Straight illustrates symbolism in "Mines" through the shaved heads and tattoos of the prisoners. Prisoners used tattoos to distinguish themselves from each other and reveal a part of who they are; their identity. The shaved heads are presented as a symbol of toughness, and a message to those around them that they are not to be trifled with. The tattoos were a way for these troubled youth to fit in and live among others, who like them didn't want to stand out but also didn't want to get lost in the masses. Tattoos distinguished race and group affiliations while revealing a small portion of the individuals history. The prisoners shaved their heads as often as they could to maintain the image of toughness and intimidation. To the reader it is conveyed that by shaving ones head that the individual is tough. This becomes evident when Clarette is confronted with her son's, Ray Jr., shaved head that was carried out with the help of Ray, the father, in order to send a message to the kids that picked on Ray Jr. that he wasn't a wimp. To Clarette this only gave a glimpse of the possible future for her son to survive the hard world they lived in, a future that she worked so hard to avoid.
Does the symbol of a shaved head accurately convey to onlookers that the individual is tough and a threat? Why is it a common stereotype for men with tattoos to be intimidating?
Well, I think many people interperate tattoos differently. Some people see tattoos as a way to express themselves of who they are or what they love. It's not about what peers or society think of the person, its just for themselves to enjoy. On the other hand, some people will get tattoos as a way to get a message to the public that they are dangerous or a part of something bigger than themselves. Which is why Straight illustrates through Clarette's eyes that these criminals are part of gangs and they are dangerous, which is what makes Clarette so strong for being around them in orger to provide for her kids. The tattoos and shaved heads symbolizes the danger she puts herself through.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you sydney. I think they are looked at as intimidating because they can be painful and its a look at me and the pain I went through as if it was nothing. I also think that since there has a been such a long history of men getting tattoos before going to war thats were its really looking at all the pain they have gone through. I do not really understand why the shaved heads is looked at as tough, I would think of it as more vulnerable than anything else. It is just one more body that is exposed.
ReplyDeleteTo me I don't think tattoos are so intimidating. I both agree with Lauren and Sydney that tattoos are just a way for people to express themselves. But I mean some people do have tattoos that can symbolize some mean and scary things. Straight uses shaved heads and tattoos within the prisoners to say that she is living and working around danger.
ReplyDeleteMost people say tattoos are a way of expressing themselves artistically in an emotional level. I agree. For example in the novel “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, Investigator Lisbeth Salander has dealt with abuse, abandonment, and other struggles in her life since she was very young. She doesn’t speak much to anyone, so her way of expressing herself is by tattooing her body with images that portray how she feels on the inside. Just like Lisbeth, the gang members may have tattooed themselves with this very intention. To illustrate on the outside what they feel on the inside. Of course not everybody has this mentality. Many people are quick to judge when they see a person pass them with body ink covering them. To be honest I’ve done my share of criticizing. But you can’t be too quick to judge. You don’t know this person; you don’t know what they’ve been through, and what there tattoos signify.
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