Tā moko and Blackbeard - PLEASE READ
Omg Blackbeard’s tattoo’s are so cool-
WHOA WHOA WHOA HOLD ON A MINUTE THERE
That went from zero to 100 REAL quick lets get some education about tā moko up in here before we make these wild claims!
Tatau or tattoos have been found all over the world in many civilisations, but it was absolutely the Age of Sail and the colonisation of the Pacific Islands that popularised it and spread it around the world. Tatau is a samoan word that means to strike, and many polynesian cultures have a rich history of tattooing with very specific meanings and connections. Western sailors visiting the islands got their own and soon brought tattoos back to white civilisation where we know and love it today as artistic body modifications. Western tattoos usually come with deep individual personal meaning as opposed to the widespread cultural meaning that occurs in polynesian tattoos. Tattooing has also had a big impact on the queer community too which makes the ofmd connections all the more interwoven (it’s about the intricate rituals)
Edward “Blackbeard“ Teach from Our Flag Means Death is played by Taika Waititi, a maori and jewish man, and as part of his character design, Taika’s own tattoos were added upon to create the visuals of blackbeard! These tattoos are an essential part of the character and it makes sense that anyone drawing or especially cosplaying Blackbeard would want to make sure that these tattoos are included. Unfortunately there has already been a few (probably well-intentioned) call-out posts for doing so (see above), saying that cosplayers should not be drawing on tattoos that have specific cultural significance! Which is absolutely correct!
The problem is these posts have also failed to recognise what is and isn’t Maori tā moko and what is literally just . . a regular tattoo 🙈
Here’s Taika and his tattoos:
The eagle on his chest, the little Rita Ora tattoo on his hip and yes, those black bands on his arms are all likely to have very personal meaning to Taika but they are not tā moko.
Tā moko is the practice of tattooing that is specific to the Maori people and a quick google search will show you just how recognisable tā moko is, a tradition that goes back hundreds of years.
Tā moko is usually the more traditional type reserved for the face and the more modern concept of tattoos as body art can be referred to as Kirituhi. Every piece is unique to the wearer, with koru (spirals) that represent family and the darker infilled parts using various symbolic patterns.
Here to give some input as Maori people themselves are my friends on twitter speaking about the specific tā moko that Taika has that you shouldn’t try to reproduce: The tā moko on his leg, the whare (meeting house) on his wrist, and the traditional imagery of rā the sun on his back (seen in the above photo of Taika also)
So to conclude: YES as a non Maori person you should avoid drawing on tā moko as part of a cosplay as there is very deep cultural and personal significance in those specific tattoos, and Maori people who see their culture misrepresented in a poor rendition of tā moko will likely take offense.
but unless Taika himself has asked people not to there’s nothing wrong with drawing on the tattoo’s that aren’t tā moko, including the eagle on his chest and yes, those two black bands on his arms.
BUT ALSO: do not erase tā moko from fanart of blackbeard, if you want to draw the whare on his wrist or the rā on his back, or the kirituhi on his leg - power to you!!! And don’t bloody whitewash the man either or I’ll set the kraken on you!!! ☠🐙
(Please go retweet and support my friends on twitter I have linked them all above their tweet screenshots!)
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