Re: probable origins of "tribal"

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Posted by jolynn on October 2, 2001 at 06:05:21:

In reply to: probable origins of "tribal" posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on October 2, 2001 at 02:11:29:

I was surfing the net one night and found a site that claimed they
created 'tribal'. They studied many Anthro texts and found the
'universal' symbols and these become the tribal designs. I wish I
could remember the site. Now, I didn't even have to drag out my Anthro
degree to tell you that is so much B.S.-and I don't mean bachelor of
science. There are very few universals in the worlds cultures and I
can't say as I have seen any of them in tribal designs. I would say
this is their excuse for charging way too much for their design stuff
and Catherines' explanation is much more the truth.

jolynn
: "Tribal" is indeed a strange term. It often mimics Pacific Island
body
: art, as well as some other bits and pieces gleaned from here and
: there, Dover Pictorial Archive series books and National
Geographics.
: They're "tribal" as opposed to using traditional tattoo motifs like
: "girlie with large hooters", "heart with sword" or "death before
: dishonor".
:
: For the most part, though, it's only link with "tribes" of any sort
is
: superficial ..... UNLESS .... you consider that the people who adorn
: themselves with such are a peer group re-inventing themselves as a
: tribal culture (in the way that you might stretch the definition of
: tribe to describe an urban street gang).
:
: Leo Zulueta (sp?), Alex Binnie, excellent original practioners of
: "tribal tattoo" style, use motifs reminiscent of South Pacific work,
: deeply incised, very elegant. These patterns require plenty of
black
: ink, and tolerance for pain. The genre has now stretched to include
: any bold line work, with curvinlinear forms, strong use of negative
: space, interlacing lines, and vaguely spikey dangerous stuff.
:
: It can be beautiful, decorative .. but meaning and tribal
significance
: is out the window and gone down the road by now.
:
: Why did this get popular?
:
: Some indigenous people in the South Pacific went in for it to
reclaim
: their heritage. That's a good thing. There is a large Samoan
: community in LA, who tattoed heavilly, and did a fair amount of
: parading on Venice Beach ages ago, and that may have had something
to
: do with it. They were an impressive crowd!
:
: Some people drifted through a few old National Geographics, and
their
: half-read Anthro texts, and latched onto the designs thinking it
would
: make a personal statement of defiance against "McCulture". That had
: some sincerity, though only half thought through. Raging against the
: machine is always popular, and spawns fine adornment.
:
: Then .... other people just wanted to look like they fell out of a
: page in Rolling Stone rather than like geeky kids wondering if maybe
: they should get a GED, and that displaying a high tolerance for pain
: would give them something to brag about in the meantime.
:
: Elegant bold curvilinnear line work, especially if it looks as
though
: it might have meaning will pass for tribal.

Follow Ups

precious little is "universal" human culture Catherine Cartwright Jones 20:16:29 10/2/2001 (3)
- You make me miss graduate school jolynn 05:28:20 10/4/2001 (2)
  - grad school's a trip! Catherine Cartwright Jones 16:51:36 10/4/2001 (1)
    - thank you! jolynn 20:21:10 10/4/2001 (0)

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: I was surfing the net one night and found a site that claimed they : created 'tribal'. They studied many Anthro texts and found the : 'universal' symbols and these become the tribal designs. I wish I : could remember the site. Now, I didn't even have to drag out my Anthro : degree to tell you that is so much B.S.-and I don't mean bachelor of : science. There are very few universals in the worlds cultures and I : can't say as I have seen any of them in tribal designs. I would say : this is their excuse for charging way too much for their design stuff : and Catherines' explanation is much more the truth. : : jolynn : : "Tribal" is indeed a strange term. It often mimics Pacific Island : body : : art, as well as some other bits and pieces gleaned from here and : : there, Dover Pictorial Archive series books and National : Geographics. : : They're "tribal" as opposed to using traditional tattoo motifs like : : "girlie with large hooters", "heart with sword" or "death before : : dishonor". : : : : For the most part, though, it's only link with "tribes" of any sort : is : : superficial ..... UNLESS .... you consider that the people who adorn : : themselves with such are a peer group re-inventing themselves as a : : tribal culture (in the way that you might stretch the definition of : : tribe to describe an urban street gang). : : : : Leo Zulueta (sp?), Alex Binnie, excellent original practioners of : : "tribal tattoo" style, use motifs reminiscent of South Pacific work, : : deeply incised, very elegant. These patterns require plenty of : black : : ink, and tolerance for pain. The genre has now stretched to include : : any bold line work, with curvinlinear forms, strong use of negative : : space, interlacing lines, and vaguely spikey dangerous stuff. : : : : It can be beautiful, decorative .. but meaning and tribal : significance : : is out the window and gone down the road by now. : : : : Why did this get popular? : : : : Some indigenous people in the South Pacific went in for it to : reclaim : : their heritage. That's a good thing. There is a large Samoan : : community in LA, who tattoed heavilly, and did a fair amount of : : parading on Venice Beach ages ago, and that may have had something : to : : do with it. They were an impressive crowd! : : : : Some people drifted through a few old National Geographics, and : their : : half-read Anthro texts, and latched onto the designs thinking it : would : : make a personal statement of defiance against "McCulture". That had : : some sincerity, though only half thought through. Raging against the : : machine is always popular, and spawns fine adornment. : : : : Then .... other people just wanted to look like they fell out of a : : page in Rolling Stone rather than like geeky kids wondering if maybe : : they should get a GED, and that displaying a high tolerance for pain : : would give them something to brag about in the meantime. : : : : Elegant bold curvilinnear line work, especially if it looks as : though : : it might have meaning will pass for tribal.
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