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!