What Is Graffiti In Urban Society
Liam Eifert
English 802
October 12, 2014
Graffiti in Urban Society Defining what is or is not art is difficult. Another concept that is difficult to define is what constitutes a crime and why something is considered a crime. In the case of graffiti and street art, both of these difficult concepts collide, creating a very controversial subject. Since the beginning of simple hip hop graffiti in Philadelphia during the 1960s, graffiti has evolved into many different forms and has developed a subculture that follows specific artists and styles. However, because of its methods, graffiti has become a controversial practice which many believe does not benefit society but rather damages and vandalizes the public space. Others see past the legitimate …show more content…
The common form of hip hop graffiti which utilizes stylized lettering usually in a paint medium began in the 1960s in Philadelphia and quickly spread to other cities around the world. During the 1990s in New York, a movement was begun by some graffiti writers towards legal graffiti after the implementation of new anti-graffiti policies in the subways of Manhattan. Since then, zero tolerance policies have been implemented in cities all around the world. This has helped to popularize legal graffiti practices by making illegal graffiti less desirable. A more recent trend in graffiti is street art such as the work of popular artist, Banksy. Rather than a medium of communication between writers, street art is commonly directed towards the general public and often contains messages of a political nature communicated through various pop culture icons and recognizable figures. Street art can be seen in many forms such as paint, wheat paste posters, stickers, and sculptures. These methods of legal graffiti and street art are beginning to change the public view of graffiti and its
English 802
October 12, 2014
Graffiti in Urban Society Defining what is or is not art is difficult. Another concept that is difficult to define is what constitutes a crime and why something is considered a crime. In the case of graffiti and street art, both of these difficult concepts collide, creating a very controversial subject. Since the beginning of simple hip hop graffiti in Philadelphia during the 1960s, graffiti has evolved into many different forms and has developed a subculture that follows specific artists and styles. However, because of its methods, graffiti has become a controversial practice which many believe does not benefit society but rather damages and vandalizes the public space. Others see past the legitimate …show more content…
The common form of hip hop graffiti which utilizes stylized lettering usually in a paint medium began in the 1960s in Philadelphia and quickly spread to other cities around the world. During the 1990s in New York, a movement was begun by some graffiti writers towards legal graffiti after the implementation of new anti-graffiti policies in the subways of Manhattan. Since then, zero tolerance policies have been implemented in cities all around the world. This has helped to popularize legal graffiti practices by making illegal graffiti less desirable. A more recent trend in graffiti is street art such as the work of popular artist, Banksy. Rather than a medium of communication between writers, street art is commonly directed towards the general public and often contains messages of a political nature communicated through various pop culture icons and recognizable figures. Street art can be seen in many forms such as paint, wheat paste posters, stickers, and sculptures. These methods of legal graffiti and street art are beginning to change the public view of graffiti and its