Journal #5

     The three most important concepts that I believe have defined everyday writing in this course so far is audience, non-institutional education, and place and scene. There is no purpose to everyday writing if there is not a target audience that the writer is trying to reach out to or get a response from, even if the audience is themselves. Determining if the writer needed previous education, (institutional), for the production of their piece is crucial because many will argue that writing a piece without the influence of institutional guidelines defines the piece as everyday writing. Place and scene however must be used appropriately by the writer in order to become efficient with their piece of writing. All of these concepts make up what I believe is everyday writing so far, and after reading this article I believe that tattoos, specifically the labeling of HIV/AIDS, is a form of everyday writing.

     The best way to explain why tattoos can be a form of everyday writing would be to systematically go though the three major concepts. Tattooing is an art that is acquired through practice or any other mean except from an institution. According to the article, when the tattoos are displaying HIV/AIDS the wearer is trying to make a statement and bring awareness to the STD. The article states that the tattoo is making HIV/AIDS visible to the world; this would then obviously be seen by anyone surrounding the wearer. The place and scene of the tattoo is constant with the writer, which makes it so unique. Wherever the writer goes, so does their piece of everyday writing. This allows them to reach out to many different people, adding a more personal level to their approach to media.

     It would make sense to label tattoos as a form of everyday writing based on the support given above, even though there can be more things to be said.