Ask the Author: Roberto Gemori
Answered Questions (8)
Roberto Gemori
My grand-grandfather was found on the stairs of an orphanage few days before a noble woman appeared in public again after months out of anyone's sight. My surname was possibly created by the nuns and it apparently has no match in the whole country, very few in the whole world. The documents with the truth burned in a fire during WW2. Enough?
Roberto Gemori
Hi Andi, this would require a long answer.
In general, Disney did their homework when dealing with Maui's tattoos. There are several real symbols, even if most of them are too "pictorial". But that's needed for the movie purpose of everyone being able and "see" the story in them.
This is one thing they got totally right: Polynesian tattoos do tell stories, and they have to be earned.
On the stylistic side, we see another small derogation from reality: there was actually a 1000 years long stop in the expansion of Polynesian people through the Pacific (due to technical limitations), and it actually was after reaching the Samoan archipelago (Moana's people correctly wear Samoan inspired tattoos), but Maui's tattoos are mainly a mix of Marquesan and Hawaiian inspiration, and those archipelagos still had to be discovered by that time.
Only when bigger double hull canoes were built, allowing for longer oceanic voyages, Polynesians reached to the Marquesas, Hawai'i and New Zealand.
In general, Disney did their homework when dealing with Maui's tattoos. There are several real symbols, even if most of them are too "pictorial". But that's needed for the movie purpose of everyone being able and "see" the story in them.
This is one thing they got totally right: Polynesian tattoos do tell stories, and they have to be earned.
On the stylistic side, we see another small derogation from reality: there was actually a 1000 years long stop in the expansion of Polynesian people through the Pacific (due to technical limitations), and it actually was after reaching the Samoan archipelago (Moana's people correctly wear Samoan inspired tattoos), but Maui's tattoos are mainly a mix of Marquesan and Hawaiian inspiration, and those archipelagos still had to be discovered by that time.
Only when bigger double hull canoes were built, allowing for longer oceanic voyages, Polynesians reached to the Marquesas, Hawai'i and New Zealand.
Roberto Gemori
We have a form on our website where readers can suggest what subjects they'd like to see in an upcoming book... and we love to make them happy!
If we pick an idea, they also get a free copy of the book.
Wanna have a go? It's here: https://www.small-tattoo-ideas.com/
If we pick an idea, they also get a free copy of the book.
Wanna have a go? It's here: https://www.small-tattoo-ideas.com/
Roberto Gemori
When your books solve someone's problem, or help them with new ideas and they come back to share the results or pop you a comment. Love to know the hard work has been helpful to someone!
Roberto Gemori
Just sent you a mail... not very timely I'm afraid. Still here though, talk soon!
Roberto Gemori
Just do it, if you have passion about a subject. Passion is contagious!
Roberto Gemori
The third volume of the Polynesian Tattoo Handbook series
Roberto Gemori
Polynesian tattoos are my passion, but there are a lot of misconceptions about their real significance, so I decided to write the Handbooks to share with all tattoo fans what I learnt over the years.
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