subject: Graffiti- history and present [print this page] Graffiti- history and present Graffiti- history and present
Wikipedia characterizes gaffiti as the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property. Graffiti is any type of public markings that may appear in the forms of simple written words to elaborate wall paintings.
In the past we could see graffiti on the walls af poor neighbourhoods as an example of urban decay. Graffiti was something that ruined facades of buildings, often of historical . Scrawled names and slogans were all over the city. The work of those vandals tried to express their identities, feelings or even make o political point. But it was also illegal, punishale be fines and young people were close to the prison for it.
Ever since, the view of Graffiti had changed a lot and its no longer treated just as work of vandals, but work of art. We can also find Graffiti in places we wouldnt expect to- in gallery, in advertisement, on clothes and even on the Wall Street Journals offical website. Gaffiti has the status of so called "street art". In the early 80s there was o real craze for graffiti art, but this trend was short-lived until the arrival of hip-hop music in the late 80s. When hip-hop got to the top of the word charts, hip-hop culture was spread, bringing graffiti with it.
With the growing popularity and of course legitimization of graffiti has come a level of commercialization. Rof example in 2001, IBM launched an advertising campaign in two cities- Chicago and San Francisco. People spray painting on sidewalks a peace symbol, a heart, and a penguin, to represent "Peace, Love, and Linux." Or Kel Rodriguez, who used to spray New York subway trains, was chosen to design the Wall Street Journals website and he did, of course all in graffiti style.
Controversies that surround graffiti continue to create problems amongst graffitists on one site and city enforcement on the other. Graffitists wish to show work in public and express their opnions and minds. Nowadays we now many different types and styles of graffiti. Its a rapidly developing artform whose value is highly contested. And Its on you if you like this type of art or dont. I personaly like it, but not in inappropriate locations such as historic buildings, churches, new building.
Controversies that surround graffiti continue to create disagreement amongst city officials/law enforcement and graffitists who wish to display and appreciate work in public locations. There are many different types and styles of graffiti and it is a rapidly developing artform whose value is highly contested, reviled by many authorities while also subject to protection, sometimes within the same jurisdiction.
