Graffiti: Art , Protest or Advertising? Photo

Photographer’s Note

I was surprised to see extensive graffiti beside the Roman Agora along the road to the Acropolis. I'll post details of some of the works in the WS.

I saw much less graffiti in Copenhagen & Oslo where I also saw a LOT of pregnant woman and small children. Aside from religious motivation, I think a willingness to have children indicates confidence in one’s society. I wondered if graffiti is related to dissatisfaction with one’s society. When I checked, the birthrate is rising in the Scandinavian countries while it is declining in Athens.
Then, as I read about Byzantine Churches being built of ancient temples (temples were saved from being torn down by being turned into churches); churches in turn became mosques, and then returned to churches. I wondered if graffiti was based on the impulse to destroy another’s valued symbols. However, further research revealed that there is official support for graffiti by the Athens authorities. Carpe Diem with the cooperation of Culture Ministry of Greece organized, the project Chromopolis during the Cultural Olympiad 2001-2004 to promote alternative forms of culture like graffiti.
Graffiti.org explains that the name comes from an Italian term for a method of ornamenting architectural plaster or pottery by etching into it - graffito, "little writing They say that “For many graffiti is synonymous with urban degeneration and is a sign of gang presence.” But they argue strongly for the artistic merit of graffiti: “An artistic movement more than thirty years strong…Its imagery is inspired by mass culture, defined by bright bold colors, strong sweeping lines, and emphasis on three-dimensionality. .. The very illegality of graffiti informs its aesthetics, subject matter, and even motivation. Stealth and speed are of the essence. Spraypaint and paint markers became the medium of choice, as one can apply large amounts of paint quickly...To a graffiti writer… blank walls are ugly and repressive… There is (also) an element of rebellion in graffiti-a protest through the defacement of property.”
A San Francisco blogger presents the protest view well when discussing an advertising agency’s ‘public service’ campaign to eradicate graffiti. He finds the anger aroused in the graffiti community ironic because advertising and graffiti have much in common. Like billboards, bench advertising, and flyers, graffiti art meets you on the street where you live. Depending on its content, it may be designed to elicit shock, anger, amusement, joy, desire, or introspection. While graffiti styles and techniques may be exportable to the gallery, the civic mural, and even the artist's canvas, many graffiti writers would agree with the belief that true graffiti is illegal by definition…In this view, graffiti is a protest against everything every successful ad agency stands for: the control of public space, the standardization of the environment, and the permission-based control of communication…It is transparently class-based: consider a commercial where the happy housewife boasts about how "clean" the servicemen are who come to clean the carpets in her spacious and otherwise spotless home. She isn't cruel so much as pathologically insensitive, and her steam-cleaned existence speaks to a dominant culture that runs roughshod over many in its pursuit of narrowly defined goals. This writer defends the stylized writing of one’s name as a protest by saying, ‘”The political nature of the act itself takes much of the pressure off of writers to supply politically-charged content; the accusation is implicit in the act, and the resulting image can be purely ornamental and still carry the same weight.”
Both of these graffiti sites, argue for the artistic merit of writing one’s name (tag) in a stylized fashion maintaining that the only distinguishing factor is illegality and not in any recognizeable message. However, one key element missing in both of these discussions is notoriety. Property can be defaced without leaving a signed confession. Further the failure to discriminate between a tag and a mural ignores the relative weight of individuality and the community. A tag glorifies the individual while a mural, not only is frequently accomplished by a group; but it presents a community or a social issue.

isabela_sor, cunejo200, Cormac, thor68, delic, lilimih33, john_c, gunbud, Floydian, kmarscher, edytungkal, darrasin, mphotographies, evanrizo, syd1946, feather, xuaxo, josepmarin, Gerrit, ktanska, jmcl, Bruno40, robertosalguero, Angshu, ruisc_pt, MarianneS, leonorkuhn, zmey, Flavia, danos has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

cunejo200 (7243) 2007-10-24 14:38

Hi Pat, Quite interesting to read your discourse on graffiti and society discontentment. Lighting is particularly good here and really showcases the graffiti. Well done and regards, Danilo

devimeuxbe (56532) 2007-10-24 14:42

Hi Pat
This urban art is interesting and with the light you get, it's a nice painting. Of course it's not a good reason to do such graffitis everywhere
Bertrand

Cormac (26461) 2007-10-24 14:48

I'm leaving this critique mainly as a result of your very interesting note, something that is often ignored or even totally lacking on TE. The shot of course illustrates the note perfectly, and it's interesting to note that graffiti is present in Athens (somehow I always associated it with the inner cities of America). Thanks for sharing!

mesutilgim (37583) 2007-10-24 15:00

Hi Pat,
Wondefull capture, very nice pov and great composition. Nice and bright colors and a nice sample of "art on street" . Super info's and hence a good and typical TE job !
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

delic (6735) 2007-10-24 15:17

Hello Pat,
Really great composition in warm light. I like that you opted to show the street rather than focusing on the graffiti. The write-up is just as good and interesting. Regards,
Hakan

lilimih33 (9874) 2007-10-24 16:01

Hello Pat!
Very good colours and light in your picture, but I must say, I don't like graffiti, especialy on houses... On the wall is acceptable, but still I don't like.
Intersting image...
Excellent done!
Best regards!
Lili

gunbud (28295) 2007-10-24 18:48

Hi Pat,
You display wonderful light management that highlights the urban art. The orgage roofs contrast nicely with the late day blue sky. Very thought provoking note about this modern form of expression. I hope we find you safe from the terrible fires in your area.
Regards, Tom

kmarscher (2881) 2007-10-24 19:59

Not your typical textbook photo of Athens! I appreciate the post and the dig into the reasons and societal trends in your notes. Nice lines and inviting staging to the shot. Creative!
Kathy

edytungkal (4521) 2007-10-24 20:13

Hello Pat,
Thanks for showing these interesting graffiti pictures (incl the ws) and for the notes. I see the graffiti action in my city too, i think they did it for an art or protest.
Nice warm picture with good of using the nature lighting.

daniel

darrasin (2860) 2007-10-24 20:35

Hi Pat! Very interesting and thought-provoking note along your fine photo. Colors and details are wonderful, composition is strong as well and really forces you to contemplate your feelings about graffiti.

TFS
Doug

Ann75 (0) 2007-10-24 20:47

Hi Pat,

Interesting photo with an excellent note and as many here I didn't really think you'd see this in Greece, so thanks for sharing that!! The POV is great with excellent lighting, amazing colours and beautiful details! Great work, Pat!

Greetings,
Ann

mphotographies (1976) 2007-10-24 21:10

Hey Pat,

Wonderful shot using both natural lighting and strong saturated palette where the graffiti are inscribed. Makes a bold statement and graphic art. The contrast of the orange and blue skies is also a subject in its own - Well done!

Cheers!

Jom

syd1946 (17999) 2007-10-24 23:18

Hello Pat,
Truly enjoyable image and very interesting note.I like very much this type of street art and I agree with many graffities as one way to resist.Plaka in Athens is one of favarite place to shooting and walking so I like very much your photo.I had take many photos also to this street.
Great presantation,including your note!

Wishes,
Thomas

thor68 (5539) 2007-10-25 0:59

yeah, interesting capture, i noticed a lot of graffiti in athens too, i don´t know why, but it just struck me.
ok, i see "wallpaintings" here in cologne too, just somehow not so obvious, but maybe i was more "alert" to that as it was vacation.
anyway, nice shot, love the sun, the light and the colors.
well seen & captured, thor.

feather (50560) 2007-10-25 3:23

I am impressed with the amount of research you are doing for your posts - above and beyond the call of duty. :) There will never be agreement about the merits of grafitti art. There's an English guy called Banksy who is obviously very intelligent and has cult status which grows as people claim not to know his true identity. He obviously has talent but his mode of expression is debatable.
As with your earlier work from this area of Athens you chose the perfect time of day to take advantage of the golden light. Very good all round work.
Kath

isabela_sor (42757) 2007-10-25 3:31

Here....each of them,I think!Anyway a very good theme,it deserves also a long discussion,but my poor English ....:(Still I want to say that I didn't see graffiti in Greece,not so more like in another places!True,I didnt visit Athens!Your POV was perfect to cover all street and I like how you composed this image
Hugs and greetings from Romania

delkoo (35024) 2007-10-25 4:03

hi pat
The fine light adds life to the photo, a view with a superb feeling of depth!
nicely done
didier

xuaxo (5911) 2007-10-25 6:03

Hi Pat
Interesting subject to discuss.

Graffiti: Art, Protest or Advertising?
Sometimes all of it, sometimes one of it, sometimes something else.
Often graffiti are just plain destruction, as it seems most of what we see in your post.
I'm not against graffiti when it's art of protest. But it depends on the place. And I'm against the graffiti when it is just destruction of walls.

Again, I wish that in these days of wildfires hell, you and your family remain safe and sound.
SAA. F.

evanrizo (456) 2007-10-25 6:53

Hi Pat, a stunning, a superb post.
The the earth colors are nice clear contrasted with the light blueish sky.
The POV and the lightness are ideal.
The notice very good.
TFS
Evan
I will come back...

Floydian (30970) 2007-10-25 7:12

Hello Patricia,
Wonderful warm light you captured here. Good light makes all the difference and you really had the best here. Perspective is also very well created just as your crop in a more pano look and feel...i like it a lot.
Regards, Henk

john_c (24635) 2007-10-25 7:52

Hi Pat,
Well composed in wonderful light. Your perspective is well chosen and there is good depth. The graffiti in my view is okay and may actually constitute an adornment of some exterior and interior walls such as were built in some of the more barren cultural eras of the 20th century, but in my view have no place in historic places nor religious facades, as that is showing extreme disrespect to the users of those buildings. Your note is fascinating and thanks for your useful research. Cheers.
John

josepmarin (34269) 2007-10-25 9:33

Hi Pat,

An excellent note to illustrate this composition. It is a social opened debate, though I have to say that I do not like the tags that "decorate" many fronts on my city. The grafitis can manage to be even artistic, but I think that they must be in regular places.
The photo is very good, its light and its shades are very elegant and give warmth to the image, which also has a great depth and a few magnificent colors.
I am glad that you and your family are nice and they have not affected the terrible fires that burn the south of California.
Nice work.
HLJ
Josep

Gerrit (36553) 2007-10-25 11:18

Hi Pat, fine observation and good composition,
The light is fantastic.
Regaqrds, gerrit

Scharan (13955) 2007-10-25 18:06

O que mais me chama a atenção nessa imagem Pat, não é este "vandalismo" todo que você registrou muito bem, mas sim a bela luz que incide sobre ele...
Aqui em São Paulo, infelizmente já existem "códigos" entre os assaltantes, para informar os horários mais favoráveis para roubar as casas "marcadas".
Muito bom trabalho, amei o contraste do azul do céu com o dourado das casas.
GA
Vera.

ktanska (16743) 2007-10-26 4:05

Hi Pat,
Of those, I'd say protest. I don't like most of the graffiti, and these look just messages inside this subculture.
Your shot catches feeling of a sidestreet with nice Greek architecture on excellent low, warm light.
Kari

toto (18783) 2007-10-26 7:38

Belle photo de ces graffitis, certains sont vraiment des artistes, d' autres vraiment moches, tout est relatif.Comme pour savoir si il sagit d' art ou du fait de voyoux, c' est a voire de quel cotés on se place,pour les taggeurs, ils diront que c' est de l' art et certains ont raison,il font de belles oeuvres, mais les gens a qui appartiennent ces maisons ne doivent pas apprécier l' art du tout.Il serait temps que les communautés comme dans certaines villes prévoient certains endroit pour ces gens qui font un véritable travail d' artiste.
Amitiés Thomas
Je reviens

jmcl (14183) 2007-10-26 18:35

Hi Pat,

Beautiful light .. you are right it is really a unique mood to see the graffiti near this ancient wall .. but also I don't think I have seen graffiti so "warm" .. between the light and wall color .. very thoughtful image.

take care,

John

lisadang (504) 2007-10-27 19:25

Interesting capture,great lighting,good shot.

pablominto (41690) 2007-10-27 23:52

Hello Pat,
Graffiti... pest or pleasure, well I guess both and all in between!
Your image is blessed with the finest warm light from the setting sun, rendering great colours in this well composed frame!
Good lead-in and fine details, attractive colours indeed!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Bruno40 (6442) 2007-10-29 7:29

Hi Pat,
Lovely photo, I love teh warm colours of the buildings against the blue sky.
Your note is very infomative. Good work.
But, I do not like grafitti, anywhere. Unless done on a canvas .. or on a wall with the permission of the owner.
TFS
Jorge

robertosalguero (110) 2007-10-30 2:54

Hello Pat,

I see people all over the world are very talented graffiti artists. This street seem to have lots of it and perhaps reflect on the same needs of many people in North America. I see graffiti as a form of art, though a very expensive one for city hall and businesses. Good colours and light. You caught a nice scene here Pat. Thanks :-)

Roberto

Paolo (40763) 2007-10-30 10:27

Hi Patricia, beautiful image, with wodnerufl light and beautiful colours, high quality too and an interesting question about graffiti.
I think that someones can be classified as art, but the most part, as the ones in the pictures are just vandalism.
My city, Milano, is unfortnuately "under attack" from more than 20 years by graffitis, all the buildings of the cities are covered, monuments, statutes, art sculptures around the streets, subway, trains, bridges...all is painted with thousands of tags.
Municipality spent money and time to clean all the painted surfaces...but is a war against the windmills!
ciao

Angshu (34243) 2007-11-03 21:28

Hi Pat
The light is sublime and brings out the colour of the wall very well. Your note makes a strong & interesting read...you've done some solid research before you wrote this. I normally used to associate graffiti art with US (my ignorance) & I was surprised to see the similar work in Athens. In our country graffiti work is not common, but what we have is the defacing of the walls largely by the political parties as a free advertisement for their candidate (electoral) or otherwise. I consider it much more of an eyesore because there's absolutely no artwork involved there at all.
Regards
Angshu

ruisc_pt (6213) 2007-11-04 9:51

Your issue and discussion about the grafitti and it's relation with socio and political regions is quite interesting Pat..
Well the image is great "comme il fault".
H
R

leonorkuhn (14379) 2007-11-15 13:07

Hi Pat,

I don't like all these "forms of expression". In Brazil gangs of misadjusted do it.
The image is good, nice light of the afternoon, good perspective and beautiful colors and details.

Greetings
Leonor

zmey (7282) 2007-11-19 11:13

hi pat. a very informative photo and even more informative note. wow, i learned a lot about grafiti from your post. TFS.

with kind regards,
kristaps

p.s. if you have a chance check out woladorsky's recent swedish grafitti photos.

MarianneS (14686) 2007-11-20 5:24

Hi Pat,
Thank you for your note. It is often difficult for me to understand people making graffitis anywhere but your note encourages me to open my mind and see the graffiti from another point of view (at least partly).
I like the colours of your picture : the light gives some softness to these walls and help to see these tags as art instead of agressiveness Well done.

turkamerikali (4772) 2007-11-22 14:11

Hi Pat,
Colorful Street shot my friend.
I like your POV,colors,focus,sharpness,note,blue sky and framing.TFS
CT

Flavia (10202) 2007-11-29 6:07

Hi Pat,

Nice series form your trip to Greece, but this one seems to me the strongest one. The composition works perfectly with clear lines and lead. The light is gorgeous and the theme stimulating. An amazing documentary picture very well documented in your note.

Take Care,

Flavia

banyanman (7739) 2008-04-01 7:29

I spotted this in your randoms, Pat, and I'm surprised that I missed it before because the warm colours are wonderful, and the graffiti adds an interesting element to your photograph. Interesting and thought provoking note too. Cheers . . . David

danos (33730) 2009-04-14 19:49

Hello Pat,
i have seen these graffiti in the roads of Plaka and especially on the walls of the houses of the Roman Agora.I don't know if people like this kind of art,same of them are excellent,but the best number or then are worse.Young people that write graffiti search intensively for walls to create their art work.

Regards from Vancouver,Danos