Graffiti Culture by Lisa Whittingtonoriginal uploaded from http://www.slideshare.net/lisawhit/graffiti-culture-3119315

1. Graffiti Culture
by Lisa Whittington
original uploaded from http://www.slideshare.net/lisawhit/graffiti-culture-3119315

2. Culture is the attitudes and
behavior that are
characteristic of a particular
social group or organization;
Graffiti is pictures or writing
placed on surfaces, usually
outside walls and sidewalks,
usually without the
permission of the owner.
Graffiti culture has evolved
into a (still mostly illegal) art
form of its own, using spray
cans of paint, with a modern
history, master practitioners,
and categories of style.

3. Some artists, sociologists and writers even regard graffiti as a sophisticated art form, calling it
'spray can art'. As one graffiti artist commented, graffiti has been with us since our early ancestors
painted on cave walls.
If beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder, nowhere is this more evident than in the response to
graffiti. To many graffiti is just ugly, anti-social daubs, while for their practitioners they represent
an expression of individuality in an impersonal world.

4. The Language of Graffiti Culture
“Writer”= A person who creates graffiti
“Toy”= A beginner graffiti artist
“Burner” = A well executed piece of graffiti displaying style
and emotion.
“Crew” = A group of graffiti writers who feel some sort of
cohesion and like to go writing together. A graffiti artist can
be part of more than one crew. Benefits in being part of a
crew is a pooling of ideas and supplies.

5. Misconceptions
of Graffiti Culture
All Graffiti is created by Gangs: While graffiti crews could be
considered gangs, they are not the kind that sell crack and walk
around with uzis. In large cities there is probably a fair amount
(maybe 10%) of "graffiti" that is done by gangs, but it is very
different in style. Graffiti artists consider Gang graffiti done in
poor taste, and done strictly for marking terrain. Question for
thought: Were impressionist, expressionist, fauvist, or other art
groups considered gangs?
Graffiti is created by minorities and poor people: Graffiti is
created by people of all color. Suburban, white kids, and rich
kids are just as much a part of graffiti crews and go to the city to
create graffiti.
Graffiti is and always will be illegal: By and large, yes. In the
United States, graffiti is an illegal act but there are still "legal
walls" -- places where writers can go to do murals without fear
of being arrested. Laws vary in other countries. In general, it is
illegal almost everywhere.
...and yes, women do graffiti too.

6. Where Graffiti is Legal
Hosier Lane, Melbourne, Australia
This famous spot is popular among tourists and artists alike. Located in the
southern edge of Melbourne, Hosier Lane allows for all kinds of street art.

7. Where Graffiti is Legal
Venice, California, United States
The Venice Graffiti Pit is world famous for being an open and creative space for street artists. It is not uncommon to
see an artist in the middle of working on a mural her. Artwork gets painted over by other artists in rapid succession.

8. Where Graffiti is Legal
Taipei, Taiwan
Many artists take
advantage of Taiwan’s legal
gray areas posting their
work all over the city.
Police officers openly admit
to not getting involved
unless there is an owner
complaint or property
damage.

9. Where Graffiti is Legal
Warsaw, Poland­­ Topiel Street provides ample wall space for writers and stencil art. No hassle from the local police

10. Where Graffiti is Legal
Queens, New York, United States
Dubbed 5Pointz, this full city
block in the Queens neighborhood
of Long Island City is almost
entirely covered by graffiti. Artists
who are interested in putting up
their work here must first be
reviewed and granted permission
by curator Meres One.

11. Where Graffiti is Legal
Legal tagging sites are sprinkled all
over France.
Many other places like Prague,
Switzerland, and Germany have legal
sites where graffiti is encouraged.

12. All graffiti is not
motivated by a simple
desire for self
advertisement, a
demand for
attention...

13. Graffiti Can Change Things
... some are an advertisement for a cause a propaganda tool.
Many anti-smokers, critics of the consumer
society - and even judges - are supportive
of the efforts of BUGA UP (BillboardUtilising Graffitists Against Unhealthy
Promotions) in defacing billboard
advertising for what they consider to be
harmful products.

14. B.U.G.A. U.P. Formed in 1978 in Austrailia by a group of
health professionals and others disgusted at the
prevalence of tobacco advertising, Billboard-Utilizing
Graffitists Against Unhealthy Promotions (B.U.G.A. U.P.)
rapidly made their mark on hoardings around the nation.
By cleverly revising advertising slogans and disrupting
tobacco sponsored events, the group revealed the true
cost of tobacco company deception. Having racked up
numerous fines and arrests over its 10 year existence,
B.U.G.A. U.P. formally wound up in 1994 as federal and
state governments finally began to take action to ban
tobacco advertising in newspapers and magazines, on
billboards, television and radio.

15. B.U.G.A.U.P Graffiti

16. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBIxScJ5rlY
John Mayer “Waiting on the World to Change”

17. Now... Let’s Talk...
What makes a
piece graffiti?
Style? Who did it?
Legality?
Technique?
Placement?
Content?

18. Graffiti Sources
http://matadortrips.com/10-places-where-graffiti-is-legal/
http://www.graffiti.org/fa
q/graffiti_questions.html