July 17th, 2009 / 4:09 pm
Snippets
Snippets
Blake Butler—
I’ve been thinking for a while now about getting a tattoo of this line from this book. Are text tattoos stupid? Do they blur badly over time? Where would one get a 60 word quote tattooed on their body? I’ve been thinking around my wrist but seems rash, and maybe bad. Text tattoo thoughts? Suggestions? Heeding? Help me figure this out. I’m probably just running my yap.
I expect all you contributors know about this project, but for readers who may not, the awesome writer Shelley Jackson “published” a whole story across people’s bodies, by getting participants to tattoo a word or punctuation of the piece. Only participants would then get to read the thing altogether.
Here’s the project web page: http://ineradicablestain.com/skindex.html
I don’t know what this means for you, Blake. Seems like the same rules would apply as for all tattoos.
I expect all you contributors know about this project, but for readers who may not, the awesome writer Shelley Jackson “published” a whole story across people’s bodies, by getting participants to tattoo a word or punctuation of the piece. Only participants would then get to read the thing altogether.
Here’s the project web page: http://ineradicablestain.com/skindex.html
I don’t know what this means for you, Blake. Seems like the same rules would apply as for all tattoos.
i have several text tattoos. every good tattooist i’ve been to (i’ve been to some crappy ones too) has told me the less text the better, unless you’re willing to go big. my longest is around 20 words and is fairly small text. it’s only three years old so it still looks good, but they do get messy with age, especially on a small scale. i was, at one time, going to get a whole dylan thomas poem done down my arm, but was told by a very good artist who has done my last few, that he would never do something that long, that he would rather refuse the business, because it just wouldn’t work out the way a customer imagined it should.
anyway, moral of the story if you want a lot of text go big, or go with less text. and even with less text if you go small be prepared for it to blur eventually.
i have several text tattoos. every good tattooist i’ve been to (i’ve been to some crappy ones too) has told me the less text the better, unless you’re willing to go big. my longest is around 20 words and is fairly small text. it’s only three years old so it still looks good, but they do get messy with age, especially on a small scale. i was, at one time, going to get a whole dylan thomas poem done down my arm, but was told by a very good artist who has done my last few, that he would never do something that long, that he would rather refuse the business, because it just wouldn’t work out the way a customer imagined it should.
anyway, moral of the story if you want a lot of text go big, or go with less text. and even with less text if you go small be prepared for it to blur eventually.
you could new get words placed over the top when the original start to fade. i would really dig that whole body / ekphrasis thing in a big way
you could new get words placed over the top when the original start to fade. i would really dig that whole body / ekphrasis thing in a big way
These days. it’s either your face or your neck. Do it or don’t do it.
I’m kidding. Your ribcage would be good, so maybe if you were bending weird it would set the text in vague lines. What are the 60 words? Ted, we’re dying.
These days. it’s either your face or your neck. Do it or don’t do it.
I’m kidding. Your ribcage would be good, so maybe if you were bending weird it would set the text in vague lines. What are the 60 words? Ted, we’re dying.
I find text tattoos incredibly sexy. Unless they are Jason Mraz lyrics.
I find text tattoos incredibly sexy. Unless they are Jason Mraz lyrics.
that would totally kill the mood, good call
that would totally kill the mood, good call
if you were a really hot chick i think this would be a sweet idea, could put it around you vag area or something, on your thighs, over you ass, on the side of your leg etc… makes me horny
if you were a really hot chick i think this would be a sweet idea, could put it around you vag area or something, on your thighs, over you ass, on the side of your leg etc… makes me horny
The hardest part of a text tattoo (I only have one) is picking the text. I got mine almost a year ago on my forearm and it is holding up pretty well, but that would probably be too small a space if you want the text to show up really well. I’d recommend a location somewhere on the torso.
The hardest part of a text tattoo (I only have one) is picking the text. I got mine almost a year ago on my forearm and it is holding up pretty well, but that would probably be too small a space if you want the text to show up really well. I’d recommend a location somewhere on the torso.
. What’s the text? We can Haut or Not it. Or Tat or not it.
. What’s the text? We can Haut or Not it. Or Tat or not it.
back piece! back piece!
back piece! back piece!
Take all of EVER and make it a tattoo (around and around) from your neck to your ankles. But put “fuck text tattoos” in parentheses just above your ass on the small of your back. And those places in the book where there is a lot of blank pages, just follow the order of the text from neck to ankles. If I estimate it correctly, there should be a big blank right over your heart corresponding with page 22 of EVER just after the words “Other nights I sleep.”
Don’t bother with the Derek White designs–make Derek get those printed on his body and go on tour together!
Take all of EVER and make it a tattoo (around and around) from your neck to your ankles. But put “fuck text tattoos” in parentheses just above your ass on the small of your back. And those places in the book where there is a lot of blank pages, just follow the order of the text from neck to ankles. If I estimate it correctly, there should be a big blank right over your heart corresponding with page 22 of EVER just after the words “Other nights I sleep.”
Don’t bother with the Derek White designs–make Derek get those printed on his body and go on tour together!
I’m sure that most tattoo shops pretty much anywhere would give you a 60 word quote tattooed on your body. No prob.
I’m sure that most tattoo shops pretty much anywhere would give you a 60 word quote tattooed on your body. No prob.
I wouldn’t do it in Ann Arbor though, they’re always busy.
I wouldn’t do it in Ann Arbor though, they’re always busy.
if the tattoo looks good, it’ll look good. the problem with most text or lit tattoos is that they’re just shitty tattoos, not so much that the idea of them is shit, the execution is. i say go for it. you already know my ridiculous idea. ha.
if the tattoo looks good, it’ll look good. the problem with most text or lit tattoos is that they’re just shitty tattoos, not so much that the idea of them is shit, the execution is. i say go for it. you already know my ridiculous idea. ha.
there’s a poem that means a lot to me, i was thinking of getting tattooed from wrist-to-wrist. by that i mean, the poem would begin at my right wrist, travel up my arm, across my chest, down my left arm, and stopping at my left wrist. that way you can read it if i hold my arms out like a T, when i am at my most vulnerable, and exposing my heart. the only reason i haven’t yet is i worry that the poem won’t mean the same to me when i am older, and also the small font will probably smudge. i like text tattoos when they are well-placed. make sure you are specific and don’t recite the line from memory to the artist… that is how a friend of mine was tattooed with “let be be the end of seem” instead of “let be be the finale of seem.”
there’s a poem that means a lot to me, i was thinking of getting tattooed from wrist-to-wrist. by that i mean, the poem would begin at my right wrist, travel up my arm, across my chest, down my left arm, and stopping at my left wrist. that way you can read it if i hold my arms out like a T, when i am at my most vulnerable, and exposing my heart. the only reason i haven’t yet is i worry that the poem won’t mean the same to me when i am older, and also the small font will probably smudge. i like text tattoos when they are well-placed. make sure you are specific and don’t recite the line from memory to the artist… that is how a friend of mine was tattooed with “let be be the end of seem” instead of “let be be the finale of seem.”
i’m getting four words in the fall. it’ll be good. trust.
i’m getting four words in the fall. it’ll be good. trust.
One of my Friends is in that. the word “Letter”. Its on the map – “Letter” in Christchurch, New Zealand – My amazing anarcho-feminist lesbian friend.
One of my Friends is in that. the word “Letter”. Its on the map – “Letter” in Christchurch, New Zealand – My amazing anarcho-feminist lesbian friend.
I want Susan Howe’s opening to the Pythagorian Silences –
“We that were wood
when that the wide wood was
In a physical universe
playing with words
Bark be my bone
my hair be leaf
Bride be my bow
my lyre my quiver
I want Susan Howe’s opening to the Pythagorian Silences –
“We that were wood
when that the wide wood was
In a physical universe
playing with words
Bark be my bone
my hair be leaf
Bride be my bow
my lyre my quiver
go for neck or ribs i think. placement and font dude.
my buddy wanted to get
AND I AM BECOME DEATH
DESTROYER OF WORLDS
in bold on the front of his neck
but the motherfucker’s all talk.
go for neck or ribs i think. placement and font dude.
my buddy wanted to get
AND I AM BECOME DEATH
DESTROYER OF WORLDS
in bold on the front of his neck
but the motherfucker’s all talk.
that’s fucking metal. I want METAL in METAL on my fucking forehead! or just to become a cyborg. I’m not sure, it’s a toss-up.
that’s fucking metal. I want METAL in METAL on my fucking forehead! or just to become a cyborg. I’m not sure, it’s a toss-up.
the last line and picture from savage detectives…on my wrist…someday, someday, someday.
the last line and picture from savage detectives…on my wrist…someday, someday, someday.