Bodies of Inscription

“[A] penetrating and wonderfully original piece of research, interweaving references to Foucault and Pierre Bourdieu . . . with field work in a well-organized and cleanly written book.” - Margot Mifflin , Village Voice

“[A] welcome and original slant on the evolution of the tattoo . . . .” - Beverley Chaplain, Sexuality

“[DeMello] describes how the new tattoo movement has tried to put a ‘middle class face on the art form.’ Clearly, though, a sense of danger still accounts for much of the tattoo’s allure.” - Leo Carey, The New Yorker

“[T]his book has much to recommend it for general collections. . . . DeMello’s major interest is in describing the new community of tattooed people, both men and women, for whom new meanings are being forged from the meeting of skin and ink.” - Patricia Monaghan, Booklist

“A respectful look at an aspect of pop culture not normally treated in such unsensational terms.” - Kirkus Reviews

“An interesting, authentic account of tattoo communities.” - Library Journal

“DeMello uncovers some fascinating data about exactly how and why tatoos—once associated exclusively with older servicemen and social outlaws—have become acceptable for some of today’s brightest young strivers.” - Carol Cooper , Honey Magazine

“This engaging study of the contemporary ‘tattoo community’ in the United States marks the extraordinary cultural distance the tattoo has traveled in the last few years. . . . [A] knowledgeable account of the construction and self-representation of the tattoo community and indeed a lively contribution to the reproduction of that community.” - Jane Caplan , The Historian

“Undoubtedly, one of the merits of the book is the remarkable accomplishment of presenting a most complete ethnography of the tattoo scenes in the United States and its actors.” - Maria Abeyami Ortega Dominguez , Visual Anthropology Review

"Bodies of Inscription is a good read for those who are interested in learning the history of the art and understanding some of the reasons behind the resurgence of tattooing over the last twenty years." - Shannon Berry , Gateway Heritage

"[A] very good ethnography of the contemporary North American tattoo community. . . . DeMello captures well the diffuse nature of this community, and its inner contradiction." - Cyril Siorat, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute

“A fascinating book bursting with penetrating description. DeMello makes a very useful contribution to the literature on these increasingly salient voluntary communities of passion, interest, and identity.” - Gayle Rubin

“The histories of tattoo traditions presented in this book are fascinating and rich. DeMello has many insights into tattoos’ complexity of meaning, brought out in precise ethnographic and historical fashion.” - Kathleen Stewart, author of A Space on the Side of the Road: Cultural Poetics in an “Other” America