This week we will discuss the artistic, social and political effects of graffiti in Hip-hop on American popular culture.
Informed by our explorations of documentary film, academic writing and artist testimonies concerning graffiti in Hip-hop,
how do you define the terms Graffiti and Public Space?
In what ways do graffiti artists make claims to public space? It is important to acknowledge the positive aesthetic dimensions of graffiti as an art form
as well as the association of graffiti with certain destructive behavior such as vandalism of property.
If we think about the ways that Hip-hop's aesthetic is indebted to practices of improvisation (sampling,freestyling, breaking, etc.)
how then do these terms allow us to think about the historic and social function graffiti serves?
As you think about graffiti and its relationship to public spaces (buildings, subway cars, mailboxes, etc.),
how does graffiti speak to power and privilege?
In the music genre known as hip hop, graffiti is an essential element. Graffiti has always been controversial. As described in lecture, graffiti speaks to power and privilege because graffiti artists make social statements in public spaces, and these social statements are speaking towards the belief that there is a lack of space and access to opportunity in locations such as New York specifically. The only ways these individuals can truly express themselves and their feelings are by making art out of their music, style and graffiti. In the article, “Words and Images: A Roundtable on Hip-Hop Design,” Brent Rollins describes graffiti as advertising for yourself. Rollins compares graffiti and art by saying, “I mean art is more so like, ‘I gotta comment about something or express something about some situation.’ Graffiti seemed to be, ‘I’m gonna talk all about myself, I’m gonna publicize myself’”. Craig Castleman’s article, “Politics of Graffiti”, gives a timeline of the history of graffiti. In this timeline he describes how "In 1973, police arrested 1,563 youths for defacing subways and other public places with graffiti” Graffiti on subways is also described in the documentary “Wild Style”. The film describes graffiti use as a way to mark one’s territory, as a political expression and as an opportunity for a young artist to achieve infamy based on their artistic skills and creativity. The main character uses graffiti to express himself visually to praise the ways that hip-hop artists can also express themselves through MCing, DJing, and breaking.
ReplyDeleteThe art of graffiti has been around for centuries, beginning with Greek and Egyptian wall markings. Graffiti began in hip- hop in the 80’s as a response to the urban changes in New York (Persley). Graffiti markings began to appear on numerous public spaces throughout the city as a way for artists to make social statements. In the ways of Taki 183, “Taki was an unemployed seventeen year old with nothing better to do than pass the summer days spraying his name wherever he happened to be” (Castleman 14). Taki 183 was one of the first graffiti artists to be discovered and his fame began with him simply tagging the places he went in the city. His tag name became his identity and he influenced many other taggers like himself, it was his way of establishing his “writing.” Graffiti is defined as a way for an artist to uncover their self, mark their territory, critique the social, cultural or political injustice or even to advertise their graffiti crew (Persley). Graffiti is all about the artist getting out there and showing off their skills, “Graffiti seemed to be, ‘I’m gonna talk about myself. I’m gonna publicize myself’” (Rollins 118). Yet, the artists were using public and private spaces to do this and this was bound to strike controversy. This issue was described as, “the ‘Lindsay theory’ that graffiti writing ‘is related to mental health problems.’ He described the writers as ‘insecure cowards’ seeking recognition” (Castlman 15). Graffiti has always been associated with crime and the artists were known as thugs and lower classed individuals and apparently mentally ill cowards from the urban communities in the cities. This is where graffiti and hip- hop culture intersect. Graffiti artists, rappers, and DJ’s all use their specific art form to express the conditions in which they live and exactly what is happening at that time; to reveal their political and social critiques as well. Graffiti followed hip- hop as it transcended its boundaries into the mainstream eye of society. As in the documentary Wildstyle, graffiti artists use their art to honor hip- hop and this film and much of the other readings and films discussed in this class all demonstrates how not only graffiti but all the elements of hip- hop work together to produce this culture.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti has been around for centuries as artists around the world have used their autograph, pictures, and images to tell stories about their community (2/20). Graffiti is said to be Hip-Hops written language. It has transcended boundaries all over the world. Graffiti art can be found all over the world in all different types of areas. In the reading Words and Images: A roundtable on Hip-Hop Design, Sacha Jenkins says, “With my eye, I can still see the connection between what people were painting on the subway trains here in 1972 graphically to what people are painting here in Sydney. So to me, the language is global now.” Graffiti is a way for young people to express and most importantly, publicize themselves. Sacha Jenkins states in the book, “this is art created by young people, specifically for young people, they didn’t really care about everyone else.” Graffiti artists claim public space by advertising themselves and marketing their art and creativity for the entire public to see. Even though graffiti is an art form, it is illegal. Graffiti can ruin the professionalism and the prestige of an area or an entire city. Graffiti and the designs that come out of it influence Hip-Hop in everyway. The same people that are painting public space design the album cover for the newest mixtape or CD. Graf artists also designed the cool logo for the Chappelle show. Lastly, graffiti is the voice and language for the invisible. Underprivileged youth express their frustrations and concerns by art. It is much more of an art form than it is a crime because graffiti art is contemporary and unique.
ReplyDeleteHip-hop was created as a way for people to express their feelings about their current situation. Hip-hop isn’t just one thing there are many aspects to it, and one of those aspects is Graffiti. Graffiti is very controversial because, historically, graffiti is painted on a public space without permission by the property owner (Lecture 2/20). Graffiti is used to critique social, cultural and/or political injustice (Lecture 2/20). Because of this many graffiti artists choose locations that the public can easily see, for example some artists will choose spots that the local bus system drives by or on bridges. Although these tags or murals that are created take artistic skills to create, there are a lot of people that do not consider graffiti as art. Since where the majority of the graffiti is placed is illegal, the thrill that is gained from the act of “tagging” is not getting caught by the authorities. In “The Politics of Graffiti” by Craig Castleman it addressed the graffiti problems in the city of New York, and how the mayor tried to solve the problem by creating a specific task force just to eliminate graffiti. No matter how hard the mayor tried there was still graffiti that kept showing up. That is because if you force the artists to not tag in a popular place like a train yard they are going to find somewhere else that will get them just as much fame as those trains.
ReplyDeleteThe differences between murals and graffiti is one is legal and the other is illegal or one is art and the other is trash. There really is no proper reason why graffiti is not considered art; without graffiti 3-D lettering (Throw –ups), fading and color blending would not be appreciated. Just like art graffiti tells a story that represents political, social economic and creative power. This form of art has not only wasted thousands of tax dollars to remove off of side of building but has caused a stir of controversy for expressing property distributions or any other issues regarding that area. Craig Castleman‘s article “The Politics of Graffiti” provides a good perceptive of how graffiti is viewed today. Graffiti is now used on more than just sides of building but now you can find graffiti on album covers, shoes and even the most indescribable areas. The video shown in lecture was incredible. The artist had tagged tops of building he had even expressed his sign “Cope” on sides of trucks. The video got me to realize the risk and the talent behind tagging. The message of a tag is not only used to set apart one artist from another but also to me it shows the dedication an artist must have. In the film “Wild Style” artist Zorro expressed his dedication and talents on sides of cars as other artists do tops of buildings as well as moving subways. Graffiti is not vandalism it is a form of art.
ReplyDeleteBefore the class I took on Monday, Graffiti in my mind is drawings on the wall, in the subway station and many other public places as you can imagine. But you will never see the people who paint this. So the people or artists who’s painting the pictures filled me with curiosity. After the class, I get to know that Graffiti has been around for centuries as artists around the world have used their autograph, pictures, and images to tell stories about their community (2/20). A famous graffiti artist called Kaws is one of my favorite graffiti artists. He is a guy from New Jersey and majored in illustration arts. During his life in New York City, Kaws likes to take the posters in the street or on the telephone booth back to home and paint his own logos like skull or two crosses on the posters. Then stick the posters back to the same place in another day. Little by little, Kaws became famous and many famous brands want him to graffiti for them. Kaws is only one successful example of American graffiti artists. Graffiti in Hip-Hop began in the 1980s as an urban transformation in New York (Persley). I think graffiti is the mouth of the graffiti artists. The graffiti artists are telling people in the city their words, ideas and their life through their graffiti.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti is usually depicted as trash or vandalism. It is created by artists who want to make a statement, whether it is political or social. On the other hand, when graffiti is permitted and the artist is paid, their work is seen as a mural. This shows how the public is quick to judge things that go against the norm instead of observing them and learning from them. In 1972 the Mayor of New York said, “the ugliness of graffiti and the ugly message – often obscene or racist – has generated widespread support for the City’s campaign to end this epidemic of thoughtless behavior. Even those who once possessed mild amusement about graffiti are becoming increasingly indignant at the damage being done…I know the problem is complex, nutwe have to roll up our sleeves and solve it. The assault on our sense and on our pocketbook as we pay the clean-up costs must be stopped” (Castleman 16). In lecture we talked about the fact that if the government wanted to clean up graffiti then they should pay more attention to the people that are creating it. They wouldn’t have to spend as much on clean-up if they would pay for more programs for inner city children and impoverished youth. People are so quick to label graffiti artists as deviants when typically artists are trying to gain public attention and make a statement. Graffiti has a history and is a lot more layered than the public make it out to be.
ReplyDeleteI never realized how negative the feelings towards graffiti used to be. New York City’s city council president is quoted as saying in 1972, “graffiti pollutes the eye and mind and may be one of the worst forms of pollution we have come to combat.” New York City spent $10 million that same year in anti-graffiti efforts (Castleman 17.) One of the major reasons city officials have such a big problem with graffiti is because it appears in public spaces. Using public spaces as their canvas is completely intentional. As presented in lecture, many graffiti artists claim public spaces as a social commentary and critique about their lack of access and opportunity. If one takes into account where government places major interstates and traffic ways and where a good portion of graffiti is found, it’s easy to see how these specific public spaces serve as the perfect canvas to express inequalities. That was a thought provoking idea presented in lecture. Graffiti is best known for appearing on actual public buildings and objects; however, I believe that idea of “public space” can be applied in a more abstract way too. The Chang article illustrates how elements of graffiti are essential components of Hip-hop design. Brent Rollins states in the interview, “So if you look at design as like a vehicle using art for some particular purpose, then I would say that graffiti is probably the first hip-hop design.” Hip-hop design has become an integral part of many album covers, magazine layouts, clothing designs, and brand logos. Graffiti which was once seen as “one of the worst forms of pollution” has become the foundation of “standardized” Hip-hop design and is packaged and sold in mass quantities.
ReplyDeleteAnother important element of Hip-hop is the element of graffiti. Graffiti is a form of art that uses pictures, symbols, autographs to tell the story of a community, which began as a response in the 1980s as a response to the urban transformation in New York. (Lecture 2/20). What makes graffiti a special type of art is that it is more known for using bubble letters, 3D lettering, and wildstyle to put on display in public spaces for all to appreciate. However, graffiti is generally illegal, without permission, and considered to be a crime. (Lecture 2/20). The mayor of New York at the beginning of the graffiti period was outraged at the amount of “ugliness” that was throughout his city. (Castleman 16). This led to massive amounts of the public’s money being used to clean the wall or train art because as he said, “The public hates graffiti”. (Castleman 21). Graffiti was a way for artists to express social commentary and critique. (Lecture 2/20). Not unlike other aspects of Hip-hop there are unwritten rules. For example, in DJing, one of the rules was no biting. It is no different in Graffiti, which means copying someone else’s style. (Lecture 2/20). However, it almost seems like a more forgiving community than in the DJ world in a sense when Brent Rollins came out and said, “I think you have to know that your shit’s gonna get bitten by people and it’s also gonna get exploited by people.” (Chang 131). These rules were also on display in the documentary Wild Style. This documentary was good at incorporating all aspects of Hip-hop and the life of a famous graffiti artist whether that meant being on the run, planning his art, and actually performing on walls and trains.
ReplyDeleteAs an art form, graffiti has only fairly recently been given notable recognition; however, the notion of graffiti has dated as far back as Egyptian and cave-dwelling cultures (Lecture 2/20). From ancient hieroglyphics to elaborate and colorful contemporary styles, graffiti has been a measure of expression, social critique, and identity. We can view graffiti as an urban rooted art form stemming from unsanctioned tagging, throw-ups, or burners (2/20). The marking of unsanctioned public and private property, paired with gang affiliated “tagging” also created a negative taboo when paired with other forms of artistic expression. Murals are viewed as the more accepted form of urban art being sanctioned and typically less political. However, much of graffiti today is viewed in mainstream media and prized art galleries, and because of its urban and hip-hop heritage, graffiti samples from many different art forms (calligraphy, design, and penmanship). Sacha Jenkins hip-hop journalist and graffiti writer states, “The language is here. The culture is here. It's not going anywhere. I just think it's a part of the American conversation”(Chang 131). This statement solidifies that graffiti isn't just a form of art, but more of a voice, its innervation into society displays its power, while its history and progression showcase its relevance.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti is a way for people to express themselves, often against oppression. Graffiti is a visual form, in which comes in various mediums and diversity. (2/20 Lecture) Although many artists make outlines of their schemes at first, when graffiti is done on a wall, much improvisation is used. This may be because of a time limit or because of the spot in which they chose to put the scheme; for example, on the side of a bridge. Nonetheless, graffiti requires a massive set of design skills. Many point to graffiti as hip-hop’s indigenous visual art. (Chang, 117) This is supported by the claim made by Cey Adams that graffiti uses words and images to work together in order to communicate an idea. (Chang, 119) The exciting thing about graffiti is that it was started in the urban areas of NY where Hip-hop originated from. Graffiti gave the youth there an outlet to converse issues, just like hip-hop did. “This is art created by young people, specifically for young people…” (Sacha, Chang 122) Furthermore, Richard Goldstein declared graffiti to be “the first genuine teenage street culture since the fifties.” (Forman & Neal, 18) So in many ways, Hip-hop and graffiti aren’t that much different. The difficulty with graffiti is that many see it as destruction. Often referred to as “street art”, graffiti is seen as illegitimatized. (2/20 Lecture) This creates an issue between graffiti and public space. Graffiti is usually done on public space without permission by owners of the property. In result, money is spent to clean it, and many are arrested and sentenced prison sentences. However, when artists are given permission, the “graffiti” is then seen as a “mural”. Many artists challenge the public space issue with the claim that public means “for the people” and that it is a social commentary and critique. (2/20 Lecture) What’s the difference from putting up bummer stickers, election ads, etc. everywhere? (Wild Style) So in a sense, it is their privilege to do these art schemes and it gives them power because it allows them to speak out against any social, political, cultural injustice.
ReplyDeleteAnother important element of hip-hop is the art of graffiti. Graffiti has been around for centuries, dating back to the historical wall markings from the Greek to the Egyptians. But it came into the hip-hop world in the 1980’s as a response to the urban transformation in New York. Graffiti is considered to be different styles of art formed on all kinds of public or private spaces, without the permission of the owner. These spaces are “unsolicited” and used to show how artists can create diverse work in various mediums and styles. There is a strong relationship between graffiti and public space in the way that graffiti can be used as a release of tension and frustration by making public statements about what’s happening and also social statements about the lack of access and opportunity (2/20 Lecture). This type of frustration release can be seen in the film Wild Style, from the main character. Many artists also claim public space as social commentary and critique, sometimes throwing their “tag” up or using words and images to communicate an idea (Adams 119). Artists use the element of graffiti to also create an identity for themselves. It is a way to express individuality while being supported by a group of people and creating a “tag” becomes a way for artists to create identity by designing on images (2/20 Lecture). One of the first graffiti artists, Taki 183, says, “I just did it everywhere I went. I still do, though not as much. You don’t do it for the girls. You do it for yourself” (Castleman 14).
ReplyDeleteThe art form of graffiti has become almost synonymous with the world of hip-hop since graffiti’s introduction to urban society during the 1980’s. Like hip-hop, urban graffiti started in New York City. In the beginning, graffiti artists began to write in public places in order to make statements about current social, economic, or political situations (Hodges Persley). The majority of the city’s population that was not a part of the underground urban movement considered graffiti as defamation of public property and a visual nuisance. In New York City, articles were written in 1972 about graffiti in the city and sparked a war against graffiti artists throughout the city. The mayor of New York City, John Lindsay, then announced his own “anti-graffiti” campaign which proposed the fining and jailing of anyone who was caught with an open can of spray paint in any municipal building or facility (Castleman 15). Graffiti artists chose these easily viewable public areas in order to tell a story to the community, especially those with a focus in the hip-hop movement. Although there were many people who saw graffiti as detrimental to society, some people considered it an intriguing art form. Some owners of businesses or buildings would hire graffiti crews to paint murals on their walls. These crews are made up of individuals with a diverse set of skills, rather than focusing on getting a diverse set of racial backgrounds (Hodges Persley). Not all graffiti artists like the idea of crews, as they would rather work individually to preserve their uniqueness in their work (Wild Style). Today, many of the original pioneers of graffiti, including Fab 5 Freddy, have had their artwork sell for thousands of dollars to collectors and those who appreciate graffiti.
ReplyDeleteThe definition or idea of graffiti is a topic that is often disputed by people because of its significant presence in public spaces throughout the world. In Craig Castleman’s article “The Politics of Graffiti,” the struggles and disputes over graffiti are described with great detail and provide meaningful insight into the up-hill battle the art of graffiti has dealt with for decades. Although I knew that graffiti had been along for a long time, I was unaware of the subway graffiti problems in New York City during the 1970s. The reading was informative because not only did it teach me more about the history of graffiti, but it provided an interesting backdrop that showed how politics and graffiti became a part of people’s consciousness during this time period. I also liked hearing about both sides concerning the argument about whether graffiti is art or pollution. The Castleman article provide testimony and evidence that graffiti can be seen as pollution, while “A Roundtable on Hip-Hop Design” by Cey Adams, Brent Rollins and Sacha Jenkins provided information about the positive impact graffiti has had on peoples’ lives. Although I’m not the biggest fan of graffiti and what can stand for, reading about these people talk about how important it was to them is fascinating and brought a different perspective into my thoughts on this art form. The fact that no one I knew did graffiti affected my opinion significantly and made it easier for me to criticize it. That being said, it’s hard to deny the impact graffiti has had on public space and the people who are involved with it.
ReplyDeleteI think the two readings for this week were wonderful portrayals of graffiti because they show two different sides of the graffiti world. The Politics of Graffiti, goes into detail about the illegality of graffiti, and some of the consequences. I had never put much thought to graffiti being illegal until reading about the banning of spray paint to minors and “fining and jailing…anyone caught with an open spray can in any municipal building or facility” (Castleman, p15). Discussion of “massive police assaults” against offenders in Central Parks also was mentioned, and I definitely do not think this punishment fits the crime. This ties directly into the topic of public space, and how graffiti is known for being done on public property, such as subways, with out permission, and as discussed in class on 2/20, this makes it fall under crime, trash and even defamation. City officials had to spend millions of dollars in efforts to “erase” graffiti, which is also something I never thought about.
ReplyDeleteThe other reading for this week, Words and Images, shows the opposite side of the graffiti spectrum. It praises the graffiti artists, which is the acceptable term to use because they were paid and had permission, for their crafty ideas. The artists themselves are discussing their own work, and others work, as expressed on album covers. I really enjoyed looking at the photos of graffiti created by the artists; especially Cey Adams, because I recognized some of his work, such as the Chappelle’s Show graffiti logo. I really enjoyed this week’s topic and readings.
Graffiti and Public Space go hand in hand with each other. Graffiti has been around for centuries in countries like Greece and Egypt where you can see pictures and symbols over the walls in their respective cities (Lecture). What makes graffiti a unique art form is that it’s illegal, you don’t get paid, and it can be viewed be people as trash (Lecture). Artists claim public space by tagging a logo or name to a public space like a subway or side of a building. Graffiti in hip hop began in the 80’s as a response to urban transformation in New York City (Lecture). Artists wrote in public spaces like subways and sides of buildings to express their feelings about social, economical, and political issues. According to the article by Craig Castleman, he says that starting in 1972 the New York City Mayor John Lindsay announced his own antigraffiti program. He proposed the fining and jailing of anyone caught with an open spray can in any municipal building or facility. Although some see graffiti as defamation, there are some who do see graffiti as a respectable form of art that takes much talent. A lot of times to avoid this conflict with the graffiti artists, companies will legally allow the artists to paint outside of their buildings, creating large murals. In the same way MCs, DJs, and BBoys improvise their craft through rhyme, sampling, and dance, graffiti artists improvise by showing their feelings through a can of paint.
ReplyDelete“The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power,” this is the definition of art according to Oxford dictionary. I feel no other art form embodies this definition more than graffiti. Unlike other art forms graffiti is more about “I’m gonna talk about myself….” (Chang 118). Also unlike other art forms graffiti is far more controversial; the reason being, graffiti artist use public space as their canvas. By public space I mean subways, signs, buildings, mailboxes, etc. (Lecture 2/20). This is where graffiti get interesting, some people believe that because it is on public spaces graffiti is an act of vandalism, because there is no permission to paint the space. However, when a graffiti artist is given permission to paint on the space is the same art becomes a “mural” (Lecture 2/20). Back in the early 70’s NYC’s mayor got in to this graffiti war by calling graffiti ugly and saying it relayed an ugly message (Castleman 16). The funny thing about this is that Mayor Lindsay spent millions to stop graffiti artist but never thought about using the money to help kids in the inner city with art programs or after school programs. (Lecture 2/20). Now to how graffiti ties in with hip-hip, just how MCs used rap in the earlier days to talk about social condition, graffiti artist used aerosol paint to do social commentary and critiquing (Lecture 2/20). Graffiti has a lot of hip-hop elements tied to it. For an example, just how DJs sample others’ beats, Graffiti artist sample others style in their paintings. Another example, when b-boys have “dance battles” to show one another up, graffiti artist try and do the same through their art work. Lastly graffiti is also intertwined with Polycuturalism, from different races to different skill sets. In Wild Style, they say that Latinos played a major role in graffiti and early hip-hop. This only validates the point of Polycuturalism. For me graffiti is no different than rapping, break dancing, or djing, it’s another way to get your voice out there, have an opportunity to express yourself and how you feel about things going on around you. To be able to live by hip-hops core value, being “YOU.”
ReplyDeleteGraffiti has been around ever since hieroglyphics have been around. The earth is a canvas to many artists, and they will compose their artwork wherever it can be seen (Lecture). Graffiti and hip-hop made their connection in the 80's and was lead by artists such as Keith Haring, Taki 183 and Jean Michel Basquiat. These artists were not directly related to hip-hop but gave great influence to the culture. In 1972 the mayor of New York City, Jon V. Lindsey, asked for tighter legislation against graffiti vandalism, and expected the police to step their enforcement up (Castelman 15). This poses the question, what is the difference between an artist and a person who creates graffiti? There is nothing, other than the fact that an artist, or a person who paints a mural, has permission or legal rights to "deface" private or public property. There are still "gang bangers" who will tag buildings to mark their territory. This may not be art that is appealing to most, but it is significant in the world of hip-hop. Artists have tags that are recognizable and this has a great influence in hip-hop. Producers and DJs will tag their beats or songs. In a DJ Khaled song you will hear "DJ Khaled yelled in the background at the beginning of the song, so you know it is his mixtape. You can tell some producer's beats by their name at the beginning of the song. Today, there are producers such as Maestro whose name you will hear at the beginning of a production signifying that they made the beat. A new producer, Lex Luger, has a signature buildup sample that he uses in all of his beats.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that before our class, graffiti didn’t really mean much to me. In fact, it was pretty much just vandalism on our public property. However, I now know it’s much more than that. Artists use graffiti, as they put images and autograph pictures to tell their stories. Graffiti has also been around for centuries. Graffiti is basically an expression of emotion and feeling through art. Graffiti clearly has a relation to public space, as it is done in the public. People don’t graffiti the inner walls of their homes or their cars. Rather, they graffiti public buildings, forms of public transportation, and other mediums that people will see. This is because the artists want social commentary and critique. They are trying to get themselves and their graffiti seen by the general public. Like we learned in class, a lot of artists want to make a social statement in their art. Also, they establish their identity by using “tags” which are basically signatures for their piece of work. This is a way they claim their territory. One of the first and most famous graffiti artists, “Taki 183”, claimed the city of New York. He set the standard for other graffiti artists like him.
ReplyDeleteThere are usually several debates about whether graffiti is just art or vandalism, and frankly, I think that it is both. Of course graffiti is a form of art, as these artists use amazing graphics and lettering to make their art. There are various forms of graffiti too, like hip-hop and gang. The gang graffiti is usually used to claim territory (crips and bloods). However, if you want to look at it negatively, then graffiti is vandalism. It is an illegal act and it costs our government tons of money to erase the graffiti. I happen to think graffiti is okay, as it is an expression of art that isn’t really hurting anyone. In my own apartment complex there is graffiti and I think it is simply wonderful.
Just like rapping, sampling and breaking, graffiti gives these people a way and use to express themselves. Graffiti has been around since the Greeks used it a long time ago. Now, it is still a valid form of expression for artists. I also think that graffiti allows people to have power and privilege. These people usually don’t have much, but the graffiti gives them the privilege and power to express themselves. Even more powerful is the fact that everyone HAS to see these works of graffiti. Graffiti has been a part of hip-hop for a long time and it will continue to serve as an important factor in this hip-hop movement.
I’m coming to find that there is a reoccurring obstacle in many of the abstract outlets of hip-hop. The theme is that unless corporate, it isn’t acceptable. When we were discussing turntablism, it was apparent that it is hard for those outside of the hip-hop culture to accept DJ culture because they don’t see scratchin’ as an art form. Graffiti has a similar struggle.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti is seen as everything, but art. In Castleman’s The Politics of Graffiti, this hip-hop expressive is labeled “pollution, filth, and caused by mental problems of the youth” (15). When outsiders see graffiti it is destruction and defamation of public property, but what they fail to understand is the “visual language getting created out of graffiti”, as Chang puts it (120). Graffiti is a communicative tool. As we defined a tag in lecture, it is a way an artist can create an identity outside of what the community puts on you”. It is a way, just like lyrical hip-hop, to talk to the surrounding world and socially critique the environment.
There has been a transition in Graffiti, where “claiming public space” is acceptable. However, as with mainstream Rap, there is a multicultural aspect to its acceptance. Graffiti is probably the most polycultural aspect of hip-hop culture. It grew out of hieroglyphs and many Latinos, Asians, and whites have been some the most influential artists like Taki 183. Graffiti is where we blur the idea of blackness in hip-hop and make it more of a socioeconomic collaboration. Even though Graffiti is polycultural it’s transition into the legal world is multicultural. This means commissioned artist such as Keith Harring and Fab 5 Freddy that create murals on private property have infiltrated the graffiti opposing world. Sacha, in Chang’s piece, talks to this change in view on the art form, “…the corps will hire someone who’s been doing this for twenty years, because they understand there’s a history, and they understand there’s an aesthetic quality to it and that there’s a language, It’s an energy that corporations want to tap into” (122).
The acceptance of graffiti in murals makes me wonder is this like selling out? KRS-One’s Out for Fame talks to this idea, “Graffiti isn't corporate so it gets no respect hasn't made a billion dollars for some corporation yet”. What I have come to understand is graffiti is “something conceptualized” (Chang 123). It is more than bubble letters and vibrant colors on public space. It is a way to bring the inside out. An expressive existence that lets others see the struggle and critique of the “invisibles”. It is taking hip-hop out of the “grape juice” realm and making us see its visual representation. As Pack FM puts it, graffiti is about making “my name famous (and), my face unkown”(Click Clack Spray).
Graffiti and hip hop go together hand in hand. They are both ways to express ones feelings and get people thinking about what is going on around them. But there are many different types of graffiti in my eyes. Graffiti can be an awesome piece of art on a wall that the artist got permission from the owner to do. There are also a lot of gang “tags” just thrown up on random walls, cars, even trash cans sitting by the street. When someone crosses the line and puts tags all over some ones property to show whose block it is, just isn’t right. This can also cause problems between rival gangs around the area. Many artists want their work to make social statements so that people can relate to that (lecture 2/20). There is a huge difference between graffiti and a mural. A mural is when the artist got permission to throw up the art and graffiti is when the artist puts up unsolicited work on private or public property (lecture 2/20). Historically, graffiti was usually formed on public space without permission (lecture 2/20). There is a very fine line when it comes to graffiti and many people get very harsh punishments just for throwing up something that they wanted people to actually like. Personally I don’t think people should try and ruin someone’s property but when I pass a good piece of artwork whether it be unsolicited or with permission, I still stop and check it out and can appreciate it because in my eyes, it is art.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti is an art in which writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place. Graffiti ranges from simple written words to elaborate wall paintings and has existed since ancient times. Today paint, particularly spray paint, and marker pens have become the most commonly used graffiti materials. Most graffiti is done without the property owner's consent and is considered to be vandalism. Recently property owners started hiring graffiti artists to decorate their builds. An example of this is of the Facebook headquarters, were Mark Zuckerberg hired a graffiti artist inside of the build. Graffiti may also express underlying social and political messages and a whole genre of artistic expression is based upon spray paint graffiti styles.
ReplyDeleteBefore taking this class I did not know how much of a role graffiti played in hip-hop. Graffiti in other words is street are just like people classify hip-hop as street music. Graffiti has a very unique and interesting background. Graffiti has been around for centuries and the main reason why it was started was because the artists wanted to tell there own stories. Stories either about problems going on in the world or going on in there own communities. “Many intersect both political and gang graffiti. The most global of all graffiti form using the most advanced letter, art schemes, etc. of all graffiti forms.” (lecture 2/20)Most graffiti artist has there own tag. A tag is a way for a graffiti artist to mark his territory so everybody knows that was his art. There were many famous early taggers in graffiti art. “Many early taggers are: Fab 5 freddy, Lady Pink, Keith Haring, Jean Micheal Basquiat.” (lecture 2/20) Graffiti art is usually constructed in a public setting. For example back in my hometown in Colorado I would drive under bridges. Parks, and building and see graffiti art. Graffiti also has some negative aspects to it. For example sometimes graffiti is used to promote gang life. “often marks public and private space to mark and claim territory and to address internal conflicts between gangs.” (lecture 2/20) After learning about graffiti I feel I have a much bigger grasp on what the true hip-hop culture is really like.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti and Hip-hop go together like butter goes to bread. As we learned a few weeks ago, MC’s lyrics are politically driven to talk about hardships in their neighborhood. The same goes for graffiti. Graffiti is visual and more permanent side of hip-hop. This is also highlighted in the constant struggle with law enforcement and the continuous regulations to stop graffiti because “whites don’t like it” (Castleman 16). These regulations include restrictions on buying spray paint, and intense sentences for those caught in the act (Castleman). But the graffiti artists done care about breaking they law. They are still going to tag even though it “won’t get girls. (They) do it for themselves (Castleman 14).
ReplyDeleteGraffiti is also a way to get your name out there. “Graffiti is design in that it’s advertising. Graffiti seems to be ‘I’m gonna talk about myself. I’m gonna publicize myself’ (Words and Images). Taki 183 said “You do it for yourself.” (Castleman 14)
Dylan Woodard
ReplyDeleteIn hip-hop, graffiti is one of the four key elements to understanding the art of hip hop. Graffiti has been around for centuries. Before the use of letters, symbols were used to write on walls. Graffiti has always been controversial due to it being illegal. The first artist to gain national recognition for his graffiti was Taki 183 who lived in New York. Taki would tag places around the city to mark that he has been at those places throughout the city. Even though it is illegal, it has allowed many people to express themselves through the art. From political to gang related to even just entertainment, people use graffiti for diverse reasons. Similar to the other elements, Djing and MCing, graffiti broke boundaries that progressively became more of a mainstream art. In the film Wild Style, it really pulled all aspects of hip hop into one. It showed the life of a graffiti artist and how creative they were. Even though it is illegal, graffiti should be embraced and artists should be allowed space to do art just like one would do with traditional painting.
Graffiti is definitely one of the cornerstones of hip-hop culture, but it is something that has been around long before the birth of the hip-hop lifestyle. As we discussed in Monday’s lecture, graffiti has been around for centuries as artists around the world have used their autograph, pictures and images to tell stories about their communities. Graffiti has transformed tremendously throughout the years and hip-hop is a huge part of this. This is an element that many people often find very difficult to define; largely because the consensus is usually split between people who view it as an art form and people who view it as an act of tasteless vandalism. A lot of people view it is vandalism because it is created on a public space without permission to do so. This results in a lot time, effort and money that is spent to try to remove it. The other side of the spectrum views graffiti as a positive thing because it is a way for street artists and people within the community to release tension and frustrations about struggles in their lives. This action of making a statement is similar to the MC’ing aspect of hip-hop that focuses on the lack of access and opportunity. Although some graffiti does have negative connotations (gang symbols, territorial control), a significant portion of it is truly a form of art that requires incredible talent. Because it is illegal to perform on public space, a lot of these artists remain anonymous. A perfect example of this would be the street artist Banksy, whose work is admired by many but no one knows his true identity.
ReplyDeleteMuch like the other elements of Hip-hop, graffiti has and continues to be an act of controversial art. It pushes the lines and often crosses them, when artists chose public property as their canvas. Though to many it is, and is justifiably considered an act of vandalism, when looking at graffiti through Hip-hop terms it is merely another form of artistic expression; a way to leave one’s mark on his/her territory both figuratively and literally. Of course, the overlying issue with graffiti has been and continues to be its relation to violence, vandalism and gang affiliations. Yet, this is not separate from the way Hip-hop music itself has been viewed since its creation. As our culture and society has evolved and gradually become more accepting of Hip-hop culture, we are seeing a greater effort to provide sanctioned spaces for graffiti artists to express themselves and we are even seeing some of the great works in museums and art displays. In a way, this both adds and retracts from the power and privilege of graffiti art because it was something that was originally used by inner city kids/gangs to express themselves and/or mark the range of their gang. Now, as graffiti becomes more accepted, it does not necessarily have to be a demonstration of power or as a way of acting out against the la, but as a way for young and prospecting artists to get their names out there in the only way they know how, using their city as a canvas.
ReplyDeleteI was in Kansas City this weekend and decided to go downtown to look around for some graffiti. It didn't take long to find some. I came across this one mural, and it was especially powerful. I'm sure everyone who has been to downtown KC knows the one I'm talking about. As soon as you get off of I-35 north on to Broadway, it's right there in front of you at the stoplight, right by the Denny's and convention center. I parked at Denny's and walked over to the wall. Once I got up close, I noticed an older African American gentleman laying in the grass in front of it fast asleep. He had a blanket, a pillow and a few belongings, so I assumed he was homeless. As I got closer, I noticed the look on his face: a look of peace and happiness. It was as though the art behind him was helping him through his life. It was just incredible.
ReplyDeleteAfter this experience, I finally understood what graffiti and art mean to hip-hop. It's such an important part, that people risk their lives creating it and let their lives depend on it when times get hard. It's almost a calming device for people. They put so much time and effort and thought into these murals, that it really is a way for them to express themselves. I finally understand why graffiti is one of the key elements to hip-hop. It's exactly like making music, but you have to let the person viewing it form their own opinion, rather than being told what the artist means through lyrics and spoken words. Before this weekend, I never fully understood why people did graffiti. I thought it was just a way to vandalize something just for fun. But now I understand it's much more than that; it was way to express yourself for others to see. It's absolutely incredible.
As cited in lecture and noted in many of the readings, graffiti is one of the fundamental elements of hip-hop. But why? My knowledge of graffiti was limited to massive street murals created by legitimized artists like Scribe, and the scribblings of horny guys paying tribute to prostitutes in ancient Rome (4 years of Latin class). I think my confusion stemmed from previous ignorance of hip-hop as a movement that arose from a diverse community. The artistic expression of graffiti is similar to, and part of, the artistic expression of hip-hop music. Some graffiti artists write for fun, some to create art, some to entertain others, just as hip-hop’s early MCs, DJs and dancers performed for similarly diverse reasons (Nelson, George “Hip-hop’s Founding Fathers Speak the Truth). In the way that most rappers are not in fact murderers, neither are the graffiti artists merely vandals. Taki183 stated that his tagging never hurt anyone, and that it was just something he liked to do. (Castleman, Craig “The Politics of Graffiti”). Some people do “write” to destroy or lash out. However, as stated in lecture, and in the readings, even “simple” vandalism can serve as a form of social commentary for those denied other avenues of artistic expression through lack of resources. As Raymond, played by Lee George Quinones in “Wild Style” says: “Graffiti is taking risks.” At the very least, it gets people talking, thinking, and hopefully, re-examining their assumptions about what constitutes art, and what constitutes hip-hop.
ReplyDeleteThe art of graffiti dates back to early Egyptian and Greek times. Graffiti is writing, drawings, or “tags” done on public walls or buildings. According to the Persley reading, graffiti in hip hop began in the 80’s as a response to urban changes in New York. Hip hop graffiti intersects both political and gang culture. They use different signs and lettering to make artistic designs or simple tags. Gang graffiti is often used to claim certain territory. Hip hop graffiti is respected as an art form. Some of the early taggers are Fab 5 Freddy, Lady Pink, Les Quinones. These people started off tagging on the street and are now prominent artists. Graffiti should definitely be considered an art form and these artists are the prime examples. Graffiti is a way for people to express themselves and their culture. For example, gangs express their lifestyle and culture through tagging their territories. Even though it is illegal to publicly do graffiti, it is a way of expression for many and it shows people’s individuality and power. Graffiti crews provide a polyculturalism within the hip hop culture. There are diverse members ethnically and culturally. They also differentiate on skill set to set themselves apart from other crews. I find it very interesting and inspirational that some of these early graffitists started off on the street and are now putting their work in museums across the nation.
ReplyDeleteIt was stated in lecture Monday that graffiti is the liminal space between art and destruction, high art and street art. Graffiti becomes yet another aesthetic of hip-hop that is individually defined by the knowledge and insight of each viewer. That viewer either knows and understands the history and culture behind graffiti or renders the work as “trash” before giving it a second glance. Though the definition of quality often falls on the observer, graffiti’s quality is also represented in the intricacy, uniqueness, and messages portrayed in the limited time and space provided.
ReplyDeleteThe history of graffiti, though defined by another name, dates back to the ancient Egyptians, and it maintains the tradition of storytelling, claiming territory, identifying oneself with a certain group, or portraying a specific political or social message (lecture 2/20). As Cey Adams expresses in Chang’s article, graffiti is “words and images work[ing] together to communicate an idea” (“Words and Images” 119). It is more than paint and bubble letters on a wall.
In Wild Style, Zorro states, "Being a graffiti writer is taking the chances and shit, taking the risks.” Without risks, a graffiti artist becomes one amongst the crowd. “So just because it’s hip-hop, it doesn’t have to be ghetto” (Adams 127). Graffiti is an art form that incorporates polyculturalistic virtues. It encompasses no specific group or view on life. The sooner we realize the boundaries of hip-hop and its elements (such as graffiti) cannot be easily defined, the sooner we begin to unpack the content and messages behind the work.
It may not seem like it, but Graffiti embodies the spirit of hip hop. There are many direct correlations between the two. Both are artistic expressions of emotion, with often deeper meanings than meets the eye or ear.
ReplyDeleteIt came to the forefront of the public eye in 1972 in New York, and since then has been a growing force of the some of the key elements of Hip-hop (Politics of Graffiti 13). Graffiti is often considered vandalism and destruction because it is typically in public places and is normally not premised. However, this does not discredit its importance. It has for a long time been looked down upon, much like Hip-hop in its early stages. Also, it samples many other artists, in the exact sense that DJ’s sample musicians. Graffiti is also often used as a public statement about what is happening in the specific regions in which it is done.
Graffiti is an important aspect of Hip-hop. It shares many traits that other important branches do, such as DJ’ing, MC’ing, and dancing. Whether one thinks of the sampling, the dress, the codes, the gestures, or the images, Graffiti is an amazing form of art that isn’t going away anytime soon.
An important element of hip-hop along side DJing, Turntabalism, and MCing, is Graffiti. Even though signs of graffiti is shown earlier in history by the Greeks and Egyptians, it is said to be started in the form of a hip-hop way in the 1980s as a response to urban transformations in New York (Lecture). It was mostly for the urban youth to release tensions as well as make public statements. Even since the beginning people beg the question how you tell graffiti apart from art. It’s considered “graffiti” when it’s an “unsolicited” marking on private or public property. It’s considered art or a “mural” when you are given permission to do it (Lecture). When the mayor of New York announced his “anti-graffiti” campaign, which said that if you were caught with a can of spray paint you could face fines or jailing, the city didn’t even consider the money being spent to clean it all up (Castleman 15). That money could have been going to better things such as an art program for the inner city youth so that they could paint out their frustrations legally instead of having to spray paint it all over the city. When officials started cracking down on it, is kind of when it started to become more popular. People associated graffiti with hip-hop because when they dug deeper into hip-hop they saw that graffiti was a huge part of it. They associated hip-hop with delinquents, urban youth, and “black” as they did with graffiti, because it was a crime. Graffiti has changed peoples views over the years of how they look at art.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti is usually thought of a specific type of writing and art that is usually found in urban settings on public property and has become associated with the hip hop culture. The controversies tied to graffiti have created an interesting conversation dealing with power and social issues. We talked in class about how graf artists claim public space when they write on the subway cars or under bridges or on walls. An interesting fact I found in Castleman’s article was the statement made by Taki 183 when he said, “I work. I pay taxes too. Why do they go after the little guy? Why not the campaign organizations that put stickers all over the subways at election time?” (Castleman 14). This brings up the question of power and ownership of public space. Government officials in New York in the 70s kept telling the public to take their community back. This implies that people outside of the community are taking it away when in reality it was people in the community speaking out against those in power. This is an example of the social construct of what cultures are acceptable in society. In the interview we read in Chang’s book Sacha Jenkins talks about how Cey Adams viewed writing graffiti when she says, “It was something that he did, that was part of his cultural experience in New York City (Chang 122). This goes back to what we talked about in class on how important it is to note that the focus wasn’t on trying to learn and understand this culture but instead they were trying to break it and portray it as trash.
ReplyDeleteWhen discussing graffiti and hip-hop and the correlation between the two it’s hard to neglect the fact that the two are very closely connected. Although graffiti in hip-hop is something that came about predominantly in the 80’s, the practice of tagging or drawing pictures on a wall as an art can be dated back to Egyptian times. Like hip-hop music, graffiti was an outlet for people to express themselves. Only graffiti used public spaces, such as: walls, fences, train cars, etc. or places where people would observe there work everyday. But, a quality that is only true to graffiti in opposition to other forms of art is that it is illegal, the artists aren’t receiving pay for their work, and it is often viewed by society as “trash” or vandalism. So being an artist in a form of art that is not readily accepted by the general community is where the graffiti aspect ties into hip-hop for me. Initially hip-hop was not graciously accepted into the world of music media. It was labeled as a type of music for minorities only, we can see now that this stereotype has obviously changed, along with the ideas that graffiti is merely vandalism and not a form of art. Also, I never truly realized the severity of the means government officials took to prevent graffiti from taking place in communities, as cited in “The Politics of Graffiti” the mayor of New York, said that “Graffiti pollutes the eye and mind and may be one of the worst forms of pollution we have to combat.” It is interesting to me that as time has passed we can now see graffiti art in museums and its solely negative connotation has been lifted, now being accepted as the art form that it is.
ReplyDeleted.cohen
ReplyDeleteI have lived in the suburbs of Chicago my whole life and have seen the graffiti culture that takes part there. It is very large because it does seem like the city is covered in graffiti. I love it though because I do believe that graffiti is art. We talked a lot in class about graffiti in public spaces. As stated in class notes, art on public property is named “Graffiti” when it is an unsolicited marking on a private or public property (Lecture notes, feb 20). I feel that this is defiantly the correct definition because it is the true form of expression for these artists. To me, these artists are letting their work speak for themselves and are making a statement. I don’t think it would be called graffiti if you are at an art show doing your work live. That is why I liked when the class notes stated, “The same graffiti art becomes a mural when there is permission to paint the space” (Lecture notes, Feb 20). Even though I support graffiti, most people do not. The text did a good job showing that through the use of New York City and the bills they were passing. It was interesting when in the politics of graffiti; the mayor was quoted as saying, “the ugliness of graffiti and the ugly message-often obscene or racist-has generated widespread support for the City’s campaign to end this epidemic of thoughtless behavior” (Craig Castleman, pg. 16). This shows how the other side feels about graffiti. I think graffiti will always have a negative image because it is considered vandalism but I do see the beauty in it and I really do think it is another element of hip-hop because of the expression these graffiti artists are showing with their work.
Graffiti is traditionally done in the context of public space. Whether you consider it “defacing” public property or “personalizing” it, the location of graffiti is a critique of public space itself. The fact that many graffiti artists are punished for altering public space suggests that this space doesn’t really belong to the public at all. Graffiti is also a critique of society because it allows the population and the cityscape to “talk back” to the community (Persley). When Castleman states that “the public hates graffiti”, “the public” refers to a select public, or essentially, the dominant class. This majority group attempted to stifle graffiti’s social critique with “scrub days” similar to the way they tried to censor hip-hop music’s “explicit lyrics” and commentary on social issues (Castleman 15). In both of the previous scenarios, whether public space means the side of a subway train or the transmission of sonic waves, it could be argued that this space is not an equal-access arena. Typical billboards and campaign advertisements testify to the fact that public space is tailored to the taste of the comfortable, controlling class. Graffiti is “advertising for the invisible”; for those who have no official medium to express their concerns through (Adams et al. 117). Graffiti essentially allows an under-voiced population to create a recognizable presence, or brand, in the midst of a mainstream urban environment. By creating iconic characters and tags, graffiti artists can create recognizable consistency, “establish community and kinship” and “make claims to a public space” (Persley).
ReplyDeleteHip-hop does not only exist in the music industry. A major visual element of hip-hop is graffiti, a way of self-expression for these artists. Graffiti is usually formed on public space without permission by the owners of the property (Persley lecture 2/20). Graffiti is an element of hip hop that has transcended boundaries more than the others in that it is skill-based and crews rely on a variation of talent. Crews often have diverse membership based on skill sets and not on race (Persley lecture 2/20). Hip-hop “became a worldview”(Chang, p130). Many graffiti artists are stating their opinions they feel strongly about. This can be an anti-war statement, contempt for authority, respect for an idol, “tagging” a territory, or out of just plain boredom. The motives of tagging come into question because of the murky border between vandalism and art. The people who work for the cities are outraged and call graffiti an “assault on our senses and on our pocketbooks as we pay the clean-up costs”(Castleman, p16). They have implemented graffiti prevention projects in New York City that include elements of technological improvements, security measures, finding the motivation of graffiti vandals and controlling graffiti instruments (Castleman, p17). The expensive antigraffiti policies failed in New York City. A blank wall is obtrusive to the eye for a graffiti artist, which to them symbolizes sterility and a regulated environment. Graffiti gave them power through voice, but visual. It is unfair that upper-class can pay for billboards and advertising, and this draws more people to connect with the rebellious spirit of this art.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti is a type of art that society sees as different from mural painting. Essentially, both can be seen as art, but society has labeled graffiti as crime and murals as actual art (Lecture 2/20). Both can be seen on public spaces, such as walls of buildings, but whether permission was given or not to use the public space is what distinguishes the two.
ReplyDeleteTaki 183 said in Castleman’s writing “You don’t do it for the girls; they don’t seem to care. You do it for yourself. You don’t go after it to be elected president.” That is what makes graffiti so interesting to me. Artists do it to feel power within them, but they also do it so that other people can see it. They do not even need to see what different emotions it brings out of people; they already know. Also, by tagging their work with their name or some type of pseudonym, people can associate the personality found in the work to an otherwise mysterious person.
Graffiti is particularly global in the hip-hop culture. It is part of the language of hip-hop culture. Hip-hop speaks to all the senses, so just like the DJ and MC display vocal and sound expression and breaking displays physical expression, graffiti is the visual expression of hip-hop. Not all graffiti out there is associated with hip-hop, but a lot of graffiti artists began to practice the other elements of hip-hop to define the culture.
When labeling graffiti as vandalism, it is important, like Taki said, to think about how expressing political ideologies with stickers or yard signs is not much different from throwing up graffiti on a wall.
My family owns a group of warehouses in my hometown and we have experienced our own graffiti incident. Being from a small town we knew who it was, but we never made it into a huge deal. The article The Politics of Graffiti really kind of pissed me off. Just like anything else, people spend too much time and money on things that aren’t that necessary rather than spending it on the more important things. Lindsay and Garelik were about annoying, and all their ideas were so worthless. You live in a huge state and city and you really like your “Ant-graffiti day” is really going to be a big hit or make much of a difference. I think Richard Goldstein made a very valid point, “it just may be that the kids who write graffiti are the healthiest and most assertive people in their neighborhoods.” Unless graffiti Is harming anyone, I don’t see the big fuss about it.
ReplyDeleteI also found what Brent said to be super interesting. The way he compared growing up in New York to other places you just kind of grew into the fact that you should take part in graffiti, that it’s just what you do. To me this always gives kids a voice that they may not have otherwise. That’s how Taki came into graffiti. When they interviewed him all he said was, “I’m an unemployed seventeen year old with nothing better to do than pass the summer away.” With graffiti starting in Queens, most kids were born into families with little to nothing and they probably didn’t get the attention that they needed, and so my expressing the way they did through graffiti gave them a voice and made them feel important.
Graffiti goes back to ancient times and the Roman Empire. Marker Pens and Spray Paint are the most commonly used items for this. Graffiti can consist of an easy word to much larger wall paintings. This by law is considered Vandalism due to the simple fact that you cannot mark, paint, draw, etc., on property that belongs to someone else, unless you have permission from the owner. Graffiti plays a large role in Gang play, and also is highly respected among talented artists, and others with an appreciation for it. For Gangs, it is used as a way to mark their territory, or to serve as an indicator of gang-related activities. So to them, they don’t take the vandalism aspect serious, and don’t seem to let it hold them back. Then you have certain artists that either do the artwork themselves, or just appreciate great artwork and debate that it should be allowed to take over public space, to show itself off, and for people just walking by it, to possibly develop a different view for the graffiti, or gain more respect for the art itself. Myriad International graffiti styles derived from New York City Subway graffiti. Now a days there is much debate to the laws of graffiti on public space, but the fact is, graffiti is a rather large element, not only to America, but all over the world. Every country has their own appreciations and forms of graffiti that takes place, and in my eyes, it is just on the rise and taking place more and more.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti is a term used to describe artistic writings and or drawings done so illegally in public space typically through the use of spray paint and marker pens. “Public space” is defined as a social area that is open and accessible to all regardless or gender, race, and or ethnicity. The earliest forms of graffiti can be dated back to 30,000 BCE in the form of stone engravings and wall paintings that use symbols and animals to illustrate a message. “The art of graffiti has been around for centuries, beginning with Greek and Egyptian wall markings. Graffiti began in hip- hop in the 80’s as a response to the urban changes in New York (Lecture 2/20).” Graffiti has been an essential aspect of hip hop because artists would promote and express themselves in public space through artwork. Graffiti artists are typically seen as criminals that vandalize public space but there are also many who appreciate and support the idea of expressing emotions and or messages through street art in an area in for everyone to see. The ways that some graffiti artists make claims to public space is by “tagging”, claiming, and or representing themselves is by leaving their artwork and signatures on street signs, buildings, subways, and boxcars in public space for all to see. Gangs have been notorious for claiming public space by leaving gang signs, symbols, and even warnings to others that that specific area of public space is a part of their territory. The gang aspect of graffiti as an art form is essentially a negative aesthetic dimension but it is important to acknowledge the positive aesthetic dimensions because it is still artwork and was/still an essential aspect of hip hop.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti is a large part of hip-hop culture, yet its legitimacy as an art form is often debated. On one hand, it is illegal; it is a form of vandalism and an invasion on property. On the other hand, it is an artistic expression. It’s a victimless crime that does not harm others. Of course, there are many forms of graffiti created for different reasons, but in the scope of hip-hop, graffiti is a cultural aesthetic. The two articles this week lay out both sides and show the great divide of the graffiti debate. Castleman analyzes the crusade against graffiti in New York City in the 1970s. Led by Mayor Lindsay, the city spent millions of taxpayers’ dollars to clean up the “ugly” and “demoralizing” graffiti (Forman and Neal). He wrote legislation to make graffiti a crime and even pushed for jail sentences for graffiti artists. Although his crusade was out of control, Mayor Lindsay felt he had an obligation to the city to keep public and private property free from vandalism. However, he should have taken a step back and realized the ridiculousness of his accusations. In the hip-hop design roundtable, Sacha Jenkins talks about graffiti as a cultural art form. It was “like another sport you played” (Chang). She argues that there was no understanding of its culture or history. While public officials have the responsibility to maintain public property, they should attempt to understand where it is coming from and embrace it is as art.
ReplyDeleteAs discussed in class graffiti is not a new medium for expression. We find graffiti in the streets of Pompeii to under a bridge in Kansas City. It seems that historically graffiti could be defined as unwanted artistic or communicative writing around public spaces. Usually this writing is unwanted by the owners of the property or frowned upon by the dominant social system. Graffiti could be described as an addition to the first intended utility of a public or private space usually within the division of visual art. A graffiti artist is making use of this space and claiming it for his own expression. In Wild Style it is evident that the main character is having a hard time adjusting to mural painting because it is too neutered and contained for the original expression of “hip-hop” graffiti. What the original graffiti in urban areas represented was a fight against the hardships and sufferings those people lived with daily. In a sense one was saying to those objects of destruction, “Do you think you can tag my life? I will show you that I cannot be contained and I will tag and expresses myself on the tools you use to inflict distress.” This attitude inspired others in that community to follow suit (Chang 132). Yet, from these roots graffiti grew and the style grew without forgetting its roots. Thus, Cey Adams can state that he does not need to worry about what or how he says it because those roots are in him (122). Graffiti is another medium of hip-hop expression.
ReplyDeleteIf someone has the power to bring about change — no matter the forum — should they be allowed to do so? That is the question that graffiti raises. While, yes, some artists use graffiti to degrade others, or mark territory, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t those who use their talents to cover public space with a view on a hot topic.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti is at its best when it is provoking those passing by to stop for more than just a moment and figure out the message behind it.
The art form is more than just dazzling colors in an unusual font, when used properly it is a form of public outcry. It’s no shock that as time has progressed graffiti artists have gone from criminals to some of the more celebrated artists around.
The sad truth, however, is that the political driving force behind some of the earlier works of graffiti has died off. The art is still about innovation and design, but now with so many young, aspiring, artists trying any and everything to get famous, most forget why graffiti was so unique and different from other art forms in the first place.
There is a sense of thrill, wrongdoing, pride, and community service to those who tag public spaces, that’s what makes graffiti such an intriguing art form.