Found note, typography, tattoo art, 2009, [Mature Content]
On Sunday afternoon, while driving back to San Francisco from a brunch in Petaluma, California, I found this torn and crumpled note at the top of a garbage can at a Shell gas station. In the note, two gentlemen discuss the design options for a "Fuck The World" tattoo.
The note uses heavy text message slang, so I've taken the liberty to translate some of the words and add appropriate punctuation:
Person 1: Because F.T.W. -- FUCK THE WORLD. It's a fucked up world. People are cold-blooded, dude, which makes the world fucked up.
Person 2: Dude, you know what? Get it in cursive like the Faith tattoo. Get it in black and red, or get it in all black, but get it in cursive. That would look bad-ass.
Person 1: Lots of laughs, dude! You already know me because that's how I want to get it!
I also wanted to see what this tattoo would look like using their design specifications, so I created a mock-up using cursive and all black. Here is the tattoo in the popular Zapfino font:
I also searched for real-life examples of this tattoo and was surprised to learn that it isn't uncommon. Did you know that Tupac Shakur had a "Fuck the World" across his back? So do these two guys:
And taken to an insanely literal extreme, here is a tattoo that you shouldn't look at while at work. [Warning: Lewd]
Per my understanding, LOL can also mean "laughing out loud."
Great work nevertheless.
Posted by: Carl W | April 21, 2009 at 08:45 AM
I looked at it at work. Now I am uncomfortable.
Posted by: Anna | April 21, 2009 at 09:34 AM
Great point, Carl. I guess I picked the more obscure translation of LOL, because it seemed a better fit with the give and take of their conversation.
Posted by: John U | April 21, 2009 at 10:11 AM
I would agree with the thesis statement: It's a fucked up world. People are cold-blooded, dude, which makes the world fucked up.
Posted by: kevin r | April 21, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Oh man, I just realized that putting this note on the internet without consent is a cold-blooded thing to do. I proved their point. Argh!
Posted by: John U | April 21, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Pretty good article, but this website is spreading lies. Your mock-up of the Fuck The World tattoo is NOT using the Zapfino typeface as stated. It's clearly the Rosewood font. I am an expert and I know Rosewood when I see it.
Posted by: Eric U | May 04, 2009 at 02:38 PM