GRAFFITI: CHALLENGING THE NOTION OF PUBLIC SPACE @creativespaceorpublicplace-blog - Tumblr Blog

Readings:

Nancy Macdonald, “Making a Difference,” The Graffiti Subculture. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave, 2001. Frances Butler, “Youth Art and Mobile Galleries,” Artlink 14.3 (Spring 1994). Susan A. Phillips, “Bloods and Crips in the City of Angels” and “The Gang Manifesto,” Wallbangin’: Graffiti and Gangs in L.A. Chicago: Chicago University Press

NANCY MACDONALD - MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The Graffiti Subculture

Examines the separate "graffiti world" in two lights:

1. Themes of adolescence and autonomy

within the graffiti subculture as a 'free space'

how the rules, order and layout of this subculture act as an aid in gaining independence

and

2. Issues of identity

using graffiti to create an 'alternative reality' free from the restrictions and perceptions of the 'real world'

adolescence as a stage of progression

strong desire for independence

claiming space

#nancy macdonald

"One of the distinguishing features of youth culture is just this search for places where one can be in control; a place to be alone and with friends; a place free from parental and other adult interference"

(Ganetz, 1994: 87)

#nancy macdonald

Graffiti Program in Blacktown

#graffiti #train

structured freedom: 'the rules of disorder'

graffiti as a subculture eases members towards autonomy by providing a support system

Alternative identities

graffiti as a release from usual life - 'the superman syndrome'

notes the importance of keeping graffiti out of 'real' life, and life out of graffiti - maintaining a separation of these alternate realities

fanatics - illegal writers who continue to create pieces at the same scale after being arrested or in prison, E.G.

"'Kast', for example, is probably the most respected London train writer ever, just for style. He served time for graffiti and then he had a court case coming up, where he was looking at getting something close on two years for graffiti and he went on the run from the police and he's been on the run ever since… It's like graffiti has completely and utterly screwed up his life"

(excerpt from interview with Drax)

Kast

#kast #graffiti

the 'virtual' self: your tag name replaces the physical body

"You can sum graffiti up in two words, 'I am'" - (Proud 2)

graffiti is a celebration of the self - this is me / my name / my culture

a question of location: growth of virtual identities, location is a key element

"It was a good feeling to wake up the next day, walk along the street and see your name there" - (Steam)

the works "impose themselves upon the unsuspecting environment, standing out, proud and dominant upon their conquered context"

idea of ownership, fighting back against corporate possession, using a name to mark territory

"Giving something a name or label offers the illusion of controlling or limiting it"

shouting on the wall: method of virtual communication between graffiti writers

visual persona a writer has chosen comes into play - evokes meaning and interaction - separate from the face to face reality of physicality

Steam

#steam #graffiti

FRANCES BUTLER - YOUTH ART AND MOBILE GALLERIES

Based around an interview with traditional artist - Lisa Forrester

Sydney's youth art: "generally described as vandalism and a blight on the environment"

"youth generated culture" - legitimately creative and positively contributing to mainstream cultural discourse

mobile galleries: trains create "a moving gallery of graffiti images because the viewer is just getting glimpses, five second grabs of a complex visual image"

leaving a mark - ideational gesture

preconceived ideas of graffiti as a crime:

"The viewer's perception is impeded or inscribed by a previous knowledge, classifications from the academy and the media"

Where is the line between street art and criminal acts?

links the labelling of youth cultures to rebellion

public perception of youth culture = gangs

public perception of graffiti = crime

practice of a visual communication the mainstream power doesn't know how to 'read'

Mobile galleries of Sydney - vandalism or art?

#cityrail #sydney #graffiti

What is it that makes Banksy's graffiti more "acceptable" in the public sphere?

#banksy #graffiti

Graffiti art in broad daylight

#graffiti

SUSAN A. PHILLIPS - BLOODS AND CRIPS IN THE CITY OF ANGELS / THE GANG MANIFESTO

Reputation, Regulation and Respect: street morality is the core rule - "respect the next person as they respect you"

respect seen as a number one commodity in the hood, cannot be taken away by law and brings power to those who have it

evidence of the graffiti of both groups that usually coexisted would get crossed out in moments of interracial tension - crossing out in graffiti terms is a massive sign of disrespect, a challenge to the enemy

"Graffiti helps a gang establish a presence in their neighbourhood" - distinguishing styles of Bloods and Crips

Graffiti can stand on its own and help regulate a neighbourhood - interesting viewpoint: criminal acts as a form of regulation

"pre regulation" activities that might actually prevent conflict at certain times

African American gangs like the Bloods and Crips focus their graffiti on representing their hood

Draw the line between friends and enemies and mark off an area as "red" or "blue"

"You have to put graffiti on the walls to let people know what colour neighbourhood they in, to, how do you say it… to differentiate"

using public space as socio-cultural queues

Bloods vs Crips

#bloods vs crips #graffiti #crossing out

African American gang members struggle with the illusion that they are fighting for things that are not "really" theirs - they write graffiti on walls that don't "really" belong to them - taking over a public space gives empowerment and strengthens a sense of community

This idea links to the question of public space:

How does graffiti challenge ideas and laws about public space?

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GRAFFITI: CHALLENGING THE NOTION OF PUBLIC SPACE