Hori Smoku is a cantankerous collection of salty tales, practical jokes and tattoo lore, all centering around the life of American tattoo master Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins. As unpretentious and straight shooting as its subject, Erich Weiss’ documentary delivers a 77 minute vacation in a Hawaii where men lined up to get “stewed, screwed and tattooed” as they stopped over on their way to an unknown fate.
Sailor Jerry had several nicknames, and “Hori Smoku” is half honorific—after the Japanese “Hori” title for tattoo masters—but also a playful jab at the Japs. (It’s a corruption of “holy smokes.”) Some of the stories in Hori Smoku have a certain Gran Torino flavor about them, and that’s half the damn fun. Collins comes off as one hell of a character; he slapped a giant sausage on King Kamehameha and pissed daily on a toilet seat plastered with a photo of one of his rivals. Sailor jerry Collins was no bleeding heart hipster. He was a right-wing libertarian patriot, suspicious of Nixon for being a little too “liberal.”
If you know anything about tattoos, you know his work. His trademark designs feature themes of “Man’s Demise,” a brand of manly nihilism that recalls the lyrics of the Hank Williams song “I’ll Never Get Out of this World Alive.” Likely owing to his war-bound clientele, Sailor Jerry’s man is tough and scrappy, but ultimately just another one of Fate’s marionettes. You owe it to yourself to check this one out for its manly, earthy humanity.
Hori Smoku (Official Film Site)
Sailor Jerry, Ltd. (Commercial Site)
Jack Donovan is the author of Androphilia and the co-author of Blood-Brotherhood and Other Rites of Male Alliance. He lives in Portland, Oregon and blogs at http://www.jack-donovan.com/.
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suspicious of Nixon for being a little too “liberal.”
of course Nixon was too liberal. this is a guy who instituted price controls and declared, “I am now a Keynesian in economics.”
the fact that Nixon is seen as some sort of arch-conservative has much much more to do with liberals’ success at branding conservative as a perjorative than it does with Nixon’s actual politics.
Yep. Tricky Dick serves as mainly a Liberal Boogeyman, even with Newt G to still kick around.
Nixon presided over the formation of the EPA, FDA or DEA or whatever fucking acronym our worthless government foisted upon us during his terms, as I no longer care to sprout another headache on research.
Tatoos were once the realm of actual tough men in the Navy.
Now, the navy (small ‘n’ haha) is the world of pregnant “midshippersons”, salty sea-dog gangbangers from St. Louis who felt the mariner’s call of the sea in that glittering coastal Missourian port town, seeking diversity opportunities and free cash fo colidge.
Tattoos are now the flag of pampered millionaire thugs playing professional sports and betas using their flesh as instant cred as substitute for growing balls and growling at PC to go fuck itself.
I hate blogvertisements.
So many women with tatoos on their lower backs nowadays, just above their bums, jeans hanging low.
No thanks, I’ve seen some guys pull off some cool tatoos but for women it just doesn’t cut it. On the arms is best.
Damn I’d have to get a good one I could live with. Tatoos today are like ‘on a whim’ ornaments while back in the day they probably served as symbols of unity, brotherhood and war-fighting heroism.
Women trying to use ‘em like they’re getting all tough. I do not find it attractive, probably on a ‘Goth’ styled lady, yes, goes with the theme but here we have ‘casuals’ just getting them for their own warped reasons. It’s repellent.
Kennedy, liberal hero: started the Vietnam war.
Nixon, liberal enemy: ended the Vietnam war.
“You owe it to yourself to check this one out for its manly, earthy humanity.”
What was manly about him? Was he brave, honorable and righteous? Did he do something particularly manly like win a Medal of Honor? Pissing on the toilet seat doesn’t make you a man.
Oh Null! You little contrarian wipper snapper! What would we do without you! Who would remind us all of how wrong we always are! Who would take our moments of lightness, and shroud them in cantankerousness and petulant negation! God bless…god bless…
Jabherwochie the troll has arrived to derail yet another thread…
It’s funny, everyone loves anger, nihilism and cynicism. I’ve got plenty to spare.
But then you write about something you liked and enjoyed–something you’d recommend to your friends, and it is viewed as an “ad.”
Oh well..
My suspicion is that people who liked it and now want to see the film didn’t comment. Controversy drives most commenting, but not necessarily page views.
As for the “ad” thing, sheesh, we’d be suckers if we wrote ads for free.
Who gives a ratfuck if it’s an ad.
If Cameron can push that PC shit “Avatar”
I just may happen to want to find out more about some crusty old dude who DOESN’T do tribals
But then you write about something you liked and enjoyed–something you’d recommend to your friends, and it is viewed as an “ad.”
It’s only an “ad” if you were paid to write it with the intent of promoting it.
Sure wish Wild Turkey had paid me to write the “ad” I did here for their Rare Breed Bourbon on Thanksgiving….
@null
You know, being cited as a source of inspiration for other males, specially those who went to WWII, the last war that wasn’t “an embarassment”, it would count as manly. Or being a MGTOW, at not taking shit of anyone, exploring the world beyond your own country and living as he wanted.
But of course, given your neccesity of redefining manhood to your own image (which I believe that is what most people call “chump”) no matter what the discussion is, I don’t expect you to get it.
And LOL to the ad comment. Telling others that you like something is basic human interaction. Not that the guy who said that have many of it.
“But of course, given your neccesity of redefining manhood to your own image (which I believe that is what most people call “chump”) no matter what the discussion is, I don’t expect you to get it.”
Oh, I didn’t realize that being brave, honorable, righteous, strong, disciplined etc. is now “chump” behavior. Please tell me more.
Still on about that null? How long’s it been since I planted that little barb – a week? Does it still sting that a woman imitating a man can be spotted a mile off, and that a mere man can see through the deception?
Now, think I’ll just kick back and watch you go off your head again for another week or so. If you’re really good, I might respond again in a few weeks.
Now go on and say it. You love me.
Manhood isn’t defined for morality.
(comment got cut)
Never was, although it was necccesary to make males believe that it does for being able to sustain a society non-based on tribes killing each other.
And you need to be brave to be in a country that started a war with your own, as seen here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor
We present the cold, hard truth. You don’t have to like it.
piercedhead: “Still on about that null? How long’s it been since I planted that little barb – a week?”
What the fuck are you rambling about? Pissing on the toilet seat was mentioned in the post. Go complain to Jack Donovan.
“Does it still sting that a woman imitating a man can be spotted a mile off, and that a mere man can see through the deception?
Now, think I’ll just kick back and watch you go off your head again for another week or so. If you’re really good, I might respond again in a few weeks.
Now go on and say it. You love me.”
I don’t know who you are or what you’re talking about, but you’re obviously mentally ill.
GX1080: “Manhood isn’t defined for morality.”
Yes it is.