Ronald Thomas & Pedro VeraGraffiti CultureMr. Flamm

Why Do People Do Graffiti? They do it as a form of artistic expression or to release their emotions. Others do it because they want attention or to look cool and impress others. They want to represent something or someone.

History: The earliest forms of graffiti date back to 30,000 BC in the form of

prehistoric cave paintings and pictographs using tools such as Animal bones and pigments. These illustrations were often placed in ceremonial and sacred locations inside of the caves. This form of graffiti is subject to disagreement considering it is likely that members of prehistoric society endorsed the creation of these illustrations.

Key Terms:GRAFFITI SPRAY PAINT

Graffiti is writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place.

Similar way to paint but in the form of gas. Popular with graffiti artists.

Key Terms:THROW UPS

WILD STYLE

A style of graffiti letters similar to bubble letters.

Graffiti with text so stylized as to be difficult to read, often with interlocking, three-dimensional type.

Key TermsGETTING UP

RACK

Originally, "getting up" meant to successfully hit a train. Now it means to hit up anything, anywhere, with any form of graffiti.

To steal, usually paints or markers. In the past, most writers stole all materials used for painting. Due to paint lockups in California and other areas, this is no longer possible, so most paint is now bought.

Stereotypes: People that do graffiti are bad and are in gangs. People do graffiti as art but people in gangs use graffiti to represent their

gangs.

Stereotypes: Only Black and Latinos do Graffiti. Plenty of people like to do graffiti as well as admire the work.

Stereotypes: All graffiti artist are hooded delinquents. A lot of graffiti artist do dress like that but some are normal people.

Stereotypes: All graffiti is just juvenile writing. Some graffiti artist draw regular pictures and not so “street” type graffiti.

Some will even make child friendly cartoon pictures.

Stereotypes: Other artists will take the cartoon

characters and turn them into something bad.

They will make something funny as well.

Stereotypes: All Graffiti is illegal All graffiti people are poor.

Stereotypes: Graffiti lowers property values Graffiti is vandalism.

Stereotypes Graffiti is not art Graffiti is sloppy.

Stereotype: Graffiti is for kids only. Women do not know how to graffiti.

Stereotype: Graffiti is 2D People only graffiti in the Americas.

Stereotypes: Only skaters graffiti. Graffiti is only done in the ghetto.

Traditions: Gangs would like to leave there marks places. They also like to make big art

works for there anniversaries.

What do YOU think graffiti is? Some people think graffiti is art and a way of expressing yourself. Others think graffiti is a form of vandalism and a disrespect to property and

people. What do you think graffiti is?

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti

http://graffiti.org/ Images: Various Websites