Why Do You Tattoo?
The New York Times
A company has engineered a body ink that disappears in 15 months or less, setting off an existential debate about commitment.
When Skylar Hertz, a junior at Purchase College, got a tattoo of Snoopy smoking a joint on her left calf, she was pretty sure it wasn’t something she wanted on her body forever.
As an aspiring actress, she felt that having a tattoo could shape the roles she is considered for. She also knew a permanent tattoo would upset her family. “I am Jewish so obviously most of my family is not the biggest fan of tattoos,” Ms. Hertz, 20, said. (There are differing interpretations, but some rabbis believe the Torah prohibits tattoos.)
Undeterred, she loved the idea of getting a tattoo. She chose Snoopy to honor her mother, who played the character in a production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” She added the joint to give it “a little twist.”
