"Manners matter," the Grandma on Princess Diaries.
Earlier this week, Doja Cat revealed a beautifully done bat skeleton tattoo that spans her upper back from shoulder to shoulder.
In the IG carousel, she also included a screenshot explaining the inspiration behind the artwork, that reads in part,
“Bats often represent death in the sense of letting go of the old, and bringing in the new. They are symbols of transition, of initiation, and the start of a new beginning.”
Fans were most likely more than grateful for the insight, though there was no doubt that an artist like Doja brings a creative edge to everything she does. But her sharing the inspo is her choice and not a standard. Any tattoed person will tell you, the conversation around tattoos and meanings and explanations needs to be addressed.
Hate to be the manners police, but in case you didn’t know (and this is particularly common among people who don’t have tattoos), its rude to approach someone and ask what their tattoo represents. A wise person once said “Art needs no explanation.”
Wait lemme Google and make sure that’s a real quote…
Ok, ok it goes, “Art, if it is successful, needs no explanation.” - Leonard Nemoy
Back to the manners, asking a stranger to explain what could be personal is crazy and even if its not, beautiful tattoos are for the wearer not for the gaze.
Explanations come off as justifications and no stranger is due that. Every curiosity need not be satisfied and a beautiful tattoo doesn’t have to come with a story to make it a worthwhile act.
Class dismissed.