9 ms·

If 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

If 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 10y 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 10y ago
  Oh god no... Selena Quintanilla.
  - Mz 10y ago
    She 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 10y ago
      That'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 10y ago
        > comparing Selena and Banksy is apt How come?
        deleted 10y ago
        [deleted]
        nommm-nommm 10y ago
        Banksy bought graffiti art into mainstream and Selena brought Tejano music into mainstream? Just a guess.
        jpd 10y ago
        But was does Tejano music have to do with the internet or instagram?
      - ____a 10y ago
        The 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 10y ago
    Look 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 10y ago
      Selena 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 10y ago
        The 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 10y ago
Digital "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 10y ago
https://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 10y ago
  Did 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 10y ago
    She'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 10y ago
    ...And yet she's a good comparison when looking at Bansky... while Selena Gomez is a Disney product of no great note.
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]
    - Sayter 10y 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.

jedberg 10y 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 10y ago
Oh god no... Selena Quintanilla.
- Mz 10y ago
  She 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 10y ago
    That'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 10y ago
      > comparing Selena and Banksy is apt How come?
      - deleted 10y ago
        [deleted]
      - nommm-nommm 10y ago
        Banksy bought graffiti art into mainstream and Selena brought Tejano music into mainstream? Just a guess.
        jpd 10y ago
        But was does Tejano music have to do with the internet or instagram?
    - ____a 10y ago
      The 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 10y ago
  Look 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 10y ago
    Selena 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 10y ago
      The 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 10y ago

Digital "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 10y ago

https://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 10y ago
Did 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 10y ago
  She'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 10y ago
  ...And yet she's a good comparison when looking at Bansky... while Selena Gomez is a Disney product of no great note.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
  - Sayter 10y 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.