Trolling on EW.com this morning, I ran across an article announcing that Penguin has decided to reissue some old books with tattoo inspired covers. While the artistic value is appreciated, some, who have been into the tattoo culture well before it became a fad, may look at this as just one more thing fostering its continued dilution into the mainstream. Thank you, Ed Hardy.

Maybe it’s not so much the commercialization of tattoos, as it is the hypocrisy that bothers me. It’s interesting to see big business capitalizing on something that they, as a corporate culture, look down their nose at when the artwork is on living, breathing, bodies. However, in Penguin’s case, I think it might be some of the book choices that’s not making sense to me—Bridgett Jones’s Diary? I fail to see the connection; but, I think the artwork is great.

Although tattoos aren’t just for drunken sailors and bikers anymore, they’ve become a little too acceptable; often being reduced to sheep fodder and fashion accessories. So, we’ll wish Penguin well with their new endeavor, then sit back and see if the rest of herd follows.

You can see the EW.com article and other book covers here: http://shelf-life.ew.com/2010/02/23/penguin-gets-tatted-up-with-new-penguin-inks-series/