Discussion Forums about Books and Reading | Would Duke be as memorable without his tattoos?
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Well going by the novel, tattoos weren't mainstream then. They were still regarded as a fringe art or even tabooed. In such circumstances having a tattoo would have garnered him an instant attention. However, it is definitely his personality and rare talent that makes his memorable and endearing to the people to know him in the book and to the readers.K Geisinger wrote: ↑08 May 2018, 07:19 The first thing people notice about Duke are his tattoos. Would Duke be as instantly recognizable and successful without that large visual appeal? Is it Duke's personality or his visual "otherness" that makes the character?
You are right, this book was set in 1967. Different times completely. Tattoos were mostly seen on bikers and people who lived life outside the norm. Back then it was not a common occurrance to see someone with tattoos. Not like today. Duke's tattoos attracted attention to his physical appearance but his skill and talents of entertaing people is what kept people returning to see him. Sure in this day and age, a tattooed person would still draw attention but for most people, it's not uncommon to see.Jeyasivananth wrote: ↑09 May 2018, 14:21Well going by the novel, tattoos weren't mainstream then. They were still regarded as a fringe art or even tabooed. In such circumstances having a tattoo would have garnered him an instant attention. However, it is definitely his personality and rare talent that makes his memorable and endearing to the people to know him in the book and to the readers.K Geisinger wrote: ↑08 May 2018, 07:19 The first thing people notice about Duke are his tattoos. Would Duke be as instantly recognizable and successful without that large visual appeal? Is it Duke's personality or his visual "otherness" that makes the character?
They weren't mainstream, but I can't help but wonder if he still would have managed to shock and awe during performances to the same extent without them. Especially after he couldn't swallow swords anymore, his act became more common. Humans are so visual, I wonder how many of his followers started that first conversation because of how he looked.Jeyasivananth wrote: ↑09 May 2018, 14:21Well going by the novel, tattoos weren't mainstream then. They were still regarded as a fringe art or even tabooed. In such circumstances having a tattoo would have garnered him an instant attention. However, it is definitely his personality and rare talent that makes his memorable and endearing to the people to know him in the book and to the readers.K Geisinger wrote: ↑08 May 2018, 07:19 The first thing people notice about Duke are his tattoos. Would Duke be as instantly recognizable and successful without that large visual appeal? Is it Duke's personality or his visual "otherness" that makes the character?
I agree with you! After all, I do think that Duke's tattoos are part of the stage persona, all calculated to draw the audience in - it is his job, after all.Ginnamassa19 wrote: ↑09 May 2018, 05:18 I feel like it depends! Are we talking about Duke being memorable to the readers or to the people in the book? If it's the former, I feel like his personality would be the defining thing; if it's about first impressions during the show, his tattoos are probably important in catching the eye of the audience. Then again, like what Kendra M Parker said, Duke's stage persona is the bigger part of what keeps the audience rapt--the tattoos are just what he uses to draw people in.
Having said that, I found Duke's personality more interesting than the tattoos
gen_g wrote: ↑10 May 2018, 08:23I do agree that Duke's reasoning at the time for getting tattoo were based entirely on enticing greater attention to him and his performance. Shock value works better than most thing that I know of. It is a fact that the stranger things are the more people will talk about them, regardless of whether or not it is good or bad. If people are talking, the focus of attention is on them. When your curiosity is peak, it either makes you want to find out more or more than likely have a discussion about what's wrong with it, either way that person is in control. The more outlandish the more people talk about and remembers.Ginnamassa19 wrote: ↑09 May 2018, 05:18 I feel like it depends! Are we talking about Duke being memorable to the readers or to the people in the book? If it's the former, I feel like his personality would be the defining thing; if it's about first impressions during the show, his tattoos are probably important in catching the eye of the audience. Then again, like what Kendra M Parker said, Duke's stage persona is the bigger part of what keeps the audience rapt--the tattoos are just what he uses to draw people in.
Having said that, I found Duke's personality more interesting than the tattoos
I agree with you! After all, I do think that Duke's tattoos are part of the stage persona, all calculated to draw the audience in - it is his job, after all.