Rather than being a reflection of a person’s character, tattoos should be seen as art.
The Tattoo Taboo Project is a journalism project consisting of three personality profiles focused on people with tattoos. It is an online, multimedia project, consisting articles, photos, and interactive features. These stories aim to inform readers that the art of tattooing is a physical form of cultural and personal expression. Tattoos have significant meaning for people across the world and yet are often frowned on by others, rather than seen as a form of expression. People from a plethora of cultures express themselves through their tattoos. This project delves into the history of certain tattooing traditions and the significance of tattoos for people who have them. The three profiles featured on the Tattoo Taboo Project shed light on the tattoo tradition among sailors, Polynesians and the challenges of having tattoos in the workplace. Each profile is accompanied by photos of the tattoos of the profile subject created, curated and designed by Rosa Johnson for her Capstone Project from Linfield College for her Bachelor's degree.