FWTV - The HISTORY of GRAFFITI in under FIVE MINUTES.

Summary

This video delves into the origins and evolution of graffiti, tracing its roots from prehistoric wall markings to its modern-day prominence. Focused on the rise of graffiti in post-1960s North America and Europe, it explores key figures like Cornbread and Taki 183, the cultural significance of graffiti in New York’s subway system, and its eventual expansion to Europe. The video also highlights graffiti’s relationship with hip-hop, punk, and the internet, along with the ongoing tension between artistic expression and legal constraints. Despite global recognition, graffiti faces increasing penalties, prompting calls for reform in laws surrounding it.

Takeaways

• 😀 Graffiti as we know it today emerged in the 1960s in New York and Philadelphia, with early examples traced back to Spanish Harlem.
• 😀 The movement gained momentum in the late 60s and early 70s, with artists like Cornbread, Carell, and Taki 183 leading the charge in New York.
• 😀 The battle for 'all-city' status became a driving force for graffiti artists, with a focus on getting their tags on subway trains.
• 😀 In 1972, New York's mayor declared a war on graffiti, spending $300 million over the next 17 years to remove it.
• 😀 Despite this, graffiti reached its golden age in the mid-70s, with a boom in styles like wild style and bubble letters.
• 😀 By 1979, graffiti was gaining recognition as a cultural phenomenon, with the first major graffiti exhibition in Rome, Italy, featuring artists like Lee Quinones and Fab 5 Freddy.
• 😀 Graffiti's relationship with hip-hop culture grew in prominence, but its roots were also intertwined with punk music and socio-political art.
• 😀 In the 1980s, tougher regulations, such as stricter train yard security and new cart cleaning systems, began to affect graffiti culture in New York.
• 😀 Graffiti spread globally, influencing cultures in Europe, especially the UK, where it merged with British wall writing traditions.
• 😀 The arrival of the internet and social media platforms like Instagram revolutionized graffiti by providing artists with unprecedented exposure and a global audience.

Q & A

What is the origin of graffiti as we know it today?

Graffiti, as we know it today, began in the early 1960s in Spanish Harlem, New York, where people started marking their names and street numbers on walls using chalk and paint.

Who were some of the early influential graffiti artists in New York?

Some of the early influential graffiti artists in New York include Cornbread Carell and Taki 183, who helped popularize graffiti in the 1960s and 1970s.

What was the significance of Taki 183 in the graffiti movement?

Taki 183 was one of the most notorious graffiti artists in New York during the 1960s and 1970s. He became famous for tagging his name across the city, contributing significantly to the growth of the graffiti culture.

How did the city of New York react to the growing graffiti movement in the early 1970s?

In response to the growing graffiti movement, New York’s mayor John Lindsay declared a war on graffiti in 1972, spending millions of dollars to remove graffiti from subway cars.

What developments occurred in the graffiti scene during the 1970s?

The 1970s saw graffiti artists evolving their styles, moving from simple tags to more elaborate designs like bubble letters and wild-style productions. The competition to get noticed led artists to focus on quality, quantity, and strategic locations for their works.

How did the art world react to graffiti during the late 1970s and early 1980s?

In 1979, graffiti gained recognition in the art world with the first graffiti exhibition at Galerie la Medusa in Rome, featuring artists like Lee Quinones and Fab 5 Freddy. By the early 1980s, graffiti had become a legitimate art form, with notable exhibitions in New York, including the Outlaw Art Show.

What role did graffiti play in the broader cultural movements of the 1980s?

In the 1980s, graffiti became closely tied to the emerging hip-hop culture, alongside breakdancing, turntablism, and MCing. Artists like Fab 5 Freddy and Futura collaborated with musicians, helping to cement graffiti’s place in the hip-hop scene.

How did the government attempt to control graffiti in the 1980s?

By the mid-1980s, following the implementation of the Broken Windows theory, the state tightened regulations on spray paint, and security around train yards was increased. These efforts reduced the authenticity of graffiti, making it harder for artists to work freely.

How did graffiti culture spread to Europe?

Graffiti culture spread to Europe in the early 1980s, influenced by the American graffiti scene. The UK, for example, had its own tradition of wall writing, but American-style graffiti became prominent after the influence of New York's graffiti artists.

What impact did the internet and social media have on the graffiti scene?

The arrival of the internet, blogs, and platforms like Instagram revolutionized the graffiti scene by providing unprecedented access to graffiti images and information, making the movement global and allowing real-time sharing of artwork.

How is graffiti perceived in modern times, and what legal challenges do artists face?

Today, graffiti is widely recognized in contemporary art, fashion, and even political activism. However, graffiti artists still face severe legal consequences for their work, as laws and penalties have become stricter over time.