Tattoos as identity markers in liquid modernity

A sociological analysis published on Artribune explores the proliferation of tattoos among 15-45 year-olds in Western societies as a response to identity loss in liquid modernity. The article argues that in the absence of traditional community structures (religion, territoriality) and clear social rules, individuals seek identity through permanent body markings. A recent study cited shows that more socially homogeneous and conventional people are more likely to be tattooed, often with arbitrary symbols unrelated to their personality. The author, Fabio Severino, an economist and sociologist, critiques this trend as a symptom of psychological disorientation, contrasting it with the potential of culture to provide more solid grounding. The piece was published in Artribune Magazine #68.