Body modifications, including tattoos, have existed in our society for centuries and the way they are perceived has changed somewhat over the years, but some disgraces still remain. news. . Like most body modifications, tattoos are an often misunderstood form of body modification. Despite the stigma, tattoos have become a unique object of desire for very diverse groups of people. But aren’t the preconceived ideas about tattoos in line with their true meaning? Further explanation and exploration of history will reveal the social and cultural practices of tattooing and the causal connection between the tattooed mind and body, in addition to providing answers as to why tattoos stimulate unease and curiosity and create a challenge to discursive practices. The term “tattoo” was coined after James Cook’s trip to Polynesia in the 18th century (Fisher, 2002). However, we know that the art of inking or marking one's body dates back to the Greeks. In fact, the Greek word “stigmata” actually referred to the act of pricking one's skin with ink (Caplan, 2000). Related to the contemporary idea of ​​tattoos in our society, the word "stigmata" was used in terms of marking "others", such as criminals and slaves. The association of the meaning of stigmata later extended to the Romans, who treated this act of marking as a mechanism of state control (Caplan, 2000). This also ties in with Michel Foucault’s sketch of social control in his book Discipline and Punish: “But the body is also directly involved in a political field; power relations have an immediate hold on him; they invest him, mark him, train him, torture him, force him to carry out tasks, to perform ceremonies,...... middle of paper...... sideways. From a mark of criminality to an adopted art form, body modification has represented various expressions of the wearer's inner self. However, despite efforts to normalize tattoos in society, the social stigma of deviance perceived by society at large remains deeply etched into the art. It is obvious that the message that a wearer wishes to communicate through a tattoo may not be perceived correctly by others. These motivations behind tattoos are filtered through cultural and historical lenses that often result in unintended perceptions of tattooed bodies. Furthermore, attempts to use tattoos to change social conditions often reinforce the very conditions they seek to counter. Even though these stigmas and misinterpretations see no sign of disappearing, tattooing will remain a powerful vehicle for self-expression and social commentary..