Free Thinking

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Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

The ideas shaping our lives today - with artists and thinkers in debates and interviews.

The ideas shaping our lives today - with leading artists and thinkers in extended interview and debate.

Free Thinking: Tattoos

Tattoos

BBC Radio 4 - Free Thinking, Tattoos

Shahidha Bari traces the move from markings on convicts and aristos to today's body art.

The current popularity for decorating the body with ink isn't anything new. Shahidha Bari discovers that tattoos have been ubiquitous in all societies for over 7,000 years.

The Forty Thieves gang, Buffalo Bill, designs chosen by sailors, convicts, lovers: Shahidha Bari looks at the history of tattoos with Matt Lodder, Zoe Alker and Tanya Buxton from the opening of the first commercial parlour in London’s West End in 1889 to the most popular images now and their use to enhance wellbeing. 

Zoe Alker has studied over 75,000 tattoos seen on convicts between 1790-1925. She teaches in the criminology department at the University of Liverpool.

Matt Lodder is a Senior Lecturer in Art History and Theory, and Director of American Studies at the University of Essex.  His research primarily concerns the application of art-historical methods to history of Western tattooing from the 17th century to the present day.

Tanya Buxton is a tattoo artist based in Cheltenham, specialising in medical tattoos.

Producer: Torquil MacLeod

We've a whole collection of programmes exploring The Way We Live Now gathered together on the Free Thinking programme website. They include a discussion about Perfecting the Body, Mental Health, Gloves and Hitchhiking  https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p072637b

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

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