A fundamental aspect of existentialism is that “existence precedes essence.” That is, the most critical aspect for an individual is that he is, in fact, an individual; he is unique, incomparable and independent. He does not neatly fit preconceived labels, categories or ideals. Soren Kierkegaard, one of the first existentialist philosophers, proposed that “it is the individual — not society or religion — that is responsible for giving meaning to life and living it passionately and sincerely.” An individual’s desire to physically modify an aspect of his or her own genitalia is just one manner in which people have chosen to distinguish themselves from their peers. Body modification includes tattooing, piercings, augmentation, beading and subincision. Some of these practices may seem unusual, but as humans continue down the road of self-exploration, the boundaries of “normal” are continuously pushed, and the unusual becomes more commonplace.
Tattoos A tattoo is the (usually permanent) mark left by colored inks inserted into the dermis of the skin.1 Tatau is Tahitian for “to beat wounds”2 and designates this traditional act of body decoration on the islands of Polynesia.
Humorous genital tattooing with Popeye and devil (c. 1970). From Ornamentation to Mutilation: Genital Decorations and Cultural Operations in the Male.
There were originally four basic techniques for tattooing that existed throughout the world — the most common involved dipping a sharppointed instrument into a dye and then under the surface of the skin. Artists used materials available for their needles: gold in Egypt, bone or shell in the South Sea, ivory in Japan. The pain involved with the process depends upon the fineness of those needles. After Captain Cook discovered the tattooed natives of the South Pacific in 1776, his sailors brought this most exotic souvenir of their journeys back to Europe and North America, where it became popular among the working classes. In 1891, Samuel O’Reilly of New York built upon the technology of Thomas Edison’s autographic printing pen to patent the first tattooing device run by electricity.
Courtesy Johan Mattelaer, MD
the role that jewelry and lingerie perform in today’s American society. But in most societies, the genital tattoo is a symbol of love and sexuality (e.g., a girlfriend’s name or exploding dynamite). Genital tattoos are not as common and require a skilled artist and a stalwart client; but as the population increases and people hope to distinguish themselves from the masses, it is likely urologists will see more genital ink.
Many cultures regard tattoos as protective amulets, and they are closely linked to religious beliefs; other cultures use the practice as a puberty initiation rite akin to circumcision. In cultures where nudity was common, tattoos performed
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As with any tattoo, infection is always a risk; patients must be taught to keep the genital area clean. Patients could suffer some loss of sensation if the tattoo needles damage nerve endings, and priapism can result if the artery that carries blood away from the penis is damaged in the inking process.
Urine was som e t im e s u s e d t o matter of earl m i x t h e c o l o ri y tattoos. ng 3