How far is too far to advertise? Along with piercings and hair coloring, tattoos are among the most popular form of self expression. Tattoos have been around for ages, dating back to numerous ancient civilizations. They were used mainly as a rite of passage: a symbol for when a boy became a man or a way to identify one’s tribe. Different markings meant different things and we still follow these ideas today. Tattoos are a form of bodily manipulation in which we can make a statement or simply decorate ourselves. In a way, tattoos really are a form of personal logos. You are advertising your body with markings that are distinguishable to you alone.

Logos are so well known among us that a lot of people feel they are permanent parts of their lives. Take a look at a few examples.

Some companies may even find tattooing as a way to advertise their business. Golden place.com is an online casino which has become known for its extreme advertising gimmicks. They first started out paying known boxers to wear temporary tattoos on their bodies during a big match. This eventually led to other sporting events in which the tattoos were worn on famous athletes and even during the Olympics. This is actually a form of intelligent advertising, but where do you draw the line? Golden palace.com later paid a Utah woman $15,000 to get their name permanently tattooed on her forehead. I would personally think that a tattoo of that nature would be worth more.

With all the many ways in which we decorate our bodies, tattoos truly are an advertisement of yourself. It makes you think carefully about the decision to brand yourself as a whole or what design to get. Keep in mind, it’s there for life!
-Nora Reed