See also:  
           [Dadaism] (in-ex-pen-sive fire insurance)

           [Art Movements]
           [Time Line]

Graffiti

On this page:  {Dictionary of Art} (extract)
               {The Usual Suspects}
               {Dictionary of Terms}
               {Notes}


To quote from The Dictionary of Art,

  Graffiti:  Term applied to an arrangement of instutionally
             illicit marks in which there has been an attempt
  to establish some sort of coherent composition; such marks
  are made by an individual or individuals (not generally
  professional artists [NOTE 1]) on a wall or other surface
  [NOTE 2] that is visually accessible to the public. The 
  term "graffiti" derives from the Greek "graphein" (to write).
  Graffiti (singular graffito) or Sgraffito, meaning a drawing
  of scribling on a flat surface, originally refered to those
  marks found on ancient Roman architecture. 

  Although examples have been found at such sites as Pompeii,



Techniques


Again from the DoA:  (P.269)

  Because of the illicit [NOTE 3] nature of Graffiti, a tin of paint
  and a brush are impractical, while spatial considerations may
  make pen or pencil ineffective. To accomodate the need for 
  size, visability, speed and convenience, the ideal vehicle
  is the spray-can, which combines medium and applicator into
  one relatively small parcel; spray-paint may be applied to 
  most surfaces [again, see {NOTE 2}].

  Different-sized nozzles are used to achieve various effects,
  for example, a thin line as opposed to a wide band of paint.
  Almost anything may, however, serve as a substitute: The 
  aforementioned pen, penci, paint and brush, as well as 
  chisels, kives, felt-tip markers, blood, or even a finger
  on a dirty wall or window.  [See NOTE 42, for Pizo'z comments].




The Usual Suspects

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Dictionary of Terms

     {Breaking it down}
     {Cryptic}  
     {Political}
     {Tags}

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Breaking it Down
Opposite of *cryptic. This means explaining something so
that almost any passer by can understand the message. This 
can often be social commentary (see: [Pop Art (type 2)])
directed at the middle class; ie, the [Bourgeios].

To (once again) quote the [Art Dictionary]:

   If a community's ideological focus is geared towards
   the larger society or the politics of the larger 
   state, the messages that graffiti project are usually
   easier to read, lacking in {cryptic} encoding
   and generally not as stylized.     Pp. 269-270.


Comments can be part of a conversation (the most memorable 
occurence being a series of "slides" with ideas expressed
in words and images, the final slide saying simply:
    
     You still don't know who I am.

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Cryptic
The opposite of {Breaking it down}. These are 
messages directed to an inside group that use symbols, etc to 
communicate to a specific group or audience. Again, according
to the [Dictonary of Art]:

   Communities that produce graffiti (as opposed to 
   the individual 'scribbler') may target cryptic
   messages towards their own closed community,
   producing a seemingly confusing and un-readable
   product. The writes may not sign their real names;
   they instead employ the use of nicknames, codes 
   and symbols within stylized aesthetic systems.

   This type of graffiti is geard towards people who
   already understand the messages and may act to 
   enhance group solidarity.  -- P. 269.


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Political
The use of graffiti for political criticsm parallels the use
in [Rap} as well as in [Pop Art (type 2)].

Again, from the [Diconary of Art]:
   
   ... politcal graffiti may combine with other artistic
   and expressive forms such as poster and comic book
   production, mural painting, newspaper and pamphlet
   production and political art exhibitions. 

   The marks may represent the work of un-recognized or
   under-ground political groups, radical student move-
   ments or simply dis-satisfied individuals. Political
   grafitti may also arise from sudden emergency 
   situaltions (eg, riots) or in response to con-current 
   political legislation and party politics.  -- P.270.   

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Tags
A *tag* is the signature of the artist. It is usually considered
a v. important aspect of the artist's work, being highly styled
and usually reflecting the chararacter/intent/focus/style, etc
of the artist. 


Chronology



Notes


[1] Heaven forfend! That "well and proper PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS"
    should ever take to DEFACING PUBLIC PROPERTY. THIS IS AN
AFFRONT OF THE MOST HEINIOUS ORDER (OR THE MOST HYENNAS ODOR).
An investigation is under way, and authorities assure us that
the purpurtrators of these ART CRIMES!!!! will be apprehanded
forth-with, or at the very least appricot footed fifth-without!
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[2] This is an unfortunate fallacy that is *still* perpetuated.
    Common "site-specific" instances of the painting substrate
(matrix) include the sides of buidlings, sidewalks, streets
(paved usually, but with the much noted recent works by 
Jackie Winsor, Robert Smithson, etc.
We can see the application to dirt roads, desert areas, etc;
also refer to: Jean-Claude and Christo).
Also, in terms of a prepared surface, craft paper (or 
other material: canvas, cloth, gunny sacks, or any other
object travavere ?sp? or object truhfay (found object, or
an object in the process of being found (encountered; sense 4).
In theory humans (elephants, etc) could be used to "paint"
the graffiti upon. 
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[3] Or so the "art loving public" would like to believe.
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[42] As the war with Iraq trudged on (has it *really* been
     two whole years -- today they are staging a protest
ralley in Denton, wonder how that's going; damit, wish i
had enough money for gas to go up there!). I would go 
around the grocery store, and open the freezer doors
and breath on them a bit, they would fog up, i would then
close the freezer doors and wait (usually by the time i 
got done with 4 or 5 doors, the first one would be done.
Then using my finger, i would "scratch" through the layer
of ice that had formed -- writing backwards things like:

   "Drop Bush not Bombs"   or  "Reject George Bush"

These would stay up for quite a while -- depending upon 
the traffic through the frozen foods area.

The article IS excellent, i had forgotten the classic 
graffiti to be marked on a dirty car or truck:

    "WASH ME!"
or
    "TEST DIRT"

(on the hood of the Art Mobile, i once wrote in the dirt:

       CHEVROLET TEST LABS

           TEST DIRT 

        SAMPLE #103-42-C

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