Graffiti Cultureby Lisa Whittington

original uploaded from http://www.slideshare.net/lisawhit/graffiti-culture-3119315

Culture is the attitudes and behavior that are characteristic of a particular social group or organization;

Graffiti is pictures or writing placed on surfaces, usually outside walls and sidewalks, usually without the permission of the owner.

Graffiti culture has evolved into a (still mostly illegal) art form of its own, using spray cans of paint, with a modern history, master practitioners, and categories of style.

Some artists, sociologists and writers even regard graffiti as a sophisticated art form, calling it 'spray can art'. As one graffiti artist commented, graffiti has been with us since our early ancestors painted on cave walls.If beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder, nowhere is this more evident than in the response to graffiti. To many graffiti is just ugly, anti-social daubs, while for their practitioners they represent an expression of individuality in an impersonal world.

The Language of Graffiti Culture

“Writer”= A person who creates graffiti

“Toy”= A beginner graffiti artist

“Burner” = A well executed piece of graffiti displaying style and emotion.

“Crew” = A group of graffiti writers who feel some sort of cohesion and like to go writing together. A graffiti artist can be part of more than one crew. Benefits in being part of a crew is a pooling of ideas and supplies.

Misconceptions of Graffiti CultureAll Graffiti is created by Gangs: While graffiti crews could be considered gangs, they are not the kind that sell crack and walk around with uzis. In large cities there is probably a fair amount (maybe 10%) of "graffiti" that is done by gangs, but it is very different in style. Graffiti artists consider Gang graffiti done in poor taste, and done strictly for marking terrain. Question for thought: Were impressionist, expressionist, fauvist, or other art groups considered gangs?

Graffiti is created by minorities and poor people: Graffiti is created by people of all color. Suburban, white kids, and rich kids are just as much a part of graffiti crews and go to the city to create graffiti.

Graffiti is and always will be illegal: By and large, yes. In the United States, graffiti is an illegal act but there are still "legal walls" -- places where writers can go to do murals without fear of being arrested. Laws vary in other countries. In general, it is illegal almost everywhere. ...and yes, women do graffiti too.

Where Graffiti is Legal

Hosier Lane, Melbourne, AustraliaThis famous spot is popular among tourists and artists alike. Located

in the southern edge of Melbourne, Hosier Lane allows for all kinds of

street art.

Where Graffiti is Legal

Venice, California, United States

The Venice Graffiti Pit is world famous for being an open and creative space for street artists. It is

not uncommon to see an artist in the middle of working on a mural her. Artwork gets painted over

by other artists in rapid succession.

Where Graffiti is Legal

Taipei, Taiwan

Many artists take

advantage of Taiwan’s

legal gray areas

posting their work all

over the city. Police

officers openly admit to

not getting involved

unless there is an

owner complaint or

property damage.

Where Graffiti is Legal

Warsaw, Poland-- Topiel Street provides ample wall space for writers and stencil art. No hassle from the local police

Where Graffiti is Legal

Queens, New York, United States

Dubbed 5Pointz, this full city

block in the Queens

neighborhood of Long Island

City is almost entirely

covered by graffiti. Artists

who are interested in putting

up their work here must first

be reviewed and granted

permission by curator Meres

One.

Where Graffiti is Legal

Legal tagging sites are sprinkled all over France.

Many other places like Prague, Switzerland, and Germany have legal sites where graffiti is encouraged.

All graffiti is not motivated by a simple desire for self advertisement, a demand for attention...

Graffiti Can Change Things

... some are an advertisement for a cause - a propaganda tool.

Many anti-smokers, critics of the consumer society - and even judges - are supportive of the efforts of BUGA UP (Billboard-Utilising Graffitists Against Unhealthy Promotions) in defacing billboard advertising for what they consider to be harmful products.

B.U.G.A. U.P. Formed in 1978 in Austrailia by a group of health professionals and others disgusted at the prevalence of tobacco advertising, Billboard-Utilizing Graffitists Against Unhealthy Promotions (B.U.G.A. U.P.) rapidly made their mark on hoardings around the nation. By cleverly revising advertising slogans and disrupting tobacco sponsored events, the group revealed the true cost of tobacco company deception. Having racked up numerous fines and arrests over its 10 year existence, B.U.G.A. U.P. formally wound up in 1994 as federal and state governments finally began to take action to ban tobacco advertising in newspapers and magazines, on billboards, television and radio.

 

 

B.U.G.A.U.P Graffiti

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBIxScJ5rlY

John Mayer “Waiting on the World to Change”

Now... Let’s Talk...

What makes a

piece graffiti?

Style? Who did it?

Legality?

Technique?

Placement?

Content?

Graffiti Sources

http://matadortrips.com/10-places-where-graffiti-is-legal/

http://www.graffiti.org/faq/graffiti_questions.html