Links between terms relating to death and nature


This network graph indicates the strength of the correlations between designs on tattooed convicts on the subjects of nature and death. Designs in nature tattoos are identified in red; those in death tattoos are indicated in green. Each pair of terms must occur at least twenty times. These correlations can help us understand the meanings of tattoo designs. The strong correlation between rose and both tombstone and wreath may indicate that the designs were commemorative of lost family or friends. Searching these keywords in tattoo descriptions using the search function on this website will often provide further information: the fact that tattoos with a tree and tombstone occur often alongside the written words 'in memory of' further underlines the commemorative nature of such tattoos. Similarly, the links between tree and tomb, and snake and tombstone merit further analysis.

Credit: Sharon Howard



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