Graffiti: an Alternative Communication Media Claudia Weiss, Anita Mettler

Graffiti: an Alternative Communication Media Definition History Negative and Positive Aspects Creative Process Place > Spots Public Reception Themes -> Zeitgeist Medial Aspects Conclusion

Definition „ markings, as initials, slogans, or drawings, written, spray-painted, or sketched on a sidewalk, wall of a building or public restroom, or the like” (Online Dictionary) „Graffiti ist ein Oberbegriff für viele thematisch und gestalterisch unterschiedliche Erscheinungsformen. Die Gemeinsamkeit besteht darin, dass es sich um visuell wahrnehmbare Elemente handelt, welche ungefragt und meist anonym, von Einzelpersonen oder Gruppen auf fremden oder in öffentlicher Verwaltung befindlichen Oberflächen angebracht werden“ (Siegl 60) Graffiti ist ein Oberbegriff für viele thematisch und gestalterisch unterschiedliche Erscheinungsformen. Die Gemeinsamkeit besteht darin, dass es sich um visuell wahrnehmbare Elemente handelt, welche ungefragt und meist anonym, von Einzelpersonen oder Gruppen auf fremden oder in öffentlicher Verwaltung befindlichen Oberflächen angebracht werden

Origin Italian „graffiare“ = scratch used to describe a specific technique of facade decoration (Sgraffito) (Siegl 11)

History belongs to our cultural history : as Northoff says Schrift-Kultur(en)konstante or ‘ancient as human communication’ (179) Before the invention of clay tablets and papyrus Pompeii: 15,000 wall messages Victor Hugo->The Hunchback of Notre Dame WWII The White Rose Movement Jewish shops: Star of David Hafelekar: swastika (Hakenkreuz) Clay tablets: Bronze Age (third millenium BCE) Pompeii: 6th/7th century BC > under Romans in 80 BC German anti-Nazi resistance movement : White Rose (the symbol of the white rose was intended to represent purity and innocence in the face of evil)

Contemporary History colour spray can -> writers Cultural Phenomenon 70s (NY) Hip Hop graffiti hunter (Siegl 13-14) US army – toilet messages – evaluete- moral of the troups, hip hop

Why drawing graffiti? Rooftop

Why drawing graffiti? POSITIVE ASPECTS: to come out from the big cities' anonymity and isolation To show they have something to say. They want the others to know about them/ kind of self expression To show their art (prospect of fame and recognition of one's talent) to beautify the place

Why drawing graffiti? NEGATIVE ASPECTS: to deface property Gang related marking territory

Creative Process scratched and carved “Walk of fame” Graffiti stencils/pochoirs ≠ unique piece of work stencils (Schablonen) = PAQUAIA(R)S This art form can be made from paper, cardboard, photocopy and computer aided software. Photoshop is the dominant .technique for most artists. This form is used because it is easier to use and it gives you the option to create many designs. After producing the design, the user cuts out the design and then spray paint the design.

Creative Process painted (Wildstyle) Tagging (Tag: abbreviation of a signature) “throw-ups” (quickly painted pictures/graffiti > a quickpiece) “pieces” Aim > becoming a respected member of a crew (from ‘toy’ to ‘master’) - innovative style - to be present toy: unexperienced writer (= apprenticeship) Tag: abbreviation of a signature Throw-ups: quickly painted pictures/graffiti > a quickpiece Creating competition (overspraying is offensive)

Place > Spots Motive : a message to be seen!! Legal and illegal places Legal places for graffiti writers Südrings and Olympia world subways: Reichenau, Höttingen Au Motiv -

Legal Graffitis

Illegal Graffitis

Public Reception Traditionally negative > vandalism, gangs Positive changes: Educative aspect > team-work skills, respect, bring a job to an end, apprenticeship in a crew Workshop > Slurry tanker Jauchenwagen

Zeitgeist: Political Themes Wikileaks revelations

Zeitgeist: Sex, Love, Relationship

Zeitgeist: Artistic Productions

Zeitgeist: Sport

Medial aspects alternative media voice of the average people independent from the mainstream horizontal communication ≠ vertical Two levels of communication: Encoded > for the members of the crew or for other writers For the ‚normal‘ recipient > the passing by person The goal remains the same > wanting to communicate: either with the aim to be understood by few or many OR just for the matter of expressing oneself

Conclusion Two levels of communication: Encoded > for the members of the crew or for other writers For the ‚normal‘ recipient/the passing by person The goal is the same > wanting to communicate: either with the aim to be understood by few or many OR just for the matter of expressing oneself

Works Cited Bezirks Blätter“ Scheiße im und auf dem alten Jauchewagen.“ Stadtblatt Innsbruck vol.33. 16 August 2012. Web. 27 June 2013 Brauer, Robert. History-Die Anfänge des Hip-Hop: Graffiti. 2010. Web. 27 June 2013 Christen, Richard S. Hip Hop Learning: Graffiti as an Ecuador of Urban teenagers. Fall 2003. Web. 27 June 2013 Northoff, Thomas. Graffiti: Die Sprache an den Wänden. Wien: Löcker, 2005.Print. Siegl, Norbert. Graffiti Enzyklopädie: Von Kyselak bis HipHop-Jam. Wien: Österreich. Kunst- und Kulturverlag, 2001.Print. Online Dictionary http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/graffiti