Tattoo Historian Rates 15 Iconic Movie And TV Tattoos | How Real Is It? | Insider

Tattoos often crop up in movies and TV, with depictions ranging from accurate to disastrous.
Matt Lodder is a senior lecturer in art history and theory and the director of American studies at the University of Essex. He's referred to as an expert in tattoo history, and he lectures on tattoos as fine art at The Arts Society.
Lodder discusses the cultural significance and accuracy of famous tattoos in movies and TV shows, such as Jason Momoa's in "Justice League" and Jared Leto's in "Suicide Squad." Lodder told us about the true stories and real-life tattoo artists that may have influenced the design choices for "The Hangover Part II" and "Red Dragon."
Lodder also disproved some historically inaccurate tattoos, such as those in "The Mummy" and "Pirates of the Caribbean."
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Tattoo Historian Rates 15 Iconic Movie And TV Tattoos | How Real Is It?

[@freddiedyroff8502]

Had this man as a professor at the University of Essex during a study abroad. Fantastic teacher. I still look at the world differently because of how he taught. 10/10

[@acelovesdiyschristopher7023]

What class did u take?

[@joedumbass7303]

@@acelovesdiyschristopher7023 ll Llll

[@josephhukins4819]

@@acelovesdiyschristopher7023 He was the director of American studies at Essex so presumably that.

[@DrWhom]

@@acelovesdiyschristopher7023 Mickey Mouse

[@waterdragon2224]

Yet technically he got the Latin John Wick tattoo incorrect. He stated the translation most people think is right, but actually isn’t. You’d think he would know that. It’s not fortune it’s Fortuna, who was a goddess. I wish I could find the video made about this particular tattoo. It was really interesting. Maybe I’m being picky, but if the guy claims he’s an expert…. 🤷🏼 The rest of the video, he sounds very legit. He knows his stuff, just not this particular one.

[@brette6854]

this guy is dressed like a prison inmate who is now in charge of the library.

[@or_p5376]

So modern day shawshank

[@isaacster5027]

Lmfaooo 💀💀

[@Kamikazu08]

My kind of librarian. That and Wong from Dr. Strange

[@dwaynoinsano5053]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@LEARSIKCIGAM]

he exudes creepiness

[@uy9572]

“Why didn’t they bring a tattoo artist” “You can’t rate tattoos” Did any of y’all even read the damn title? He is rating how cultural/historial accurate a tattoo is. Just like he demonstrated in the very first scene, just by analyzing Keanu’s tattoos he could tell most of the background of the character. He is not rating how well is the shadow done in a wolf tattooed above your crotch...

[@RandomShinyThoughts]

Not only that but like, you can certainly rate tattoos by how well they're done and the context of things. Something that's supposed to be a prison tattoo should look blurred and kind of shitty and he made a point of saying that because it's not being done by a professional in a professional environment. So if you're gonna give a character some really nice, clean and well healed tattoo's and then say they're prison tattoos then yeah you should get called out on that because there's no way for a prison tattoo to look like that.

[@miceandgods4171]

It was definitely an interesting watch and I'd watch another if he appeared but I'm pretty sure he got stuff wrong historically and culturally. For example the swallow/sparrow tattoo. Prior Navy and I've never seen that represent a fleet, ship, squadron. A turtle would actually symbolize crossing the equator, not a swallow/sparrow, hence the term shell back. Swallows/sparrows, from what I was told, is a good luck charm for safe travels. Once you see a swallow/sparrow you know land is near. What year did this start? No idea. He could be correct about the 1920's.

[@danx2kxs]

0:20 `to see if they are any good or not` That´s not a place for a ``Historian``. The guy got a face tat, if he ´s in this on a straight historian capacity, ok.... but evaluate a tattoo....? bug off mate. Tattoos are a personal expression of one´s self....or a drunk mistake.

[@oghamsterhueyyt8164]

@@danx2kxs I think he was saying that through his profession, he would see if the tattoos would be good or not in regards to the time period and if they would make sense. Not to mention some of these tats do look like they were printed out

[@toomanyaccounts]

@@oghamsterhueyyt8164 lots of tats done these days are utter shite. people need to get it painted on first with inks that last a week or two to see if they can stand having it that long. plus hair is something you have to take in consideration as well as if sunlight is going to be on the tat. he is right about tats on darker skin tones that a competent tat artist has to do it otherwise the tat will not show up.

[@Chigen_Atomic]

I like how, both in the realm of tattoo history and outside of it, everyone can agree that Leto's Joker had some shit tattoos.

[@darthollpheist1156]

As someone with tons of tattoos and went to art school.... I didn't think they were bad. Some needed to be done better by the art department. Like the hahahahahaha. That was awesome but, WAY too dark. His face tattoos were the only ones that looked like tattoos. And, this guy has no idea what he's talking about when he says that the face tattoos look like someone wanting to look crazy. That's someone that IS crazy. No sane person would ever get "damaged" on their forehead, and have the randomness of the rest. Like a star and a 'J'. The rest are great. The hand tattoo was one of the best parts of the entire movie. Also, he has import tattoos on each arm. One is the bat symbol with a knife through it, on one arm. The other is an upside down (dead) robin with an arrow through it.

[@thescarecrowman]

@@darthollpheist1156 I don't see why it's hard to believe a sane person would get damaged on their forehead. I think it's more likely that a try hard or an idiot would get that tattoo as opposed to a crazy person.

[@markbotefur4936]

@@darthollpheist1156 I really don't want to see your tattoos if you thought Letos weren't bad. You went to art school?

[@DanSmith-j8y]

@@darthollpheist1156 Getting "damaged" tattooed on your forehead is incredibly "cringe" as the kids say. Heavy on the fromage.

[@darthollpheist1156]

@@DanSmith-j8y I've been to prison..... would you say getting a swastika on your throat is "cringe"? I would. But, my neighbor had one. You're just objectively wrong. Sorry bud.

[@MrJacobrezac]

I’d love for him to talk about the tattoos from the show Vikings.

[@maximeprevot3005]

It's most likely completely inaccurate (like most of the show, unfortunately), we have only one source mentioning Vikings having tattoos, I think it was an Arabic scholar and explorer that came across a group of Rus Viking on the Volga. He mentioned blue tattoos on their bodies, but it could very well be body painting and not ink... And I'm not aware of any surviving Viking body showing tattoos.

[@BodhiBushido]

@@maximeprevot3005 This... I mean I'm sure there were Vikings with tattoos, just like there are people with tattoos in almost every culture. There is just no evidence of it being a thing.

[@maximeprevot3005]

@@BodhiBushido I think you have misunderstood my comment. The Vikings certainly did know about tattoo culture, the Slavic people are basically next door and they practiced it, so the Viking could very well have tattoos as well. What I said is: the Viking Show tattoos must be speculations because we have no knowledge about what kind of tattoo they would have wear (Knotwork? Runes? Religious symbols ?) , we don't know who either (Warrior cults? Magic users? Specific families or communities ?) and we don't know how common this would have been. Remember that tattoos were not really a big thing in the Islamic or the Christian world. So at that time period, there are a lot a people that definitely didn't do it.

[@spicytuna5920]

Maxime Prevot vikings is inaccurate?? I thought ppl praised it for its accuracy

[@maximeprevot3005]

@@spicytuna5920 well they must have pretty low standards for accuracy or just don't know much about the real Vikings because most of it is wrong... Everyone is wearing strange black or brown leather clothing when Vikings loved colors. They had wool tunics in green, red, yellow, blue or purple. The armor is basically fantasy for every nation involved The Vikings once again are wearing strange leather pieces loosely stitch together I aven't seen a single proper mail shirt, wich is what the rich warriors should wear (and all the characters are supposed to be crazy rich) Nobody is wearing helmets in battle scenes, almost no spears when there should be a ton of it, all the shields look the same as if they were mass produced etc... Even the historical events are mixed up

[@WyrdBlackCat]

I once met a scholar who studied Yakuza tattos and how the difference between the periods could tell Japan's measures to control organized crime. Art history is unfortunately a field that is sooo cool but soo underrated.

[@TheRealElmoSkateTeam]

And mostly underpaid

[@FacelessDeviant]

**looks up from studying 1800's political history of Scandinavia** You can be a TATTOO HISTORIAN?

[@emmbee1665]

That's the amazing thing about studying history and other humanities, you can do your research in whatever very specific subject you are passionate about and BOOM you're a *________* Historian. Life hack?

[@aisha02a]

Emma Brant that's why arts & humanities are AMAZING

[@Kamikazu08]

Had a TA for English in undergrad. She was doing her phD in French pornography and erotica in the 18th century. Our whole class needed a few seconds to process that. Glorious

[@cleshsesh6155]

Haha I was gonna do Scandi studies at uni glad I didn't now

[@Karl_Marksman]

Any interesting things you can tell us about 1800s scandinavia? 1814 was a big year that's all I know, and if that tells you where I'm from I guess you're learning something.

[@emmbee1665]

What's with the negative comments? I really like this guy?? You can tell he's really passionate and well-versed in what he's talking about. And I think it's cool that tattoos are now a thing that can be studied and respected academically as an art form. No need to bash someone for being a "hipster" prof lol, he's making a living teaching and researching a passion.

[@j.f.l.bousquet1998]

Probably all dislikes are from white suburban boys with stupid "I want to look tough" tattoos. XD

[@emmbee1665]

@@j.f.l.bousquet1998 omg yes...... AKA the tattoos from Alpha Dog, lmao

[@nyancat2221]

Because for some people, tattoos are fairly personal to them even if what they have tattooed makes them look stupid. And so rather than understanding the video they feel personally attacked and thus lash out rather than accept that the man’s opinion is one of objective observation and subjectivity on his part. And/or they’re just assholes.

[@Karl_Marksman]

He was bashing hipsters while looking like one. Maybe he's not and jthat's ust what the hipsters try to look like. Which I guess would make it not his problem. I thought people interested in tattoos and body modification would think it's cool when someone looks weird. This could be a one hour show of him talking about tattoo history and it would be interesting. Sidenote I don't think xXx with Vin Diesel gets enough *credit* for giving us the 2000s tribal craze

[@whatisthis-uw9ok]

He comes across as too sarcastic and dumb to me

[@MonoLuisa]

Fun Fact, people should know that De Niro was actually tattooed with vegetable dyes for the movie which fade away in a few months. He went full method as he usually does for his film rolls

[@darthollpheist1156]

Too bad he's a terrible human being. Great actor. Terrible person.

[@nickwatson7164]

@@darthollpheist1156 ?

[@darthollpheist1156]

@@nickwatson7164 De Niro.

[@nickwatson7164]

@@darthollpheist1156 Did what? The Robinson thing?

[@drake7993]

@@nickwatson7164 Darth is probably a Trump supporter

[@hi7hi7hi7hi7hi7]

7:18 ice skating in chinese words have another apparently code between some people which may mean " eat Methamphetamine". We Chinese people called ice as "冰", and we called methamphetamine as "冰" either, cos its crystal shape look like ice. And we called skating as "溜", "溜" have a similar meaning which can hint to "snort", so "溜冰" can mean snort meth.

[@liriosogno6762]

Wow thats super interesting. Thanks for sharing

[@lovelion2001]

as a Chinese person i've never heard of this but you know what, i believe you

[@hi7hi7hi7hi7hi7]

lovelion2001 it’s a kind of code from the south unless you know Cantonese ?

[@Davyen]

Chinese language is fascinating. You write "badass mofo", but add just a tiny line or a dot in a specific place and suddenly it says "curry chicken in chocolate pie with egg salad".

[@Danz___]

holy shit in comes Lacan with the Symbolic

[@fumolajollaii4112]

Actually the tattoo on the top of John Wick's back do not mean "Fortune Favours The Brave" because that would be "Audentes Fortuna iuvat". But how we can see it's "Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat" and that means in reality "Fortune Favours Strong". The creators of the character played by Keanu Reeves modified the famous military motto to add more realness, personality and rawness to Wick's backstory (and back). I'm sorry if there are language mistakes I'm italian I hope you'll understand anyway.

[@Josh729J]

That was actually perfect. I would have thought you were a native English speaker.

[@fumolajollaii4112]

@@Josh729J Thank you very much man :)

[@gauntlettcf5669]

To be fair there are tons of versions of that very same phrase, coming from the Romans themselves. Btw, saluti a te, compare italiano! Ahahah

[@beafraidofinsectattack]

@@gauntlettcf5669 What does saluti a te mean? Compare means male friend or brother-like friend in Italian right?

[@gauntlettcf5669]

@@beafraidofinsectattack "saluti a te" means l salute you, while "compare" does mean "brother-like friend", but can also refer to normals friends and/or associates, especially those who are associated with you in a child-like and not serious crime, like a scoundrel.

[@Hibikiritsu]

So the Chinese "溜冰" is can be a slang for "doing meth". Cause Meth in Chinese is"冰毒“ which translate to "Ice Poison"

[@mcvibe5812]

Lmaoo Meth

[@sailenthotcarathot8540]

That would be the equivalent of someone tatooing themselves "I do drugs" or "I commit crimes". Like... you really need to point that out? Are you that desperate for attention?

[@emanuelmartinez7267]

@@sailenthotcarathot8540 eh you'd be surprised. I know it's common for heroin addicts to tatt H's and spiders on their biceps near that big vain to symbolize injecting themselves with poison. It's a way to let others know that you like to "party" and what kind of "party favors" you enjoy. Also gang members tatt themselves to show their Allegiance although there's regional differences especially between different sets and generations but some stay the same no matter what: the number 5 is extremely important to the blood gang so a typical tattoo would be a pentagram, if you see a Hispanic person with a a crown on any part of his body he is more then likely a member of the latin kings. Even piercings can give you information on a person. If you remember about 15-20 years ago people would say that getting your ears pierced meant you were gay? Well there was some actual facts behind that, in the mid 90s club going gay men could tell what kind of sexual activities you were into based on what kinda piercings you had and their placement, for instance if you had an earring in your left ear it would usually mean you were a bottom

[@Ninkira]

Lmaoooooooooo

[@veag687]

amazing!!

[@bradynpalitti36]

The fact they didn’t do the girl with a dragon tattoo is actually insane

[@ladynym]

I was so looking for it

[@kopec82]

Bradyn Palitti exactly

[@schwarzhund2740]

Or Eastern promises

[@joshbaird8514]

Yet they showed glass for some reason so random

[@Karl_Marksman]

KZbin can't handle that much butt

[@FireheartSamurai]

This guy seems like a he’s genuinely nice person. Can’t wait to see him return on this youtube channel rating the history of tattoos.

[@siobhangibbens4068]

This video, and the fact tht this dude is a PHD and is as tattooed as he is really gives me hope for my future and my PhD and being heavily tattooed. I love.

[@ili4707]

What do you study?

[@joshua.merrill]

Yeah, he's a PHD in tattoo history. Makes sense as to why it might be acceptable to have tattoos in his line of work. However, there's plenty of opportunity for heavily tattooed people, if you look in the right places. Also, if you're just exceptional at the job, it matters significantly less how you look (unless looks is part of the job.) For example, I'm a welder with tattooed eyes. Throws people off in the first meeting, but once I demonstrate my work, it doesn't matter because I do solid work. And when you're meeting a new client, you tend to stand out in their memory more than any other.

[@1014p]

Yea to bad all the ones on this guy has are hideous looking. Letters across fingers, really did the gang think not bleed out of the industry. Most Ive seen with letters on fingers screamed I’m in a gang or was. At least half had the tear under the eye as well.

[@nomdeplume2213]

Of course! My surgeon is fully tatted. Sleeved, face tats and all. Amazing surgeon. I wouldn't have a lung if it wasnt for him.

[@dcarson89]

@@joshua.merrill is tattood eyes not dangerous and super painful? Also just why? Curious not insulting

[@dominicchacko6191]

Why did I decide I needed to watch this at 3 am???

[@robertcantwell4351]

Dom C your not alone bud

[@Baba429Yaga]

2:11 am for me

[@Ateka9]

5 am here bud

[@KazumiShiunsai]

Same

[@CastleBomb44]

It is 2:37 am as I am watching this video

[@Bigburt-]

i love this dude, i could really listen to him talk about the history of tattooing in different cultures all day long.

[@JMBBrasil]

Same

[@nomdeplume2213]

This man is amazing... i love seeing anyone with a PHD tatted. My surgeon was completely sleeved and he was the best surgeon ever. I wouldn't have a lung if it wasnt for him lol

[@MrKeeganimal]

This man such a breadth of knowledge and so refreshing in how he's approached contemporary ink, especially in relation to darker skin tones. Would love to see more.

[@MarcelandrieW]

Probably the first time I heard "Thanks Voldemort" and it was for something I could agree with.

[@mikeyelnats4798]

Fun fact: at 7:18 the chinese tattoo does say "Ice skating" if translated literally, however, those symbols also mean "taking meth/doing meth"in chinese, in chinese they refer to meth as "ice" as well, and in this case the verb "skating", the symbol溜, can literally be translated to skating,but also interpreted as the act of smoking meth, Its funny cz its unclear if this is done intentionally or if they literally just used symbol to mean "ice skating"..

[@MarisMLM]

You have no idea how happy it makes me to see tattooed individuals being taken seriously in the world of academia!

[@davidtownsend6092]

I want this dude to do a part 4. His accent is just so cheeky

[@dartsdemon1]

Met this guy when I was in a doc about ink. great guy knows his stuff!

[@jonnnnniej]

Please give us more from this guy! Definitely one of my favorite segments in this serie, and I'm not even a big fan of tattoos

[@jonkonchar188]

“People with face tattoos are stupid” (This guy) “Hold my PhD”

[@SHENRAR]

Polinesian guy with face tattoos? OK. Tattooer with really classy face tattoo? OK. 20 year old that looks like he fell asleep during a sleepover? STUPID

[@Ro-Ghost]

@@SHENRAR how does the guy in the video have a classy face tattoo?

[@sabinatsang]

@@Ro-Ghost the comment was talking about tattooers/tattoo artist have classy face tattoos not the guy in the video

[@darthollpheist1156]

@@sabinatsang Liar.

[@tristankovacich3731]

@Leonidas Piledriver if he wants to look like that he can

[@miceandgods4171]

Prior navy and I was told the swallow/sparrow or dual swallows/sparrows was a good luck charm for safe travels because once you saw birds again you knew you were close to shore. Just what I was told though. Definitely never heard about it symbolizing a fleet and a turtle would be the proper symbol for the equator.

[@vadalia3860]

Hey, that guy from the mummy -Ardeth Bay- was one of my first ever crushes and those facial tattoos were really working for preteen me. Come to think of it... I also crushed on Darth Maul as a girl... maybe I just liked guys with bad tattoo jobs...

[@onyx92]

I always saw those and thought they were badass😂

[@acelovesdiyschristopher7023]

Hopefully things have changed in ur partner's tattoos? But tbh Darth maul could get it coz he fights so well. To me anyway.

[@visassess8607]

Did you like the putty on Darth Maul's head horns? Lmao those were hot.

[@rb89509]

American History X, Eastern Promises.

[@karl_alan]

Those were the exact 2 movies that I was searching the comments for. Missed opportunity that they didn't include either one.

[@stephanweinberger]

I think it actually makes sense that the Waterworld tattoo is this hodgepodge of different languages and styles. After all the setting is in a dystopian future where society has virtually collapsed decades ago and small groups of people are scattered around the globe. You'd expect various languages and cultures to mingle in a rather "unrefined" way under those circumstances.

[@MrJeezus]

Great point. It's not easy to find defensible points about Waterworld

[@chrissiec5541]

has he not seen Alpha Dog? the way he described the tats fits the character perfectly, it's actually kinda genius and I wouldn't be surprised if the "ice skating" symbol was on purpose, implying he's the kinda guy who would get a symbol without being 100% sure of the actual meaning 🤷‍♀️

[@whatUPitsJORDAN]

Christen Cloar I was here to say the same thing. His description is bang on for who the character is.

[@morley364]

Doesn't he say it seems like a white guy trying to look tough? I sort of think that fits.

[@junghunt8645]

Really not a monumental logic leap to make that distinction when you see Justin Timberlake lifting weights in a living room, but agree, he nailed it.

[@Qtoyghs]

@@morley364 Sure he says it, but if the goal is to rate how well the tat fits the character, a 5/10 is *really* low.

[@clutteredcaitie]

@@Qtoyghs I think the goal was more to rate whether the tattoos look realistic (i.e. not transfers) and whether they're appropriate for time period in which the movie was set

[@audrepoison566]

Harley Quinn has better tattoos than The Joker.

[@Eric-bq8nd]

My dad's dog had better tattoos than that Joker, and I'm pretty sure they just indicated that he was neutered.

[@MetalizedButt]

He’s right, the backpiece from Red Dragon does look like Paul Booth’s work, only it looks like his 90’s - early 2000’s work, not his later or current work. This guy knows his stuff and has a good eye. Fun fact, Paul Booth did most of the wrestler The Undertaker’s tattoos as well.

[@taithangcong4704]

I love that he just reinforce my belief that john wick is a perfect trilogy

[@cuac5869]

I was honestly happy that he actually guessed the back story from the tattos.

[@neuxell]

dont watch the samurai review

[@darthollpheist1156]

Nope. Not even close. The gun play in 2 and 3 are SO unbelievable. Like walking in a crowded area and shooting at each other and no one notices. LOL. People don't understand that there's no such thing a silencer. They are suppressors. They are still very loud. Want to know how loud. Watch the Netflix movie "Extraction". They are only used so the used doesn't need hearing protection. That's it. You can used a subsonic round and it will be quieter but it will still be VERY noticeable. Even more so being that it's in a place that would echo. Then, in 1, he's being pushed off the edge and jumps out of the back window. He wouldn't just land there. He would've 100% rolled off the edge. If you're going 20mph, and then jump, you're still going 20mph. And he didn't have enough room to roll it out. Cool movies. But calling them perfect is like calling Joe Biden mentally competent or calling President Trump a racist. Just objectively untrue.

[@OneMustImagineSisyphusThicc]

@@darthollpheist1156 idk man, for me the lack of realism makes it cool. I love the choreography and absurdity. It's just meant to be cool and for me it succeeds :)

[@darthollpheist1156]

@@OneMustImagineSisyphusThicc I'm not telling anyone not to like it. I did. Well, 2 sucked all completely. 3 was pretty good. 1 would've been perfect without that stupid part with him jumping and not rolling off the edge. Want to see what a perfect action movie looks like. Watch Heat. They even left in the real noise from the blanks instead of using gun sounds in post, because they realized how much more intense it is with the actual sounds. They only thing about that movie that was unrealistic was Al Pacino using an FAL instead of an AR.

[@zabazabaableify]

Really interesting video. The historical and cultural insight is really neat!

[@jackprather3471]

To my memory, tribal tattoos had already been popular for most of the 90s prior to Blade having them in his movie. Anthony Kiedis from the Red Hot Chili Peppers had them at least as early as 1991. Maybe Blade gave it an extra boost, but as a completely non-tattooed guy I was very aware of them well before that.

[@jamesoblivion]

Jack Sparrow's tattoo should've been of a sparrow. It would've made the insta-ID a little more believable.

[@Bjjbhcoa86]

It is Depp's own tattoo, it was not done for the film, so I think they just made it a character feature too. The tattoo itself was made for Depp's son, Jack.

[@tiffprendergast]

Lena Feline yeah

[@nicks.2612]

@@Bjjbhcoa86 no the tattoo in the movie was painted on and Depp got it later for real adding the name Jack under it for his son EDIT: Also it is a sparrow but what is research to a professor

[@jamesoblivion]

@@nicks.2612 It's not a sparrow, though. Look at the split tail.

[@nicks.2612]

@@jamesoblivion look behind it the sun isn't millions of degrees warm it's not a real sun. Canonically though the bird is supposed to be a sparrow (look it up on the wiki) and I don't think a tattoo artist tattooing a pirate in 1720ish would be a Orinthologist

[@zosephh_]

Raging you made him analyse Draco’s death eater tattoo and not Sirius’s entire body

[@FiisforMichael]

bring this guy back for eastern promises, american history X

[@elwinator33]

I don't need a tatoo scientist to tell me that Glass had some questionable storytelling.

[@Scybes]

Hey lets make sure that the titles cover the tattoos EVERY TIME! GENIUS!

[@RedboRF]

such a shame they didnt use Eastern Promises, because Matt is such a great expert and they've done such a great job painting Viggo in the movie

[@ellamaek]

I love this dude. I found a tattoo history book at my library awhile ago and it's the coolest subject I've read about in a long time. One of the coolest things I learned; in some Polynesian tribes, a full face tattoo was used as a signature on official documents. The man who had the face tattoo could draw it perfectly from memory. Also the history of Japanese traditional is very cool. I love that he quoted Ed Hardy about tattooing being like therapy. What a beautiful way to view it.

[@qiliu6433]

The ice-skating Chinese characters are a slang word for taking heroin, but the font is really bad...one of the most commonly-used Chinese fonts, reminds me of my primary school text book

[@chrissiec5541]

ok, halfway through & Boondock Saints better be on here... eta- a bit disappointed it wasn't, but happy they included Red Dragon ❤ I still think that scene revealing the back tattoo is cool, even though it wasn't perfect.

[@lara_xy]

I had no idea you could study this, amazing! He seems like such a cool teacher

[@reigngreyson4046]

I've got the swallow tattoos. They are earned tattoos in the Navy culture. I got one, and then the second after I ventured halfway around the world. Not saying the expert is wrong, but it's a culture thing while maybe not being historically accurate

[@MrHendrix17]

Pirates is set around 1720 and as far as I've seen the tradition of Naval tattoos didn't really get properly started until after James Cooks voyages. It's not that swallows aren't a naval symbol it's that in that time period that symbol didn't yet have that meaning among sailors

[@vergil8833]

Well, the Malfoy skull and snake tattoo is basically like showing off a swastika tattoo. It's not considered bad because it's a tattoo, it's considered bad because of whos group the tattoo represents. Not everything is problematic.

[@brmbkl]

he still was right about the movie reinforcing the idea that appearances betray good or bad character (the "disney effect") - see also the deterioration of Voldemort's face

[@FriggSaga]

Yaaasss. I met Paul Booth in Toronto, very quiet dude. Awesome to what him work. He did alot of Giger art.

[@cinnamondreams5804]

anyone else annoyed by the glasses placement?

[@mattlodder]

I apologise for my ears. 🤓

[@crenner07]

Matt Lodder Only because I’m sad it isn’t in the video, what are your thoughts on Viggo’s tattoos in Eastern Promises?

[@burgersbeansandchips]

It's reminiscent of a Bo Selecta mask for some reason.

[@Jaqen-HGhar]

I mean I imagine the screen is placed somewhat below him and he's looking down which is why you can see above his glasses. He isn't doing it to look cool or he'd be looking through the rim of his glasses with where we can see them but he's looking exactly through the lenses as he should but having to tilt his head. What you should have said is, "Is anyone else annoyed with where they placed the monitor he's having to look at?"

[@Aknight292]

@@mattlodder since you're here. I'm curious what you think of the tattoos in the show Vikings

[@dotexe4981]

the cape fear tattoos are awesome, I really like that style

[@chevweez]

Just me or were there editing mistakes in this? Anyone else notice the "Change me!" in the top right corner at times? Such as 2:40, 3:38, 6:04, and more.

[@FappinSteve]

chevweez I believe it means “change me!” As in “to the next tape!” It’s a reference to the “old, dark times” !! Lol

[@garyravinsky3357]

They have those in on purpose

[@Hokuto_Tongi]

It’s cuz you need to change your shitty drawers

[@Shiningforceking]

When this professor looks at the camera with his eyes a bit crooked, he gives this vibe he might kill someone.

[@cammykins5813]

He also looks mad when he stares.

[@bravediomedes217]

I thought he looked like a slapstick character who just got hit with a shovel.

[@musicajuansuarezm]

This is awesome. One of my favorite topics by an awesome dude. Loved it. And learned a lot.

[@JustADioWhosAHeroForFun]

How about the Dragon with the Girl tattoo

[@saroj3462]

I was wondering too why she was not mentioned

[@randallflagg3700]

Wait, they adapted "The Dragon with the Girl tattoo" (by Adam Roberts) on the big screen? Why didn't I hear about it... I just googled it, and nothing. Aside from the book's cover, how is he supposed to rate it?

[@avagiselle7965]

Randall Flagg i think he means girl w the dragon tattoo, that ones a movie and book

[@bplup6419]

I love how he remembers the details to the plot of The Mummy.

[@nadine9142]

I love watching videos about tattoos in movie, and this is the best one I’ve seen. He is super interesting

[@adelgado9885]

I can’t see that Insider brought this dude back for more videos. I want more videos with this dude! He’s super cool!

[@erinjellow7047]

If you guys were ever to film a part two with Dr.Lodder, please have him comment on Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises! Always heard accounts of how accurate his tattoos were in that film, but would love an expert opinion!!

[@badbirdkc]

Man, how do you not watch any movies with Yakuza tattoos, like Showdown in Little Tokyo?

[@oliverlachat9062]

badbirdkc even something like The Outsider

[@scootergirl3662]

I would love to follow this guy around at networking events just to see people's faces when he says his job title. Also fantastic video.

[@anaclaudiaxavier5511]

This guy is awesome. This video was just the best. God bless the nerds.

[@lizb3139]

A very informative and interesting guy! Really enjoyed this video

[@lovesdeathmetal1995]

Would of loved to see his opinion on place beyond the pines

[@luca_hc_gruber]

Yesss

[@The_Kirk_Lazarus]

*have

[@Ankan2050]

I am surprised they didn't include "Eastern Promises" in this list! Viggo Mortensen's character had some fairly detailed ones!

[@gnarkill12B]

Very cool, some of the clips they picked for him I would have probably skipped however. Can't believe they didn't have him look at the tattoos from Vikings.

[@dabswithtabs4258]

It’s worth noting, the culture of tattooing in Africa is ancient and still practised. It’s the first dated culture to practice body modification as adornment and/or ritual. This is in re: Blade commentary.

[@jaketrovillion6159]

What, no Eastern Promises? Tattoos are actually integral to the story, so I'm surprised it wasn't covered.

[@onetwothree9]

not to mention the tattoos and the whole costume really, were apparently so convincing Mortensen accidentally scared a couple of russian immigrants while on his lunch break

[@jad43701]

The Swallow tattoo is for a sailor who has sailed 5000 miles. One with multiple Swallow tattoos, is considered an experienced and valuable sailor. And the quality Sparrow's tattoo is historically appropriate. The Japanese and Polynesians have a rich history and skill in the art. It is not out of the realm of possibility of him getting that quality of tattoo. Which, while not crude, it isn't the best example either.

[@miceandgods4171]

Prior Navy and I've never heard this. Any lifers with sparrows will typically say 3 things. 1. A lucky charm for a safe journey because when you see birds again then you know that land is near. 2. A protective charm from drowning, historically the bird will find a drowned man's soul and fly it home. Or 3. They don't know.

[@6juicebag9]

@@miceandgods4171 I was active duty navy and am navy reserve now. People would say if you sailed 5000 miles = 1 sparrow tattoo. Made more sense when you actually sailed. Now you could get out after your first tour and have 50 swallow tattoos so I think the meaning is just less practical.

[@miceandgods4171]

@@6juicebag9 how would you even know your miles traveled? It's not like you can simply chart where you've been and naval vessels don't travel in straight lines, most box line it. I've never heard this 5,000 mile thing and my AO1 had double sparrows, actually the most sparrows I saw in a division is when I was sent cranking.

[@37butterflyprincess]

@@miceandgods4171 the sparrow comes from the days you'd actually SAIL 5000 miles. Probably not a tradition anymore since navies don't sail

[@miceandgods4171]

@@37butterflyprincess turns out it's both. 5,000 naitical miles sailed and "SAIL" is still the term used on modern vessels even though motor driven, and a charm against drowning or for a safe journey. Searching sparrow doesn't show the 5,000 explanation, I had to add sparrow 5,000 miles to find it.

[@Nieghorn]

Two films I hoped to see ... the sailors in Master and Commander for the content and technique and both Steve McQueen and the hunter with the facial tattoo in Papillon.

[@52BLUE]

How could you not get this guy to watch a clip from Eastern Promises. The tattoos in that film are directly linked to the plot throughout multiple parts of that incredible film.

[@tfgrrl2042]

Curious to see what he'd say about the tattoos in Memento or Eastern Promises.

[@jessicastunden5562]

I don’t even have tattoos but this makes me want to go and study them for some reason 😂

[@zitafarkas4372]

Please do more of these,I could listen to his depiction of historical tattooes for hours.

[@katherinegotschall9842]

How he looks at the camera over the top of his glasses is such a professor move lol

[@AnarchyintheNYC]

Since waterworld takes place in a future where all peoples and languages have been mixed together, maybe it actually makes sense that its a collection of languages.

[@jimmy5391]

Eastern Promises has a couple of amazing tattoo scenes

[@et4751]

Liked this, would love to see/hear more from this chap.

[@noeliavalverde245]

this is much better than the video with the tattoo artist, because this guy knows about history and other factors besides technique. They missed on some of my fav movies that used tattoos as customs: Moana, Eastern Promises, Apocalypto and Mad Max

[@caligowolfz397productions4]

With the Red Dragon, he had only just had it done, so I guess they did I do it right if the guy thought it was peeling.

[@Eric-bq8nd]

The tattoo is also specifically a copy of Blake's "The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun", a painting done around 1800. So it being done a bit "before its time", it still makes sense stylistically.

[@unknownsamuri]

@Eric - Exactly. The design came directly from Blakes' painting. Glad someone said it.

[@paveladamek3502]

In an episode of INKED, some of them says "do not get a face tattoo, you will not be able to get a respected job". Well...

[@davidbreault3283]

The goddamn Tattoo Professor says hello

[@sarahthelibrarian7591]

Unless you’re in the field - this guy is in the field.

[@Celtic_Blade]

My only point is that you did Captain Jack Sparrow wrong. Becket was looking at the whole arm. Sparrow tattoo he is known for, P brand, mixed with appearance and over all demeanor, equals Jack. I look forward to more from you!

[@cloudburstt]

This guy is so enjoyable to listen to.

[@laveenagupta4683]

This video's starting gives me gossebumps The way that man say's *really* *bad*

[@jpdst29]

I was really hoping to hear his insight on Brad Pitt’s tattoos in the movie Snatch.

[@alexanderbraun7887]

Ok, I officially love this guys brutal honesty

[@veskokanchev2285]

Great video.

[@michaelhart5087]

He's the first Dr i've ever seen with face tattoos.

[@Apis4]

Far be it from me to contradict a professor of tattoo history, I need to say that I'm reasonably sure we have extant source material, diaries and letters, if limited, that discuss the naval tattoo symbolism. He's probably right about the different fleets, in different countries, but supposedly these tattoos do date to the early 1600, and possibly even earlier. International shipping trade didbt really kick off until the 1500s as we know it today, but from the 1300s, they began more and more sea trade on smaller scales (thanks to Marco Polo writing a best seller, among other things....think about it, why do we still know about him?). But for those centuries, two things were critical in communications, one, the majority of sailors between 1300 and 1800, were illiterate (numeracy was much more useful, and THAT was not uncommon, literacy was), and another, forget the classic Pirate accent, the majority of sailors were from cities (so, in English, think one of the London accents), and more only about half the crew on many of a great seafaring Empire's merchant, privateer/buccaneer and pirate ships were from the ships country. In Britain in the 1700s for example, about 60% of crewmen on those ships, were British, about a third of those from Scotland, Ireland or Wales, and rest from cities, usually London. Of the other 40%, three fiths-ish, of those, would most likely be Dutch, French German or North African, and the rest Spanish, Italian or Scandinavian. The same pattern across centuries was often present in all the other great seafaring Empires, like Portugual Spain France and Holland. So you had a lot ships manned by urban poor, who were often illiterate, and many who were not literate in the mother tongue of their ship. These tattoos became a kind of "Resume" on the skin. If you didn't lie anyway. Following tradition, the ships officers could see how genuine your letter of service was, and your claims, and other sailors could tell your skills and experience (and whilst theoretically one could cheat, get ink not earned, the consequences if your crewmates ever found out, or even suspected that sort of thing, would be dire....their lives depended on each other, and you after all). Also, some of those tattoos, like a cross, or a coat of arms, or an animal, could tell the locals, if you died in foreign lands, especially in a wreck, where you were from, so who to tell (like if you tell the next Engish ship, or Dutch one), and how to bury you (you die in India and they see a cross, someone would have a pretty good chance to know you're a Christian). They were probably rough non professional jobs, by other sailors, but I'm pretty sure they're historically real.

[@miceandgods4171]

As far as a fleet identification? Possibly but I doubt it. His guess on an identification for crossing the equator? Completely wrong. That would be a turtle or king Neptune. The ceremony of a novice sailor pollywog or tadpole becoming a shell back and a part of King Neptune's court.

[@Apis4]

@@miceandgods4171 Though that itself is the current semiotics of sailor ink. It evolved, certainly. It's very difficult to say what it would have been in times past, before the 18th century, which is what I'm speaking about.

[@MrHendrix17]

@@miceandgods4171 A shell back is more of an American term isn't it?

[@jeffw7382]

This guy is great. Want to see more of him.

[@g.strobl4458]

I adore how stringently we are led as viewers toward the rating, so that one always ends up thinking, "Yeah, that makes sense." when the rating is revealed.

[@sadem1045]

Paul Booth is still a pretty big deal. He's in NYC for those of you who can afford him.

[@annatemnyy]

Really wish I could take a class that he teaches. Damn

[@guillaumekaas6505]

Nice one! But about Jack Sparrow... Not coming back on the tattoo itself, but it's known that armies used to keep very accurate records of their men, including mercenaries, at least since the early Middle Ages. They went as far as counting their teeth. It was meant to help identify the dead but also to help punishing desertion, for example, during large campaigns. This being said... Pirate captains generally didn't come from nowhere, and if Jack Sparrow sailed once in the Royal Navy there is a high chance that someone dug out a record telling he has this tattoo above some kind of P scar above this wrist, thus enabling authorities to identify him more easily.

[@JulkeaPerkele]

IIRC Jack used to sail under the Royal Navy as a trader of sorts and when he was tasked with porting slaves he refused saying "people aren't cargo" and became a pirate, thus getting marked with the P by Beckett. It's in a deleted scene

[@shannononeill482]

P for pirate. If you weren't killed outright for piracy, you'd be branded. East India Company would brand on the forehead so it was hard to hide, but that must not have made sense for the movie. LOL. And yeah he sailed for the EIC but went rogue when he "pirated" and made off with the humans his ship was carrying. People aren't cargo, mate is such an underrated line I wish it hadn't been in the deleted scene.

[@markmarney622]

Yay! Go Matt! Your think series stuff was the best!

[@coulsonbeach6390]

surprised he didnt mention the fact the red dragon tattoo was taken from a painting by william blake though 🤔

[@KasumiRINA]

So much of being art historian)))

[@Morning_Starr]

Kasumi Rina Gaming he’s a tattoo historian, not an art historian.

[@charlesbetz9475]

In the Hannibal movie he literally did just get it done. Lol

[@KasumiRINA]

Medjay tattoos are a cult initiation thing. As other said, they were originally protecting pharaoh, not Imhotep, and we kinda assumed them being Berber or other kind of non-Arabian semi-nomads native to Egypt and North Africa.

[@HirathaYT]

I hope they get this guy back sometime, he’s really good.

[@hindsightpov4218]

7:52 They’re quite kind of standard, you know, suburban-white-boy-trying-to-look-tough tattoos... They’re a bit David Beckham. - Damn. That shade. But so true. See it all the time. 😆