the ink. Sometimes the infection may be the result of the allergic nature of your skin.

But whatever may be the reason, the infection has to be cured before the laser tattoo removal. Sometimes, people decide to get their tattoos removed as a reaction to the development of infection. But infection can be cured and there is no justification for the overreaction. You may choose to live with your tattoo or you may opt for laser tattoo removal.

Though there are alternatives to laser tattoo removal, the laser method is preferred because it is safe and can remove the tattoo completely