History of Graffiti

City-Region Studies Centre

What is graffiti? A definition:

Words or drawings, especially humorous, rude or political, on walls, doors, etc. in public places.

GraffitiA slideshow exploring what it is and

issues surrounding it.

Prepared by Ondine Park for City-Region Studies Centre, University of Alberta

Presentation created and lifted from: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.uofaweb.ualberta.ca%2Fcrsc%2Fpdfs%2FGraffiti-Public_version%28FINAL%29-Compressed_images.ppt&ei=drxGT8DkBIXrtgeApKSdDg&usg=AFQjCNFFFVQYhHc7o0WA3nuSFVY4LPj0Bg


Graffiti What is it? What are the issues?


What is graffiti?Origins

The word “graffiti” was first used in English in 1851 to refer to ancient wall inscriptions found in the ruins of Pompeii.


What is graffiti?Other early examples

There are examples of graffiti in the ruins of ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Syrians, Arabians, Vikings, Mayans, First Nations, and many other cultures, even going back 40,000 years …

… to the wall markings of the Lascaux caves in France


What is graffiti?Other early examples

Mayan markings, in Guatemala

Viking graffiti left in Hagia Sophia, Turkey

Safaitic writing, in Middle East)


What is graffiti? Other early examples

From Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta


What is graffiti? Modern

In 1877, the term “graffiti” was extended to include recently made crude drawings and scribbling.


What is graffiti? A modern timeline There are many histories of “modern” graffiti

But many people see the immediate precursors in the various dynamic social changes of 1960s US urban life. In particular:

Political activism and protest (e.g. hippies)

(Re-)emergence of gangs (i.e. their territorial markers)


What is graffiti? A modern timeline

In the late 1960s, “tagging” began to emerge in the streets of Philadelphia.



Tag the writer's logo,

his/her stylized personal signature.



Influential early New York tags



1970s-1980s:

Graffiti as both a form and a culture blossomed in New York.

Graffiti writers began by tagging subways.



The tags began to proliferate on subways as writers tried to get their tags across the city.

Graffiti writers who had not met each other communicated and competed through the developing graffiti form.



This evolution in graffiti was driven, in part, by: competition for recognition of writing skills in the

developing graffiti community

the social, economic and political context.



Graffiti writers strove to create ever more unique, more elaborate, and larger scale pieces.



Graffiti became a key element in the expression of emerging sub-cultural music scenes, including rap/hip hop and punk.



Authorities began cracking down on graffiti and graffiti writers. E.g. consistent removal of any and all tags.

This led to increasing territorialism and even violence over available spaces.

Gradually, only the very ‘hard core’ continued writing.



At the same time, the ‘legitimate’ art world started taking notice of this street art and the skills involved.

Art galleries began showing graffiti exhibits. Famously, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith

Haring



Since 1980s

Graffiti artists moved out of subways onto ‘street canvases’

There has been increasing appreciation of graffiti as an art-form

Graffiti has an increasing presence in commercial media



While some graffiti writers are glad to see that their work and skills are being appreciated

Many feel that commercial work is a betrayal of graffiti’s roots.



Graffiti is constantly evolving: Adapting to new environments,

social contexts and material available.



Contemporary graffiti includes a huge variety of different types of materials and styles. Including…


What is graffiti? Modern: Types of graffiti

Applying marks directly onto a surface

Commonly used material: spray paint, paint, marker, chalk, etc.

Can be done freehand or using pre-made stencils.


Applying pre-made pieces to surfaces using adhesive

What is graffiti? Modern: Types of graffiti


Experimental and Street Art

What is graffiti?Modern: Types of graffiti

Examples include: 3D, Sculptures Installations Using light Video projection Mixed media Other new media Using materials in new ways

(e.g. fabrics, knitting, living plants)

Even erasing to make mark


A different history

Some graffiti writers link graffiti writing to the illuminated letters of medieval manuscripts.


IssuesIs graffiti a problem?

Why is it considered a problem? What kind of problem is it?



Graffiti is sometimes seen as a sign, an indication of: social break down Impoverishment

But, sometimes graffiti is understood to be more menacing than just a sign pointing to problems.



Some see graffiti as a threat -- something that: actively contributes to increasing disorder marks gang (or otherwise dangerous) territory increases risk and vulnerability



Most extremely, graffiti writing is seen as a crime and graffiti writers and tools are seen as criminal.

In this case, graffiti is understood to be: vandalism (destruction of private property) illegal individual expression versus the rights of

individuals, the public, business, or property deviant, anti-social, seditious a criminal offense to be punished



Why might it not be considered a “problem”?

Graffiti can give insight into problems of a city and the joys of a city.

Instead of targeting graffiti, some feel authorities should try to tackle the real underlying issues that merely find expression in graffiti.



Graffiti as art Graffiti can be understood as

legitimate (and legitimated)

artistic expression, artistic practice, and artistic work

that demonstrate skill, aesthetic considerations,

and artistic integrity



Graffiti asks questions about real social, economic, political and cultural problems – even when it’s not directly “political”.

E.g. graffiti tends to proliferate in poor neighbourhoods – why are these neighbourhoods poor?

Graffiti gives, finds, or takes a space for a ‘real’ public voice to speak, unfiltered by corporate media.

It can illustrate the discontent or joy of often marginalised, oppressed, or silenced voices and literally inscribe them into the public realm


IssuesPublic approaches to handling graffiti

Repression Suppression (erasure) Illegalisation (e.g. of the act)

Expression Graffiti as community building Graffiti as expressing community identity



The “Graffiti Art Programming Inc.” in Winnipeg

uses art as a tool for community, social, economic and individual

growth.

They work for the promotion of youth art as its own genre providing a place where young artists can

take creative risks neighborhood beautification and community

development through public art fostering a sense of creative cooperation and

self healing



“Spread the Paint”, Vancouver’s graffiti management program,

works together with: business and property owners;

community groups and residents; graffiti artists

A mural program provides sanctioned spaces for graffiti writers to display their work.

Property owners can donate a wall for the mural program. The City facilitates the process and provides the supplies.

The City offers repair kits or financial assistance to property owners for graffiti removal.

‘Community Paint Outs’ encourage community groups, businesses and residents to team up and improve the physical appearance of their neighbourhood.



Image CreditsAll images listed in order of appearance on slide (first to last or clockwise from top left). Images

from Flickr and wikimedia are attributed to contributor's username. Images may have been edited for presentation purposes. Where they exist, copyrights remain with

original holders.

Slide 2. (1) Ondine Park; (2) raptortheangel http://www.flickr.com/photos/raptortheangel/35500986/; (3) contessak http://flickr.com/photos/tree-tangled/3760617425/; (4) peterjohnchen http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterjohnchen/2616726869/; (5) MTO http://www.fatcap.com/artist/mto.html; (6) Andre http://www.fatcap.com/artist/andre.html; (7) Edina Tokodi http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/23/eco-art-mosstika-gathers-more-moss/; (8) Invader http://www.fatcap.com/artist/space-invaders.html ;(9) Orticanoodles http://www.fatcap.com/artist/orticanoodles.html; (10) OH http://www.fatcap.com/article/oh-interview.html; (11) Jef Aerosol http://www.fatcap.com/artist/jef-aerosol.html; (12) Os Gemeos http://www.fatcap.com/artist/os-gemeos.html

Slide 3. Definition from Cambridge Dictionaries Online Slide 4. Adapted from Online Etymology Dictionary © 2001 Douglas Harper; see also other histories

listed in References. (1) http://arthistorymadness.blogspot.com/2007/10/graffiti-from-pompeii.html; (2) Vincent Ramos http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Graffiti_politique_de_Pompei.jpg

Slide 5. (1) MatthiasKabel http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Reproduction_cave_of_Altamira_01.jpg; (2) HTO http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lascaux,_replica_05.JPG


Image credits (cont’d) Slide 6. (1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hagia-sofia-viking.jpg; (2) Barbara McKenzie

http://mayaruins.com/tikal/graffiti.html; (3) Centre for the Study of Ancient Documents, University of Oxford http://www.csad.ox.ac.uk/csad/Newsletters/Newsletter6/Newsletter6b.html

Slide 7. (both) Royal Alberta Museum http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/human/archaeo/faq/rockart.htm

Slide 8. Adapted from Online Etymology Dictionary © 2001 Douglas Harper Slide 10. (1) http://freshlyeducatedmen.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/hip-hop-graffiti-part-1-of-2/ Slide 11. Adapted from The Words: A Graffiti Glossary www.graffiti.org. (1) Martha Cooper

http://www.studionemo.com/2008/12/martha-coopers-tag-town/ Slide 12. (both) Subway Outlaws http://www.subwayoutlaws.com/history/history.htm Slide 16. Midnite Run http://sunsite.icm.edu.pl/graffiti/midniterun/flix/ny/ Slide 19. Keith Haring http://ahappyplace.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/keith-haring-guaranteed-to-send-

you-to-a-happy-place/ Slide 21. (1) Fat Cap http://www.fatcap.com/article/43.html; (2)

http://blog.sellsiusrealestate.com/business/guerilla-marketing-with-graffiti-style-ads/2006/09/08/; (3) http://sarahleey.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/stephen-sprouse-triubte-collection/

Slide 24. (1-3, 5) Ondine Park; (4) peterjohnchen http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterjohnchen/2578100116/in/photostream/; (6) Banksy http://www.indymedia.ie/article/90538; (7) http://www.graffiti.org/war/war_18.html


Image credits (cont’d) Slide 25. (1, 3-5, 8, 9) Ondine Park; (2) Noah Sussman

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thefangmonster/141590736/; (6, 7) peterjohnchen http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterjohnchen/2568434123/; http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterjohnchen/2571110751/

Slide 26. (1) Noah Sussman http://www.flickr.com/photos/thefangmonster/1123146758/; (2) Edina Tokodi http://www.woostercollective.com/2008/11/the_as_to_our_qs_edina_tokodi_aka_mossti.html; (3) Alexandre Orion http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/01/11/reverse-graffiti/; (4) Noah Sussman http://www.flickr.com/photos/thefangmonster/1353101148/

Slide 27. (1) Ministère de la Culture et Communication, France, Enluminures http://www.enluminures.culture.fr ; (2) Schmoo http://www.graffiti.org/la/la_10.html; (3) from The British Library http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Woman_teaching_geometry.jpg

Slide 28. Jinks http://www.fatcap.com/graffiti/6322-jinks-nantes.html Slide 37. (all) City of Vancouver Graffiti Management Program

http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/streets/graffiti/ Slide 38. Banksy http://www.fatcap.com/graffiti/13622-banksy-london.html


ReferencesOn 'What is graffiti?' Art Crimes. http://www.graffiti.org Black, Shona. 2009. 'What Makes Graffiti Art? Museums Bring Street Artists inside Fine Arts

Establishment.' http://specialartgalleryexhibits.suite101.com/article.cfm/what_makes_graffiti_art#ixzz0U8M7jYNvhttp://specialartgalleryexhibits.suite101.com/article.cfm/what_makes_graffiti_art

Edmonton Alberta Graffiti, Stencils and such! http://www.flickr.com/groups/edmontonstreetart/ (Flickr group pool)

Fatcap. http://www.fatcap.com/ Freshly.Educated.Men. 'Hip Hop Graffiti.' http://freshlyeducatedmen.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/hip-hop-

graffiti-part-1-of-2/ Ganz, Nicholas. 2004. Graffiti World: Street art from five continents, edited by Tristan Manco. NY: Harry

N. Abrams Inc. Pub. Gavin, Francesca. 2007. Street Renegades: New Underground Art. London: Lawrence King Publishing. Graffiti Grapher (from Dr. Ron Eglash, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)

http://csdt.rpi.edu/subcult/grafitti/culture/Graffiti_History.html Lewisohn, Cedar. 2008. Street Art: The Graffiti Revolution. New York: Abrams. New York City Graffiti @ 149 St. http://www.at149st.com/


References (cont’d) Parkin, Anna. 2009. 'The Rise of Street Art.' http://runninginheels.co.uk/articles/rise-street-art/ Peiter, Sebastian. 2009. Guerilla art; with additional text by Goetz Werner. London: Laurence King Pub. Saffer, Angela. 2008. 'Fighting Graffiti: History of The War on Street Wall Art.' http://outsider-art.suite101.com/article.cfm/fighting_graffiti Streets of Dublin (Infomatique). 'Graffiti: Public art on the streets of Dublin.'

http://www.streetsofdublin.com/graffiti/1_ancient_graffiti.html Subway Outlaws. http://www.subwayoutlaws.com/ Urban Art Warfare. http://urbanartwarfare.com/blog Wikipedia. ''Graffiti.' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti Wooster Collective. http://www.woostercollective.com/ http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=edmonton+graffiti&m=text (Flickr photoset of graffiti in

Edmonton)


References (cont’d)On graffiti as an issue Alphabet City blog. 2008. '1970's NYC Subway Graffiti.'

http://www.alphabetcityblog.com/2008/12/1970s-nyc-subway-graffiti.html Callinan, Rachel. 2009. 'Dealing with Graffiti in New South Wales' briefing paper. Parliament of New

South Wales (Australia). http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/publications.nsf/key/ResearchBf082002

City of Edmonton. Graffiti Management Program. http://www.edmonton.ca/environmental/capital_city_cleanup/graffiti-management-program.aspx

City of Vancouver. Spread the Paint: Graffiti Management Program. http://vancouver.ca/ENGSVCS/streets/graffiti/

Graffiti Art Programming (based in Winnipeg). http://www.graffitigallery.ca/ Negley, Erin. 2008. 'Former Philadelphia graffiti artist now arts advocate.'

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=79200 Nickle, David. 2008. ' Community: Graffiti crackdown on public structures in place.' Inside Toronto.

http://www.insidetoronto.com/article/57382 Northampton Borough Council. 'Dealing with Graffiti: What is graffiti?'

http://www.northampton.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=168&pageNumber=3 Vandal Watch Society (Coquitlam, BC). 'Getting educated about graffiti.'

http://www.vandalwatch.citysoup.ca/Graffiti/default.htm

Education

History of Graffiti