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The Graffiti Subculture

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...

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The Graffiti Subculture

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  1. The Graffiti Subculture

  2. 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...

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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???

  7. 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”

  8. 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?

  9. 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?”

  10. Marc Eckō's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure (2006) • About the game • Australia ban

  11. 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

  12. 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...

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