Evolution has an image problem. It’s fundamental to all biology, totally true, and immensely interesting…yet many people still don’t feel comfortable talking about it at parties or at work, and it’s effectively banned during early years of public education.
One possible way to chip away at this fear is to inject into the internet hundreds of fun, clickable images of evolution fans displaying their acceptance. These images, if high quality, would eventually come up high in search results for “evolution” and “darwin” and thus would convey to young, impressionable searchers that evolution is not just a dusty theory that old people with questionable grooming habits drone on about, but something that’s OK to love.
That’s where temporary tattoos come in. I send them to pro-science, volunteer models who aren’t shy… they get friends to take high-quality photographs, then upload images to the internet with appropriate tags so the world can enjoy and ogle.
Because the scheme is admittedly shallow, cheerleaders, ballerinas, gymnasts, models, dance/biology double majors, and people with BMIs on the low end of normal are especially encouraged to participate, because images on you are likely to be vastly more clickable than if I just sent them to all my geeky friends who wanted an evolution tattoo. Being restrictive also saves me hundreds of dollars on postage. (Everyone else: life is unfair, I know. You can blame your parents for their allele contributions. And you can blame the cumulative effects of hundreds of millions of years of sexual selection for people’s obsession with looks…but you like evolution, so suck it up and deal with it.) The idea is to get tattoos on people who are easy on the eyes, just like any other advertising campaign. My scheme is probably futile, but it’s definitely fun.
So contact me if you have a photo idea and want me to send you a tattoo. If you can somehow involve Lycra, mini-skirt, bikini, bike shorts, or similar garb, I’ll send you two (2!). If you have a really good idea for a group shot, let me know and I’ll get you covered.
Note that participating involves sending your mailing address to me. But don’t worry, all previous participants are still alive! Or, if they have passed away in some grisly way, I had nothing to do with it. Honest! If you’re still nervous, just send me your parents’ address, and I’ll mail the tattoo in a plain brown envelope to your attention. (I can put an extra tattoo in there for your parents.) For people in the Philadelphia area, I can certainly leave tattoo in envelope in pre-arranged, secret spot for you to pick up anonymously (just like in a spy movie!).
Once your photograph is online, please come back to this page and leave the URL in the Comments, or send the file to me as an attachment if you’d like it featured on this page. I’m happy to omit your name underneath photo if you’re in witness protection or have family member that would have conniption about tattoos or evolution. And if you have a photograph you’re extra proud of, get yourself featured over at http://www.geekytattoos.com.
Remember: it’s temporary, it’s for a good cause, and it will amuse your friends and family. And “evolution tattoo model” will look great on your resume. If you’re too chicken, please at least post this URL onto the Facebook profile of people who’d be good candidates.
Photo wishlist
- Student with “evolution on the brain” pose. Maybe put your hands on a stack of biology textbooks, and your chin on your hands. Or chin on hands and looking at a stack of biology books to your side. Extra bonus points if you can balance a bunch of Darwin books on your head while looking up at them dreamily. That would rock. Would also love a medical student doing a dissection in a white lab coat, but with tree of life tattoo on her forehead.
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Photo by Annelyse Tattoo lightpainted with a laser pointer in a dark room. Would be a fantastic photograph. Would need a model who could lie still during the long exposure.
- Snorkeling.
- In a tree (with tree of life tattoo). I’d find that amusing.
- On twins. Maybe one with Darwin, one with tree of life.
- On leg, in a pew, showing from underneath a hymn book or such. That would be funny.
- Reading Natural History on the beach. But frame needs to include something like this.
- Sporty. Something that begs, “survival of the fittest” as caption.
- On a cheerleader. I’ve contacted the cheer squad at the Charles Darwin School (I’m not making that up) multiple times, but they don’t seem to be interested in the scheme (as Mr Vizzini might say, “inconceivable!“).
Unless otherwise credited, all text and images are copyright Colin Purrington (me.)
