Barcodes are something we come across every day, yet we often don’t pay too much attention to them. If we are aware, we will notice that they are on almost everything that we purchase on a daily basis, but why have they become a popular tattoo choice in recent years?
Barcodes have become a popular tattoo that represents revolution in recent years. People associate them with the downsides of corporate capitalism, consumerism, and cheap labor. They are also associated with the idea that we can be considered nothing more than a number in society.
Throughout this article, we will discuss barcode tattoos, their history, their meanings, and where the most popular place is to get them tattooed on your body. So keep reading! We have everything you need to know about barcode tattoos.
The History Of Barcode Tattoos
Barcodes were first introduced to the world in the early 1950s as a price-checking system. They are a collection of vertical lines that are scanned into a system using an optical machine resulting in data translated as a price.
Barcodes have come a long way since the 1950s, as in every medium-sized store in the western world; we have thousands upon thousands of items ready to be scanned from your cart and placed in your bag. It’s a sight we see every day in our modern lives.
Barcodes are associated with all things monetary, yet, they have had the opposite effect on people who choose to get them tattooed on their bodies.
They represent a somewhat revolutionary stance on the corporate and consumer world. When tattooed on an individual, it symbolizes that there’s more to life than money.
What Do Barcode Tattoos Mean?
All tattoos have a specific meaning for the individual who chooses to ink their body with a particular design, which is no different from barcode tattoos. While they most certainly represent a revolutionary stance on consumer culture, in recent years, it has also come to portray a stance against the status quo of celebrity and corporate-driven society.
In this sense, the barcode tattoo has an ironic meaning. People use it to express their opinion of the excessive commercialism, globalization, and overconsumption that is rampant on our planet.
Others see meaning in the idea of seeking individuality and bringing across the point that we are more than a number or code. Thus, it represents the idea that if we aren’t cautious, we may end up becoming nothing more than a product of the society that we live in.
What Do Barcode Tattoos Symbolism
Barcodes have been around for a little over seventy years, yet, when they were first created, it would have been difficult to imagine they would one day become a popular tattoo.
Modern tattoo enthusiasts have come to use barcode tattoos as a symbol of revolution and a stance against consumerism, capitalism, corporate greed, and the idea of becoming a product or a slave.
Barcode tattoos can symbolize various human characteristics, such as the courage to stand up for what you believe in. You may have the courage to protest against the over-consumerization of the world and the corporate greed of those who seek nothing more than wealth.
On another note, the barcode can symbolize a place, person, or thing you hold dear to you, as a barcode is nothing more than a collection of lines scanned into a system to produce data. Thus, it can serve as a form of identification for about anything you choose.
Characteristics and Styles of Barcode Tattoos
Barcode tattoos have become a trend in the social revolution scene over the last few decades. Whether you opt for a small or a larger design, most barcode tattoos are somewhat similar in style.
A standard barcode tattoo is usually around the same size as the code you would find on an item in the store, and often wholly black. Some opt for a moss tone, navy, and even purple to give the tattoo some personalization.
Some people get artistic with their designs and include hands trying to break free from the vertical bars that make up the code, while others accompany the design with writing weaved into the code.
Most barcode tattoos are around three inches in breadth, which, interestingly enough, can usually be scanned by an actual machine in a store.
Where Do Barcode Tattoos Usually Go?
The barcode tattoo is an excellent choice for someone who wants a small and simplistic tattoo, as they suit just about any part of the body. As they hold a lot of symbolic representation for people, we will often see them in places where people can show them off a little.
The best place to get a barcode tattoo is on a flat part of your body; Popular choices include the neck, bicep area, forearm, shins, upper legs, calves, wrists, and ankles.
If you plan to get a barcode tattoo, remember that it is a design made up of multiple lines placed in close proximity. Thus, over time it will slowly blend and fade. So it’s a good idea to get it on a part of the body that is flat to maintain the original design for as long as possible.
To The Point Facts
Here are some of the facts about barcode tattoos:
- Barcodes were first created in the 1950s
- A barcode is a collection of vertical lines that are scanned to produce data and prices.
- Barcode tattoos represent a revolutionary stance on consumer culture and against the status quo of celebrity and corporate-driven society.
- It represents the idea that if we aren’t cautious, we may end up becoming nothing more than a product of the society that we live in.
- Barcode tattoos symbolize revolution and a stance against consumerism, capitalism, and corporate greed.
- Barcode tattoos can symbolize various human characteristics, such as the courage to stand up for what you believe in.
- Most barcode tattoos are similar in style yet can be personalized by adding writing.
- An optical machine can scan larger barcode tattoos.
- They are usually tattooed on the neck, bicep area, forearm, shins, upper legs, calves, wrists, and ankles.
Conclusion
So, now that you know the history of barcode tattoos, alongside the symbolic representation these tattoos have for individuals, if you’re someone who believes in social or environmental revolution or simply feels a strong desire to protest against consumerization and capital greed, a barcode tattoo might be the right choice for you.
