The Graffiti Subculture

Bomb It (2009)

Not originally hip hop Cornbread in Philly, 1967 Anonymous city, we are here, this is who we are “Bombers”; media called “writers” Criminalization; “Broken Windows”; Vandal Squad Art/Commerce vs. Bombing the system Underground v. Fame... Public v. Private Space...advertising and marketing? Space as a commodity...

Style Wars (1983)

PBS documentary, dir. Tony Silver with Henry Chalfant

An “opera” on graff writing, but also dance and rapping NO mention of DJing (shame on you!)

Graff as inter-racial, inter-class, inter-turf, etc. Subcultural capital v. Economic capital Art v. Crime; CAP; Writers v. System

Dialectical in this sense

Style Wars, Who's In It?

Rock Steady Crew Dez (aka DJ Kay Slay) Kase2 (“king of style”) Dondi Zephyr Skeem Seen (“godfather of graffiti”) Futura

Terms Tags:

Quantity vs. quality Throwups: Bombing: Piece: short for masterpiece (quality) Burner: Wild Style: for writers to read, own language/communication All City or “up”: King or queen Toy Writer's Bench (a battle, a burn w/ pieces) Racking paint

Macdonald (2001)

Ethnographic study of UK and NYC graff writers Looks at “structure” of graff subculture using the

“career” concept Financial reward is translated into symbolic capital:

FAME, recognition, status, respect Subcultural capital?

Graff as work and lifestyle Driven by competition to get up Graff name and style as brand or logo Media???

Macdonald Cont'd

Style is central (don't bite!) Trains as moving screens Reclaiming corporate spaces The more dangerous, the more respect CAREER:

1. Make a name 2. Be recognized 3. Retire (most subcultural capital; paid dues) 4. Go legal and “halls of fame”

Castleman (2004)

Media's role in shaping public's view of graffiti Media's role in shaping politics “Graffiti War” of 1972 1973, New York Magazine article, “Graffiti 'Hit'

Parade” Vandals v. Artists Is the problem graffiti? Is it the system?

Upski

• “Style is the process to an appealing end”

– Reinvent your own style

• Content: name, originality

• Location: maximize public visibility, bomb suburbs/rich, tags/throwups never over pieces

• Process: cleverness, risk, use of space... “Who is my audience and how can I possibly move them?”

Marc Eckō's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure (2006)

About the game Australia ban

Bomb the System (2002)

Dir. Adam Bhala Lough Mainly done by NYU film students First fictional graff film since Style Wars Fame Commercialism and Galleries Authenticity (re)claiming public space

From the Comics

• Establishing of Grandmaster Flash & Furious 5

– Battle, leads to the Funky Four + 1

• Bobby Robinson and Enjoy Records

• Spoonie Gee and Treacherous Three

• Mr. Magic, WHBI, first hip hop radio

• Big Bank Hank manages Casanova Fly

• Race to record rap records...