The post-political tattoo on the politicized skin of a professional activist

Authors

  • Pedro Salguero González Universidad Complutense de Madrid

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17561/rae.v24.8725

Keywords:

Post-political tattoos. Professional activism. Collective identity. Anthropology of pain. Political-social marketing. Political organizations.

Abstract

This article presents an anthropological analysis of post-political tattoos, a new cultural practice among professionalized activists of social organizations, based on in-depth interviews and participant observation. These reveal the identity, dialogic, emotional and advertising dimensions of these tattoos. Tattoos express the activist's personal and collective identity, function as dialogic triggers about their causes, allow them to embody the "post-political pain" of activism, and confer distinction and status within the organization. In addition, they function as advertising displays of the activist lifestyle in communicative contexts. Beyond their aesthetic dimension, these tattoos fulfill functions linked to processes of collective identity, community building, persuasive communication, and embodiment of the political. Their study allows us to understand how politics is expressed and incorporated in the bodies of professionalized activism. This article represents an inaugural anthropological approach to this topic, opening avenues for interdisciplinary research on the interplay between the body, communication, collective identity, and contemporary political action.

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Published

2024-06-03

Issue

Section

Miscellaneous Articles

How to Cite

Salguero González, P. (2024). The post-political tattoo on the politicized skin of a professional activist. Antropología Experimental, 24, 277-287. https://doi.org/10.17561/rae.v24.8725

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