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Re: mutilation and tattoosNedra Sue Davis (ndavis@VARUNA.ENG.LSU.EDU)Thu, 4 Jul 1996 11:46:40 -0700
Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 11:44:46 -0700 (CDT) From: Nedra Sue Davis <ndavis@varuna.eng.lsu.edu> To: Holly Swyers <swyersh@INTERPORT.NET> Cc: Multiple recipients of list ANTHRO-L <ANTHRO-L@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU> Subject: Re: mutilation and tattoos > Just a quick question for Nedra Sue Davis: What are the parameters of your > research on tattoos? Are you looking at _anyone_ who might have a tattoo, > or are you limiting your research to particular groups? > Ms. Swyers, The parameters of my research are age and area, and social background. i am interviewing gutter-punks in New Orleans (NO)LA. ages ranging from 15 - 34. i am also conducting research in Baton Rouge with local kids that hang out on a particular street near the University that has a body shop (piercing, tattoos, ect...). Chime Street is known to punks like Bourbon St. The gutter-punks, gothics, hippies, squatters, crusties, rainbows all hang out in New Orleans in the coffee shop Khaldies, down by the river (levee) and in the Quarter Square, they are on the con spare-changing people to get money to party or eat (usually in that order). once i approach them to talk about their tattoos some are very informed and are articulate about the various meanings of their tattoos, others, well... drug induced stupors are not the mind nurturing, soul reflecting activities. Most of the people i have spoken to in NO do their own work or have a close friend to do it ("close" could mean you "hung-out" all night, or your travelling partner). they are called scratchers by professionals. some of the people in NO have very elaborate work, professionally executed, but may have bartered for it. These people work mainly in a non-monetary system of exchange and believe in many idealistic or unrealistic ideas, such as "Rent should be free" - these people live in a "leisure" lifestyle, where work, bills, and such are not deemed valuable, but part of "the system". they will spare-change people, what they call work, to get a bottle of lets say vodka, go down to the levee to share their "bootie" with those who also bring something to the group, otherwise they will send you on your way as a freeloader! you can see people, young people, with homemade tattoo guns, dosed out of their minds (on LSD) just jabbing another design on right on the levee @ 6:30am! i hope i did not ramble on too much :) nedra Nedra Sue Davis PHONE: 504-388-6027 3414 CEBA BATON ROUGE,LA 70803 ndavis@varuna.eng.lsu.edu
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