Waubonsee Community College

The popular history of graffiti, from the ancient world to the present, Fiona McDonald

eng

Includes bibliographical references (page 223) and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

The popular history of graffiti

bibliography

829446077

Fiona McDonald

from the ancient world to the present

What is graffiti? And why have we, as a culture, had the urge to do it since 30,000 BCE? Cultural historian Amanda Hallay explores the ways in which graffiti works to forever compel and simultaneously repel us as a society. When did graffiti turn into graffiti art, and why do we now pay thousands of dollars for a Banksy print when just twenty years ago, seminal graffiti artists from the Bronx were thrown into jail for having the same idea? Graffiti has not always been imbued with a sense of aesthetic, but when and why did we suddenly "decide" that it is worthy of consideration and criticism, just within the past few years? Throughout history, graffiti has served as an innately individualistic expression (such as Viking graffiti on the walls of eighth-century churches), but it has also evolved into a visual and narrative expression of a collective group. Graffiti brings to mind not only hip-hop culture and urban landscapes, but petroglyphs, tree trunks strewn with carved hearts symbolizing love, and million-dollar works of art. Learn about more graffiti artists and rebels such as: the band Black Flag, Lee Quinones and Fab 5 Freddy, Dandi, Zephyr, Blek le Rat, Nunca, Keith Haring, and more! Illustrated with stunning full-color photos of graffiti throughout time. -- Provided by publisher

Prehistoric graffiti -- Graffiti in ancient civilizations -- Medieval graffiti -- Graffiti up until thw twentieth century -- Modern-day graffiti -- Street art and urban artisits -- Beyond traditional graffiti