Cultural Anthropology: Tattoos, Music Instruments, and Symbols

This essay in cultural anthropology explores the historical and contemporary significance of tattoos in American culture, tracing their origins and evolution, with a particular focus on the meanings associated with various tattoo designs, like the snake and anchor, and how they have evolved over time. The author also reflects on their personal interest in tattoos, specifically the Pin-Up Girl tattoo. The essay contrasts this with an analysis of the cultural importance of musical instruments, including the acoustic guitar, the ukulele, and trumpets. It examines their historical connections, family legacies of craftsmanship, and the symbolic meanings associated with them. The essay concludes by comparing and contrasting the meanings embedded in tattoos and musical instruments, highlighting how tattoos represent individual or cultural traits, while instruments often reflect family heritage and the unifying nature of music.

Running head: CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Cultural Anthropology
Name of the University:
Name of the Student:
Author Note:

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Traditional American tattoos and their meanings.
The concept of tattoo came into existence in the Neolithic age (Haviland et al. 2013).
The ancient examples of tattoos and the tools to crate tattoos have suggested that the concept
was developed in the European society. In the American society, the concepts of tattoo has
come from the aboriginals of the place. However, in case of America, the tattoos generally
developed n=by the servicemen, working at the sea. These were done by the Polynesian and
the Japanese amateurs and they were in much demand in the ports of the continent. The
practice of inking tattoos started in the 1940s among the American servicemen especially,
were found to be indulging in this habit (Haviland et al. 2013). There were many types of
tattoos like, the Hawaii, the skull, anchor, swallow, and snake and so on. Each of these tattoos
further, ha sown individual meanings, for example, the snake represented sensibility and evil,
while the anchor tattoos meant the thing that keeps one steady. Therefore, in the modern
American culture there is a great significance the drawings and meanings of the tattoos and
from 1970s the concept of tattooing got included in the mainstream society (Haviland et al.
2013).
My tattoo and its symbolic meaning, style and significance.
I love the concept of tattoo. However, I still have not done one. For me, I believe that
the tattoos represent a part of the self. Therefore, before inking one, I really need to put some
thought into it. As I am getting older, I am exploring so much about the society and myself,
and I have decided that I will ink myself one Pin-Up Girl Tattoo. The Pin – Up girl tattoos
show the extremities of feminism. It includes all aspects of feminism, from a perfect maiden
to a quarrelsome girl, to a complete temptation. This was the idea of pin-up girl tattoos and
the sailors used to ink these as they were away from their home for a long period of times and
therefore, this was the only feminine touch they would get. However, what I want to ink is

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the modern version of pin up girl tattoos. I will ink an attractive woman but not lustrous, with
a face of fearlessness and a pinch of wisdom. I think this will portray myself and my
thoughts. I guess this will also represent the modern day women who may not be much
attractive but whose minds are attractive. The modern women are fearless with an attractive
brain and the kind of wisdom that can fail any men. The pin up girl tattoos also represented
women being fearless, which I have already mentioned and which, is the common feature of
all the girls of these days. Most of the women are, today, fearless. Therefore, I want to get
one pi-up girl tattoo.
Music Instruments:
The Acoustic, the Ukulele and the Trumpets are three signifying music instruments of
all time. Each of these have their unique characteristics and represent the culture of certain
places. For example, the Ukulele holds the cultural attributes of the Huawei, the Trumpets are
a signifying part of the Jazz music developed by the African- American people, and the
Acoustics are the basic version of guitar that produces sound acoustically by using the
vibrations of the strings. It was developed in Italy. Each three of these instruments rare
related to three great musician and instrument maker families.
The Ukulele is related to the great Kamak family, who is famous for making the
instrument and the family, since the first generation, are still involved in the same business.
The instruments come with two ‘K’s written together, as, the two Kamak brothers have
developed the business since he death of their father (You tube. 2019).
In case of acoustic guitars there is only one family that is still producing the acoustic
guitar all across the world, the Martin guitars. The guitars come with the name inscribed on it
that hold the family name and the ‘M’ of the name is written in a cursive way to refer to the

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music notation. Al the famous acoustic guitarists of all the time, from Elvis Presley to bob
Dylan wee in possession of this (You tube. 2019).
The trumpets are essentially associated with the Monette trumpets, an African
American family, that not only make the instrument but also play them and the makers are all
musicians who were at some point of time the customers of the instruments (You tube. 2019).
Meanings of the Symbols of Tattoos and Music Instruments- same or different?
As mentioned before, the inked tattoos and the inscribed names on the music
instruments have certain meanings. However, the symbols and meanings vary hugely in their
orientation. The tattoos uphold, certain features of a culture or the features or characteristics
or natures of the human beings. They also uphold the meanings of life. Some tattoos mean
freedom while some depicts bravery, dedication or the simple emotion called love (Haviland
et al. 2013). However, in case of inscriptions on the musical instruments, there is no such
thing. The inscriptions mostly represent the family name. They may come with a fancy
pattern that shows the flow of the music notes, but mostly they carry the family names of the
houses that make those instruments. This shows the dedication, love and respect that they
have for their family. Also, it represents a sense of unity in the family house. Because, it is
often seen that the families that create the instruments are in the business for generations after
generations (You tube. 2019). Therefore, this shows that there is a strong bond and unity
among the members, which is the sole purpose of music itself, to unite every one, on a single
string or a single note or in a single song.

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References:
Haviland, W.A., Prins, H.E., McBride, B. and Walrath, D., 2013. Cultural anthropology: The
human challenge. Cengage Learning.
YouTube. (2019). David Monette trumpets & Scotty Barnhart, MUSIC episode. [online]
Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYkIqld5eKE [Accessed 28 Apr. 2019].
YouTube. (2019). Kamaka Hawaii ukulels & Jake Shimabukuro, MUSIC episode. [online]
Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74u9m8iNt04 [Accessed 28 Apr. 2019].
YouTube. (2019). Martin Guitar & Joan Baez, MUSIC episode. [online] Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaCG8DQyASw [Accessed 28 Apr. 2019].