Graffiti has existed since ancient times and continues as an important form of creative expression today. Watch the following videos on contemporary artists Barry McGee (b. 1966) and Margaret Kilgallen (d. 2001) and the beginning of a clip on Roman Emperor Hadrianâs legacy for examples of early graffiti. Discuss how graffiti can convey a sense of history, and whether you think graffiti can be art.
http://vimeo.com/6547737
Groups 4, 5, and 6: Please submit posts by Thursday, 10/6
Groups 1, 2, and 3: Please comment on a classmateâs post by Thursday, 10/6
Please note: due to school closure on Sept 28, you have TWO weeks to post/comment on this discussion topic
Donât forget to log in to your OpenLab account and join the class (request membership!) in order to add a blog post.
See instructions on how to âpostâ and âcommentâ under âBlogging Guidelinesâ above
I do believe that graffiti is a form of art. In the first video it showed a woman who is so interested in the paintings on a building which she says that no one would have noticed because the city is so busy. Many believe that graffiti are just words that no one can recognize, but I think it is a form of expression. Graffiti to me shows the risks that artists are willing to take to show different froms of art that may not always be understood. Graffiti can also convey a sense of history because in the second video it showed that many left ancient graffiti marks on many famous sructures. Even a poet left her mark by leaving a peom on the left leg of the statue.
I agree with Deannie that graffiti is a form of art. It is a form of expression just like any other type of art, whether is painting, photography, sculpture…. And yes, I think that the whole thing about graffiti being so popular is that it gives you the freedom of creating something that belongs to you and with what you are distinguished, and of course the adrenaline of being caught. That is the risk that artists are “addicted from” I would say. There was a comment in the first link that only certain people have to a lot of space, and thus the graffiti artists use public spaces to share their ideas with everyone.
B. Bartolomeo says: “It can be said that graffiti, therefore, is a reflection on the relationship between art and society, and consequently, this raises the question as to the authenticity of art in the public world. Society has the ability to change and alter the boundaries and “walls”, which define what is art. Though graffiti may not presently be categorized as a type of art, it must, however, be appreciated as a medium by which it is possible to reach particular individuals. The anthropologist would affirm that this ability to serve humanity makes this linguistic medium a critical part of our culture.”
Good quote, and nice connection to the social aspects of this public form of art
I agree as well because I see graffiti as Art and how you can express your self in your individual way. This graffiti show us how they graffiti there work to make it different from the other and to give it more meaning. when you write on something you are giving it personality and meaning. It really depend how you use graffiti because if it us for good people are going to admire it and if is us just to write anything on a wall people arent going to care about it to much.
Another excellent point, which makes you wonder what is ‘good’ graffiti, what is ‘bad’? is there criteria for evaluating graffiti?