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Graffiti 'dying out' as kids dump spray cans for Instagram, Twitter etc.
- CamelCaseName 9y agoIf I understand correctly, this article is just saying that there is a shift in graffiti from quantity to quality as people focus on creating better pieces that can be seen by many people online rather than being seen in person? That seems like a great shift. Higher quality with the same (if not greater) level of exposure. What's the downside? Streets stay cleaner too, and less people get in trouble for a "harmless" crime. The article also compares Banksy to Selena, I'm familiar with Banksy, but who is Selena? I wonder if the next transition is to move away from physical graffiti entirely to digital graffiti (imagine a Wii remote style paint can directed at a tablet) -- as hardware prices fall this could be increasingly affordable, even for those with lower income, and definitely more affordable than getting in trouble with the law.
- jedberg 9y ago> I'm familiar with Banksy, but who is Selena? Probably Selena Gomez: http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/03/selena-gomez-instagram-most-followed http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/03/selena-gomez-ins...
- M_Grey 9y agoOh god no... Selena Quintanilla.
- Mz 9y agoShe died in 1995 and Selena Gomez is apparently the most followed account on Instagram. So, I am guessing that Gomez is the better answer. Only old fogies know who the hell Selena Quintanilla was (old fogey here, so, yes, I know the name -- but it doesn't seem like the best explanation here).
- M_Grey 9y agoThat's certainly possible, but you have to consider that comparing Selena and Banksy is apt, while comparing Selena Gomez and an underground graffiti artist would be... bizarre.
- pavel_lishin 9y ago> comparing Selena and Banksy is apt How come?
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- nommm-nommm 9y agoBanksy bought graffiti art into mainstream and Selena brought Tejano music into mainstream? Just a guess.
- jpd 9y agoBut was does Tejano music have to do with the internet or instagram?
- ____a 9y agoThe full quote is "In other words, kids these days are less Banksy and more Selena." I am familiar with both Selenas and side with Mz. It isn't a comparison, it is a contrast.
- jedberg 9y agoLook at the context. The previous paragraph talks about how kids are making a name for themselves on Instagram and Youtube instead of on the streets. Selena Gomez made a name for herself on Instagram and Youtube.
- kyle-rb 9y agoSelena Quintanilla is still the one more referred to by only her first name. Despite Selena Gomez being much more relevant in the mainstream, a Google search for "Selena" still turns up results almost exclusively (excluding news) results for Quintanilla.
- jackvalentine 9y agoThe context here is everything - including the zeitgeist. It's Selena Gomez. (FWIW I'm not American and have never heard of Selena Quintanilla before who seems to be a very US/Mexico centric person and The Register is a British publication so...)
- Qwertystop 9y agoDigital "graffiti" would be purely an imitation of style and tools, though - I'm pretty sure that at least some of the appeal of graffiti is that you're not supposed to be painting there and could get in trouble for it, and also the fact that it places your mark on a definite bit of physical space. The latter is the only reason I can think of for e.g. tagging.
- M_Grey 9y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selena https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selena was an American singer, songwriter, spokesperson, model, actress, and fashion designer. Called the Queen of Tejano music, her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century. Billboard magazine named her the "top Latin artist of the '90s" and the "best selling Latin artist of the decade". Media outlets called her the "Tejano Madonna" for her clothing choices.[a] She also ranks among the most influential Latin artists of all-time and is credited for catapulting a music genre into the mainstream market.[6][7]
- pavel_lishin 9y agoDid you just google "Selena" and paste the first Wikipedia result? Because I doubt that all the rage among the hip, young kids of today is a Tejano singer who died in 1995.
- nefitty 9y agoShe's a huge icon in the South Western states. It has a lot to do with larger Hispanic populations. I grew up listening to her. At this point she's become a cool "retro" 90's touchstone.
- M_Grey 9y ago...And yet she's a good comparison when looking at Bansky... while Selena Gomez is a Disney product of no great note.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- Sayter 9y ago"This according to researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University in England, who said that as Instagram and YouTube have become more popular methods to share art, fewer young people are taking to the streets to make a name for themselves. In other words, kids these days are less Banksy and more Selena." Banksy is being used to represent graffiti. Selena is being used to represent Instagram. Selena Gomez is the more reasonable assumption than Selena Quintanilla to represent Instagram since Selena Gomez has the most Instagram followers for any user.
- sandworm101 9y agoArticle is completely incorrect. >> "Contemporary graffiti writing is changing – it is no longer an activity that is played out in urban environments, but also on the internet." Too much time at art school. Not enough time on actual streets. Want to know why graffiti is dead? Google "jailed for writing on a school desk" or any similar phrase. Graffiti is not "petty crime" when it can see you hauled off campus in handcuffs. Want to go to university some day? Want to join the army? You better hope you tagging something doesn't get you charged with destruction of property. If the property, or the costs of fixing it, is more than 300$ (yes, three hundred dollars) you may be looking at felony charges and multiple YEARS in prison [1]. Even if you are not jailed, if found guilty you are now a felon. Good luck voting and heaven help you if you need any sort of government assistance. The days of "el barto" are long gone. Graffiti is dying because of decades of insane, albeit selective, enforcement. It just isn't worth the risks. [1] http://www.criminalpropertydamage.com/illinois/ http://www.criminalpropertydamage.com/illinois/ And it isn't just those crazy Americans. The Auzzis are in on the act too: Section 5. Damaging property by graffiti. (1) A person must not destroy, damage or deface the property of another person by graffiti without that other person's consent. Penalty: a fine of $24,000 and imprisonment for 2 years, but the minimum penalty [is a community order]. Section 7. Selling graffiti implement to child. (1) A person must not sell a graffiti implement to a child. Penalty: (a) for a first offence, a fine of $6,000; https://www.goodbyegraffiti.wa.gov.au/Police/Graffiti-and-the-Law https://www.goodbyegraffiti.wa.gov.au/Police/Graffiti-and-th...
- vosper 9y ago> Graffiti is dying because of decades of insane, albeit selective, enforcement. It just isn't worth the risks From the perspective of the policy makers it's probably considered a success to set penalties that manage to effectively deter a crime? Though the penalties (especially jail time) seem pretty over the top.
- pdelbarba 9y agoYou could just kill people on site. That might have an even stronger effect. Just because it works doesn't mean it's a good idea.
- ValleyOfTheMtns 9y ago>Lazy millennials can't even be bothered to commit petty crime Was that subtitle really necessary or are they being tongue-in-cheek with that statement...?
- V99 9y agoIt's the Register, so... Yes and yes.
- almostApatriot1 9y agoAnecdotally, It does seem like graffiti art is all but gone, at least in New York City. I wouldn't blame Instagram though. The real estate industry has pretty much scrubbed the place clean and defacement of their overpriced yuppie enclaves is a big no-no, even in the eyes of millennials. And with places like 5 Pointz gone, there is really no inspiration. Will something like graffiti you need volume to produce quality. There also seems to be a priority and focus on monetization from any of these successful alternative artists. Spraying buildings doesn't produce money. Designing your own limited edition Nike's does.
- lacampbell 9y agoGood. Graffiti is unsightly and low brow. I don't want to look at some "street artists" trash.
- gozur88 9y agoI'm glad. Graffiti is a big net negative.
- anon263626 9y agoNuance: most casual graffiti is shit (ruining property), a fraction though is a beautiful addition through art and/or political metaphor.
- matthewvincent 9y agoAs a resident of Oakland CA, easily one of the graffiti capitals of the world, my take on this is a pretty simple one. Super aggressive buffing campaigns by the city. Businesses on Broadway in Oakland will actually be fined if they don't paint over new graffiti in a timely matter. When a writer knows he will be buffed over within days if not hours he will probably look for more low key spots that will last longer and actually be seen by peers. Anecdotally it also seems like there are way more legal walls around town now. Spots where businesses pay the better street artists to do big murals that less established writers won't write over.
- anon263626 9y agoThe world needs more Banksy's: graffiti that makes people reflect on inequality and tyranny.
- qzxvwt 9y agoDon't know if I agree with this assertion, but food for thought: “…as far as power is concerned, the streets are dead capital! Nothing of value to the power elite can be found on the streets, nor does this class need control of the streets to efficiently run and maintain state institutions. For [civil disobedience] to have any meaningful effect, the resisters must appropriate something of value to the state. Once they have an object of value, the resisters have a platform from which they may bargain for (or perhaps demand) change.” http://www.critical-art.net/books/ecd/ecd2.pdf http://www.critical-art.net/books/ecd/ecd2.pdf
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- contingencies 9y agoThere's been a recent renaissance of street art in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Penang. A few walls in Shenzhen too. If you want to meet some of the artists, check out Jam near Sathorn when there's an event on (annual Bang Rak art district events are a good bet).
- ap46 9y ago"Graffiti is dying because of decades of insane, albeit selective, enforcement. It just isn't worth the risks." It's good news & the title makes it some sort of experience they're missing out on?
- BoringAsian 9y agoman they hate lazy millennials so much they even make fun of them when they are not committing crimes!
- whostolemyhat 9y agoI live in Bristol, and graffiti is definitely not dying out here. [1] http://www.upfest.co.uk/ http://www.upfest.co.uk/ [2] https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=bristol+graffiti&tbm=isch https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=bristol+graffiti&tbm=isch
- unstatusthequo 9y agoI guess they haven't seen San Francisco lately