Animal-Themed Tattoo Narratives: Insights into Ontological Perspectives

Abstract

By examining the narratives associated with animal-themed tattoos, this study explores the various ways in which humans relate to other animals. Participants used animal-likenesses to think about themselves, others, and the world around them. By embodying positive attributes of a species that they loved and admired, the tattoos enabled participants to construct meaning and identities based on shared human-animal traits. A thematic discourse analysis of the tattoo narratives grouped them as (1) shared experiences with another species, (2) life experiences and semiotic production of meaning, (3) animal traits embedded in the process of identity formation, (4) animals representing a connection with other humans, or (5) experiences of and/or ideas about animals that represent a profound or transcendent experience. The tattoo narratives were examined in the context of theoretical frameworks associated with "symbolic interactionism" and "interspecies intersubjectivities" to understand how animals were perceived and engaged with. In contrast to how nonhuman animals are often used as objects of ridicule, or representations of inferiority and uncouthness in various discourses and mediums, the animal subjects of the tattoos discussed here are positively portrayed and incorporated into the bearers' own identity. Participants merged ideas about humanity and animality in a manner not representative of a naturalistic ontology, but rather a form of anthropomorphism that is dichotomous with naturalism.

Tattoo Narratives: Insights Into Multispecies Kinship and Griefwork

“…Sandra told me how Petey was 'very inspiring because he had a horrible start, but learned to trust again and really grew as an individual'. This narrative is not dissimilar from that of a participant in my broader study (Hill 2018(Hill , 2019, who talked about a tattoo dedicated to a deceased human friend. Furthermore, it highlights how bonds with non-humans can form that are not necessarily kinship, but are none-the-less meaningful.…”

“…Memorial tattoos are often first conceived as the companion animal ages, and like Charlotte's tattoo of Mack, sometimes leads to a design honouring a lifelong bond. Melanie, who participated in a broader study on animal-themed tattoos mentioned 'I intend to get a piece modelled after my Pekingese one day, as he has been with me through my entire adult life' (Hill 2018(Hill , 2019. Although a number of persons I have spoken with, myself included, plan to get a tattoo honouring a special non-human animal(s), there is often no sense of urgency and an extra significance placed on getting it right.…”

“…Constance said 'the pain of getting tattooed helped ease the emotional pain and it did not hurt as much as I imaged it would -like people say it does with the ribs.' This is interesting because people often claim the ribs are the most painful, including several participants in my wider study of animal species-themed tattoos (Hill 2018(Hill , 2019. However, like Constance, I would describe my ribcage tattoo as being the least painful, perhaps because the whole process was about embracing the scars of surgery and letting go of emotional pain.…”