AdamBalm said:
I'm sure you've heard the story about guys getting a Maori chin tattoos... only to find out later that in that culture the design they chose is for women. That's what I'm talking about. Culturally appropriate tattoos. If you are going to choose to lift a design from culture, make sure you are doing right. And I wonder if you will be able to do it right without being of that culture. I've been guilty of designing Japanese style work without knowing the rules of what goes together. It was out of ignorance, but that's not an excuse, and it's for that reason that I don't do that work anymore. Same with Maori and some Samoan designs. If you don't know the meaning and story and purpose of the culture's "art", then how can you wear it?

This is not some racial thing, either. It's about earning the work, I guess. I mean, understanding the meaning of the art is one thing... but also alot of these "tribal" designs are earned by the wearer. That's what gives the tattoo meaning. An outsider that doesn't understand can say "That looks cool", while an insider would say, "She's an important member of that tribe." Whatever... I'm not making sense.

Perhaps it's my own bias, but I do have a problem with appropriating another culture's art. It's for them, and as an outsider all you can do is rip it off. Maybe I've watched too many anthropology specials on PBS...