Graffiti, The Punk Movement, Hip-Hop Culture, and Socioeconomic Oppression
Advisor: Ms. Erica Quihuiz
Internship Location: Independent Artist, Bay Area
Onsite Mentor: Holly Wilson
In this project, my main goal is to explore the evolution of graffiti throughout history and how socioeconomic oppression plays a role in the evolution of art. I aim to combine my love for music with my love for an innovative, unique kind of art. Graffiti thrives in social/political unrest and economic instability, which is why it is so heavily associated with the Punk and Hip-Hop movements. These movements say a lot about capitalism and consumerism. I hope to show the influence of socioeconomic oppression as well as music of the time on graffiti art evolution. I will map a timeline of various tools, styles, and locations of graffiti pieces and artists in relation to major events in the United States and in relation to Punk and Hip-Hop music. I plan to explore Bay Area graffiti by taking BART and walking around cities with a lot of graffiti art. I also plan to explore Mission Street in San Francisco as well as the streets of Oakland. This project will include a visual element, a portfolio on the most common and widespread Bay Area writers containing photograph examples of their art along with locations pinned to show their path. I will be combining the artist portfolios, timeline, graffiti-density map of the Bay Area, and other research to create my final product, a ~1.5 hour documentary that I will submit to various streaming platforms once completed.
Project Blog
Week 0: Graffiti - Artists or Vandals?
When we glance out the window as we travel along a highway, we often catch sight of vibrant, provocative art on the walls and barriers. These striking graffiti pieces, with their detailed lettering and unique styles, speak volumes about the socio-political climate in which they were created.
Hey people! My name is Laasya Chandrapaty and I'm a senior at BASIS Independent Fremont. I chose my senior project topic on a topic I have never explored before, graffiti. I’m so excited to take you along my journey researching the socioeconomic impacts of graffiti, the punk movement, and hip-hop culture.
To gain a deeper understanding of graffiti's evolution, I plan to travel through the Bay Area, exploring the graffiti art along the BART line and in cities including San Francisco and Oakland. Through photographs and artist portfolios, I aim to showcase the diversity of styles of graffiti artists and the impact of historical events, economic conditions, punk ideologies, and hip-hop culture on their work. I hope to gain insight into the ongoing influence of sociological and political unrest and economic instability on artistic expression. Graffiti is a reminder of how powerful art is. It gives artists freedom and challenges the status quo, allowing people to envision a more equal society.
So why do graffiti pieces appear both similar and unique? What drives people to use spray cans, markers, and other materials to leave their mark on the urban landscape? Why are there random words that aren't even in the dictionary spray painted on walls? To find out the answers to these questions and more, check back weekly for blog updates!
Week 1: What's Up, Beautiful Losers?
Hi everyone! It’s Laasya, back again with an update on my senior project :).
This week’s goal was to find sources such as documentaries and books that focus on graffiti and start studying them. Another goal for this week was to start drafting a rough outline for the final documentary structure.
On Monday, I spent around 1.5 hours at the library searching for books on graffiti and picked a couple that delved into the history of graffiti as well as specific artists. I also looked at websites and documentaries to study for the week.
The books I picked out were:
Global Street Art: The Street Artists and Trends Taking Over the World by Lee Bofkin
Graffiti 365 by Jay Edlin
Graffiti and Street Art by Anna Wacławek
Subway Art by Henry Chalfant and Martha Cooper
The documentaries I picked out were:
Beautiful Losers (2008)
Bomb It (2007)
Exit Through The Gift Shop (2010)
One of my favorite websites was EndlessCanvas.com. It has a little less content than other websites I found, but what made it stand out was that it focused on Bay Area graffiti and it had a section for interviews with graffiti artists.
Throughout the week, I worked on reading the first book, Global Street Art: The Street Artists and Trends Taking Over the World by Lee Bofkin, and exploring the history of graffiti. I also worked on the rough outline for my documentary, including the placement of interviews, images of graffiti history, etc.
The documentary Beautiful Losers was a work of art. It fit perfectly into my project because it explored the intricate connections between punk and hip hop music, skateboarding, and graffiti. I recommend y’all watch it to better understand my project. It’s free on YouTube. Here’s the link: Beautiful Losers (2008) (Graffiti Movie)
Thank you so much for following my research journey and I’ll see you next week!
Week 2: Who Doesn't Love Cornbread?
Hi guys! Welcome to Week 2 of my senior project blog.
So this week I focused on 2 main topics: outlining my documentary and creating a timeline of graffiti’s evolution. I also did some more research on graffiti in general and took a couple of pictures.
I dedicated time to creating and detailing the outline for my documentary. This involved sketching out the key themes, narratives, and structure that will guide my project. It was challenging to make all of the different aspects flow well, however it was rewarding to see my vision take shape. I’m most excited about doing interviews asking people about their views on graffiti and street art.
The timeline of graffiti’s evolution was very intriguing to me. My favorite time period to explore was the late 60s - 70s, when graffiti was developing, expanding, and growing worldwide. Writers like Cornbread (first recognized graffiti writer) in Philadelphia and Phase 2 in NYC developing more elaborate styles.
1971: The New York Times publishes an article on graffiti culture, bringing mainstream attention to the phenomenon.
Late 1970s: Graffiti spreads to other cities across the United States and internationally, becoming synonymous with urban youth culture.
The 1980’s were also pretty cool to explore due to the rise of hip hop culture and how graffiti artists channeled the culture into a form of expression and identity.
I think that’s about it for today’s post. Come back again next week for updates!
Week 3: Housing Crises and HOTEL, Graffiti as Protest
Hi guys! I was pretty sick this week, so I only have a couple of minor updates. This post is going to be a lot more information-heavy.
This week I was able to finalize a list of artists I plan on making portfolios for. I have pictures and examples of some of their work to share. Following is a link to some pictures I took of the artists' work. There are many more artists on the list that I haven’t gotten pictures of yet, so stay tuned for the portfolios!
Link to Images (Note: MFB’s tag accompanies their trademark thumbs-up character)
A lot of these artists seem to be working together as well, with similar color schemes and locations. A few examples are shown through:
HIDRO and CHUBY with the same color schemes. MFB tag on far left. THOR tag in between as well as on the barrier.
THOR and BABY in yellow-orange, as well as a HOTEL tag with what seems to be a pressure-washer tool.
I was also able to start making a list of questions to go on a survey about graffiti. I took a deeper look into the book Graffiti by Jay “J.SON” Edlin and I plan to include descriptions from that book in my documentary.
Something that shows the use of graffiti to make political statements is the graffiti around Lake Merritt in Oakland. The graffiti speaks on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
I think this instance, as well as the spray painting of abandoned skyscrapers in LA, shows the way that graffiti is used as a form of protest.
The three abandoned skyscrapers in LA were under development from 2015, until construction was halted in 2019. Since then, those skyscrapers have just been taking up space that could be used to construct more housing, or any useful architecture. Graffiti artists painted these skyscrapers, making a statement that it wasn’t personal property or an actively used building.
From NBC News, “I think it’s almost a metaphor,” she said. “We start things and don’t finish them, and then we get mad. People end up losing money, and then people end up losing jobs because they’re not working.”
There’s a really interesting article that includes an interview with artist ACTUAL. Here is the link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/art/2024/02/08/los-angeles-graffiti-building/
There was another scenario in 2021 due to a housing crisis in which UC Berkeley was hit with graffiti as its development displaced large amounts of people. The links to the articles are here: https://itsgoingdown.org/bay-area-sees-graffiti-in-solidarity-with-those-displaced-by-uc-berkeley-development/
https://www.berkeleyside.org/2021/03/09/uc-berkeley-development-peoples-park-vandalism-graffiti
I hope you checked out the links, and I’ll see you next time!
Week 4: Pompeii to the Present
Hi everyone! Over this week, I was able to explore the history and cultural significance of graffiti, learning about its evolution from ancient civilizations to urban landscapes. I worked mainly on the timeline aspect of my project this week. (I still have to gather a bit more information.) For this blog post, I thought I would share some of the cool things I learned about graffiti while I was putting together this timeline.
Graffiti can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Greece, where inscriptions and drawings were found on walls and monuments. Graffiti was found in the ruins of Pompeii, dating back to 79 CE. Common themes for graffiti varied from intimacy and wine to politics and money.
Fast forward to the 20th century, graffiti took on new forms and meanings. In the 1940s, "Kilroy was here" became a ubiquitous symbol among American soldiers during World War II, found all over military bases worldwide. Later, the invention of the aerosol spray can by Edward Seymour in 1949 would later revolutionize the graffiti art form, providing artists with a new medium for expression.
Rise of Modern Graffiti:
The 1960s witnessed the emergence of modern graffiti culture, with notable writers like Taki 183 making their mark on the walls and subway trains of New York City. In the late 1960s and 1970s, there was a rise in graffiti art, particularly in urban areas like New York and Philadelphia. Writers like Cornbread and Phase 2 pioneered more elaborate styles, while organizations like United Graffiti Artists helped bring graffiti into galleries and the mainstream art world.
The connections between graffiti, punk, and hip-hop are undeniable. Artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat blurred the boundaries between these subcultures, infusing their work with elements of street art, music, and activism. The influence of hip-hop on the art world is profound, as evidenced by its seminal impact on artists and galleries alike.
Graffiti is more than just paint on walls—it's a reflection of society, a form of self-expression, and a catalyst for change.
Follow along in my research journey and make sure to come back next Friday for another blog post!
Week 5: London and New York
Hi guys! Today I wanted to dive deeper into the connectedness between hip hop and punk culture and how they both influenced graffiti in different areas of the world.
In the Bronx during the 1970s, a cultural revolution was rapidly evolving. Emerging from the issues of urban decay and social unrest, hip-hop culture offered a voice and a stage to marginalized communities, empowering them to reclaim their narratives and celebrate their identities. Graffiti was known as one of the four foundational elements of hip-hop along with DJing, MCing, and breakdancing.
Graffiti became the visual aspect of hip-hop as a vibrant expression of urban life and creativity. Through artists like Dondi and Lady Pink and the absolutely iconic subway trains painted with colorful tags and intricate pieces, graffiti became synonymous with hip-hop culture, reflecting urban youth's struggles, dreams, and aspirations.
But graffiti was more than just an art form within hip-hop; it was a form of protest, a means of resistance against social injustice and systemic oppression. Whether tagging abandoned buildings or wheat pasting political slogans, graffiti artists used public spaces as platforms for advocacy, challenging the status quo and demanding to be heard.
While hip-hop was taking root in the streets of New York City, another subculture was brewing in London. Punk rock emerged as a defiant rejection of mainstream society, a rallying cry for disaffected youth to tear down the establishment and forge their own path. At the heart of this movement was a do-it-yourself approach to creativity that prized individuality and authenticity above all else.
Graffiti became the visual manifestation of punk's rebel spirit, a raw and unfiltered expression of anger, disillusionment, and defiance. From anarchist slogans to chaotic collages of punk flyers and posters, graffiti adorned the walls of squats, clubs, and alleyways, serving as a rallying point for the dispossessed and the disenfranchised.
But graffiti was more than just a form of protest within punk culture; it was a badge of honor, a symbol of resistance against conformity and complacency. Whether tagging the walls of corporate buildings or stenciling anti-establishment messages on city streets, punk graffiti embodied the spirit of rebellion and DIY that defined the movement.
While hip-hop and punk emerged from different cultural contexts and social landscapes, they shared a profound connection to graffiti. Both subcultures embraced graffiti as a form of self-expression, a means of reclaiming public spaces, and a tool for social and political activism. From the streets of New York City to the alleys of London, graffiti served as a bridge between communities, a common language spoken by the disenfranchised and the marginalized.
The interplay of influence between hip-hop, punk, and graffiti continues to shape urban culture today. From street art festivals to guerrilla art installations, graffiti remains a powerful force for creativity, activism, and community engagement.
Thank you so much for reading and following my research journey!
See you next week <3
Week 6: The Mission to Explore Mission
Hey People! Hope you’re having an amazing week & thank you so much for following my research journey!
This week, I explored San Francisco’s Mission District. I was able to get several (hundred) amazing pictures of graffiti pieces. It was very exciting to explore the city and see various artists that I recognized from traveling on BART. I also discovered new artists such as Lento and Frisk. It was amazing to be able to see all of the different styles and modern graffiti in person.
These 2 slides contain several of the images I describe below.
I was able to see artwork about many different topics. I saw at least 4 “Free Gaza” messages. I saw a piece that had so many layers to the message behind it. It was centered around COVID. I was able to take a look at a graffiti piece that encouraged voting. The same artist conveyed a message about being “outsiders.” I took a look at a piece that seemed to take inspiration from the style of Jean-Michel Basquiat. This piece had large separated strokes of color, and also contained a symbol of the Nazi swastika crossed out with a large red cancel symbol. The same piece had a big red ‘X’ over the words “drugs crew.” Another piece had a message about how “our ancestors fought so we could…” Granted, it wasn’t anything extremely political (It talked about how they could “swagger.”), however, when we think about the message, many minorities such as Black and Hispanic groups, could not walk with ease and simply exist without harassment. It’s important to read the context and see that it is still an issue to this day, and the underlying message of that piece was to take control of the power ancestors fought for and not let people push you around.
I was able to take pictures at a skatepark. One piece that stood out to me was the one that stated “After Dark Punks Set The Pace.” I think this piece was the one that was the most memorable for me because it showed a direct link between punk culture and graffiti in today’s world and it was really cool to see that in person.
These pieces show the applications of graffiti as a form of protest in 2024. These specific pieces and messages embody the use of graffiti as speech and a tool to call out injustice and oppression.
One great example of this was a piece that simply stated “Justice for Cesar Vargas.” I did some research and found that Cesar Vargas was killed by SFPD after an attempted carjacking. There were better ways of making sure he didn’t hurt anyone instead of firing four bullets and killing him. This incident occurred in 2020. One bystander at the crime scene stated, “It’s crazy that we’re living in a system where some of us are looking at this and saying it’s okay that they shot him because he was apparently committing crimes," the resident continued. “You look at other countries and they don’t have this problem. You can see videos of police just de-escalating that exact same situation without violence.”
This piece calls out the incident due to the SFPD’s previous show of restraint and de-escalation tactics. Note that these two incidents both occurred in the SAME year, 2020.
“The SFPD has successfully de-escalated tense situations. In July 2020, the SFPD engaged in an eight-hour standoff with a Vietnam veteran carrying a metal pole on 18th Street, eventually disarming him. The man was subsequently taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.”
Adriana Camarena, a police reform activist who advocated for the family of Luis Gongora Pat — a homeless Mexican immigrant whom officers shot and killed in the Mission in April 2016 — suggested the tactics of the July incident could have been used with Vargas. Adriana Camarena also stated “What did the officers do to de-escalate the situation other than rush this individual?” “Were there any other situations in which a perimeter was created and which some sort of containment was happening? Did these officers make a plan to de-escalate? Because I didn’t see any.” (Mission Local 2020)
This week was very exciting as I got to see applications of graffiti in punk culture and as a form of protest for very recent issues. I also was able to see a connection to hip-hop with an MF DOOM Tribute / Reference with the art piece containing his iconic mask.
That’s all for updates this week <3
See you on the next blog!
Week 7: Oakland
Hi guys, I’m back again with another blog!
This weekend, I plan on traveling to Oakland. Because of that plan, I wanted to share the creativity of Oakland graffiti.
In the vibrant tapestry of California's urban landscape, Oakland stands out as a city pulsating with creativity and cultural expression. Amidst the hustle and bustle of its streets, one form of expression speaks volumes – graffiti art. Beyond mere vandalism, graffiti in Oakland has evolved into a captivating reflection of the city's soul, weaving narratives of community, identity, and social commentary onto its walls.
Graffiti, often misconceived as a form of rebellion or defacement, finds a unique resonance in Oakland. Here, it transcends its illicit origins to become a respected art form, enriching the cityscape with its vibrant colors and profound messages. From the alleys of downtown to the warehouses of West Oakland, every corner tells a story, inviting onlookers to delve deeper into the city's psyche.
What sets Oakland's graffiti scene apart is its diversity and inclusivity. Artists from all walks of life converge to leave their mark, blurring the lines between street art, activism, and urban beautification. Whether it's a towering mural celebrating Oakland's rich cultural tapestry or a thought-provoking stencil challenging societal norms, each piece contributes to the city's ever-evolving narrative.
One of the most iconic hubs of graffiti in Oakland is the historic district of Jack London Square. Here, the walls serve as a canvas for local artists to showcase their talent and ignite conversations on issues ranging from gentrification to environmental justice. Walking through these streets feels like embarking on a visual journey through Oakland's past, present, and future.
But graffiti in Oakland is not confined to the streets alone; it permeates every aspect of the city's cultural landscape. Galleries and art collectives embrace street artists, providing them with platforms to exhibit their work and engage with the community. Organizations like the Oakland Museum of California actively celebrate graffiti as a form of cultural expression, bridging the gap between mainstream art and underground movements.
At its core, graffiti in Oakland embodies the spirit of resilience and resistance that defines the city. It serves as a powerful tool for marginalized communities to reclaim their spaces and assert their identities in the face of adversity. From the days of the Black Panthers to the modern-day fight against systemic injustice, graffiti remains a potent medium for amplifying voices that often go unheard.
However, the relationship between graffiti and the city is not without its complexities. While some view it as a symbol of Oakland's authenticity and creativity, others see it as a sign of urban decay and lawlessness. Balancing the preservation of graffiti as an art form with the need for public safety and property rights is an ongoing challenge that the city continues to grapple with.
One thing remains clear throughout this post: graffiti is an integral part of Oakland's cultural heritage. It serves as a mirror reflecting the city's vibrant diversity, resilience, and unyielding spirit. As Oakland continues to evolve, so too will its graffiti scene, leaving a mark on the city's identity for generations to come.
That’s all for updates this week <3
See you on the next blog!
Week 8: From Evolution to Revolution
Hello! Hope y’all are having a good week :) I’m going to talk more about Oakland in this blog and what I was able to explore and see over the week.
Please check out this link for the full blog on Google Docs with images.
I was able to check out Oakland and see a variety of graffiti and symbols. In the part of Oakland surrounding Highland Hospital (where I took the images in this post) , there are a variety of blue collar businesses, most commonly auto shops. This is reflected by the graffiti in the surrounding area.
As you can see, this Tire shop has a depiction of graffiti stating “Welcome to Oakland”
In another alley, I found a dedication to someone who had passed away saying: “Represent in Paradise”
I was also able to see many connections to the Punk and Hip-Hop Communities, including a reference using the anarchy symbol, and an MF DOOM mural. This mural, as we can tell by the “Ex-V’s” in the top left of the artist’s tag itself, was created by Ex- Vandals, who also created a powerful piece with the Black Power fist and a sign that stated “We are Ex-Vandals.”
Including these sentiments, there were a lot of feminist murals and murals against incarceration of youth of color.
These murals were incredibly powerful to see, especially the one that lists the reasons why Alameda County is wrong and what they can do to fix the increased incarceration of youth of color. This mural used powerful words “Rehabilitation not Incarceration.”
I also found an incredibly cool alleyway that showed the community of graffiti artists coming together and creating an alleyway full of Mario Kart related artwork
Overall, it was amazing to see the various communities and marginalized diasporas that Oakland graffiti represents including Punk, Hip-Hop, Hispanic, Native, Black, etc.
See you next week!
Week 9: Documentary Status Update
Hello People!
This week I worked on my documentary. It’s not really a traditional documentary. I’m going to be going over slides and pictures, along with music, and recording an explanation. It’s kind of like a video podcast. I have also started compiling my artist portfolios with the pictures I have taken. I plan to further explore and research this coming week and finish up my “documentary.”
I hope to delve into the political aspects of my work, as well as various connections to hip-hop and punk culture. I am going to be going over my detailed timeline, which I have posted about in previous blogs, in the video as well.
I also worked on my slides for the presentation coming up soon. I hope to see you all there :) (Only if you’re in BASIS though. I think it would be a safety issue otherwise.)
This post is going to be shorter than most. I don’t want to spoil the documentary right now. However, I am so excited to share the link to my video in my last blog post of this series.
Hope you all have a fantastic week <3
See you on the next blog!!
Week 10: We're Done!!
Hey people!
What's up? How's it going?
I'm doing wonderful, thanks for asking!
I hope you guys are doing well this week. I am finally done with my documentary and wanted to share the link with all of you. It's pretty long (~ 45 minutes). I hope you will take some time out of your day to watch it and maybe learn something new!
I talk about a timeline of graffiti and the images I took in Oakland and SF. I also talked about the punk movement, hip-hop, BLM, and Gaza. There are a lot of reflection pieces and edits that I have made within my documentary. I also talk about Macklemore and his new song in support of Palestine, showing the link to hip-hop.
Anyway, less talking... more watching!
Documentary Link
Signing off,
Laasya <3