Symbols of anger for tattoo
December 10, 2019 3:36 PM   Subscribe

I feel like it's time to get a tattoo, but I'm struggle to find the symbols that will express what I want to express.

I've hit midlife, I have a parent with Alzheimer's, I finally have a clear purpose in life and it's important but terrible, and I feel the time has come for ink. I want something that expresses the milestone I'm at and my feelings about it. These feelings are mostly anger, grief, fear and resignation. But mostly impotent rage.

So far I haven't found any images that speak to me. I'm not interested in images of explosions or violence. The tattoos I find visually appealing are often drawn from nature. I'm okay with my tattoo image being more hopeful than I feel - like a bird or flower associated with a wrathful deity who restores justice.
posted by bunderful to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (24 answers total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
Response by poster: Actual question: With all that in mind, what are some symbols of rage?
posted by bunderful at 3:37 PM on December 10, 2019


The wrathful deity of justice is Nemesis and a GIS for "nemesis symbol" brings up many options.
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:40 PM on December 10, 2019


Musical staff with the dies irae?
posted by less of course at 3:53 PM on December 10, 2019 [3 favorites]


An hourglass.
posted by juliplease at 4:06 PM on December 10, 2019


The wrath of Achilles is the central theme of the Iliad, so maybe a depiction of his deeds or a symbol associated with him. (In addition to being a historical figure he was later worshiped as a god.) You have to be careful drawing symbolism from classical sources these days, though, lest you put yourself in unpleasant company.
posted by XMLicious at 4:16 PM on December 10, 2019 [1 favorite]


My husband got a dragon tattoo with red eyes (struggles with anger). His best friend got a matching one with green eyes (struggles with envy).
posted by TestamentToGrace at 4:21 PM on December 10, 2019 [3 favorites]


I would kinda love anyone I saw with an actual dumpster fire tattoo.
posted by nakedmolerats at 4:23 PM on December 10, 2019 [12 favorites]


I embroidered this during the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings. I was so full of rage.
posted by workerant at 4:30 PM on December 10, 2019 [25 favorites]


I tell people my interrobang tattoo is the universal symbol for WTF.
posted by Flannery Culp at 4:42 PM on December 10, 2019 [6 favorites]




When I was younger, I thought of a tattoo. The best I could come us with was "Born to break even."
posted by tmdonahue at 4:59 PM on December 10, 2019


Kali is not a symbol of impotence, but it fits most of your reqs and as a bonus comes with thousands of years worth of tattoo design ideas.
posted by rhizome at 5:00 PM on December 10, 2019 [1 favorite]


These feelings are mostly anger, grief, fear and resignation. But mostly impotent rage.

William Blake's evil angel fits the bill. A lot of his work, including this, looks to me like a tattoo to start with.
posted by jamjam at 5:01 PM on December 10, 2019


The gorgon - Medusa - is often considered a symbol of righteous female rage.
posted by Tomorrowful at 5:11 PM on December 10, 2019 [8 favorites]


A simple outline of a clenched fist. Fits rage, and strength through rage.
posted by SoberHighland at 5:19 PM on December 10, 2019 [8 favorites]




&@#%*!
posted by Thorzdad at 6:00 PM on December 10, 2019 [3 favorites]


Maybe something like a cliff by the ocean during a storm?
posted by current resident at 6:22 PM on December 10, 2019


These feelings are mostly anger, grief, fear and resignation. But mostly impotent rage.

When I've been in the throes of those feelings, I imagine standing on a hill screaming at the stars. You can vent all your sorrow and rage at them, shout at the top of your lungs about how things aren't supposed to be that way, and they'll "let" you go on forever but they won't do a thing. They just keep on shining. It's oddly soothing to imagine (to me at least). I'm not sure what exactly that might look like as a tattoo, but it might be something you could work with a tattoo artist on?

I'm sorry you're feeling these things, by the way. Wishing you peace.
posted by DingoMutt at 6:24 PM on December 10, 2019 [1 favorite]


A rat in a cage?
posted by escapepod at 8:28 PM on December 10, 2019 [5 favorites]


The first cat yokai on this page - bakeneko - seems to fit. The lettering in the bottom left is literal 'bakeneko'. Bakeneko is a kind of lycanthrope-like creature in Japanese mythology. There seem to be lots of kinds, with lots is dispositions. I've always liked this particular piece. Artist unknown.
posted by j_curiouser at 9:26 AM on December 11, 2019 [1 favorite]


Walter Benjamin said this about Paul Klee's Angelus Novus:
"Where we perceive a chain of events, he sees one single catastrophe which keeps piling wreckage upon wreckage and hurls it in front of his feet."
posted by umbú at 8:42 PM on December 11, 2019 [2 favorites]


My advice would be to find an artist whose work you like, and see how much they charge just to meet and talk over a design. A good artist will be able to take the feelings you posted here and work with you to create a piece of art you’ll feel good having on your body. This is also a good way to get a feel for whether the tattoo session or sessions will be enjoyable to spend with them.

My favorite tattoo is the one where the artist who did it listened to my concept, then gently talked me into a completely different design which worked with that concept. And I’m glad they did, because the image I walked into the shop with would not have aged well as a tattoo.

I also got a (different) tattoo the day after I found out my first marriage was going to end. I was feeling pretty low that day. I decided to get a favorite song lyric that was about surviving tough times.

I’ll always remember the day I got that tattoo, but I appreciate that it doesn’t bring back the feelings from that day.

Going with your nature theme, maybe something like a burning tree (new life from the ashes) or something that is a harbinger of change, like a comet or shooting star?
posted by FallibleHuman at 9:37 PM on December 11, 2019 [3 favorites]


Swarm of bees, definitely.
posted by annie o at 8:07 PM on December 15, 2019


« Older Possible to hack an iPhone via phonecall?   |   Vice article about taking on unhealthy challenges... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.