Graffiti Writing as a Means of Communication

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Graffiti Writing as a Means of Communication

Graffiti are considered anonymous texts that enact identity, resistance and oppression. They come from the Italian word graffiato which means scratched (www.wikipedia.com). Graffiti have a long history that goes back to the figure drawings found in the walls of ancient Rome and monuments in Egypt. Since then, the art, style and usage of graffiti have evolved as a means to communicate social and political messages.

Graffiti Writing as a Means of Communication

Today, graffiti have become the highlight of some of the reigning issues in social and political and moral merits in a given context. In addition, sometimes the term graffiti connotes the impoverished violent, vulgar and unruly form of art. This is the reason why graffiti artists struggled to carve a niche of significance in the mainstream culture. This explains the cultural battle between the mainstream, which is what the majority considers and the subculture which the minority considers as something unavoidable. This justifies the continued changing of graffiti culture.

There are issues of gender differences that are relevant in a graffiti culture. The scribbles are mostly found in comfort rooms where females are said to write more graffiti than male. They (females) write about their interests. Moreover, they talk about the reigning issues of an increasing number of threats and dangers around. They want to protect themselves from these oppressions. Especially when they mingle with the opposite sex whom they do not know that much, they think they have to be practical and bring with them stun gun or PEPPER SPRAY for security and protection. Males however are more into sports and other men interests that are very much different to that of females. Despite the gender differences, both men and women talk about issues that are important to them. It may be a mainstream value or what not. These are actually realities of life that seems to be neglected and repressed.

The communication setting determines the kind of language style a writer may adopt. The inscription varies from that of a public space and a private space. In public, the style is usually directive in making friends while in private, the style is perhaps too expressive, verbose and vulgar. At the end of the day, graffiti is a communicative opportunity that gathers insights into the discursive tensions associated with the repressed people in the society. In the above topics of female graffiti, you can entail that women have created a negative sentiment towards opposite sex. May be it is because of the bad experiences these women have experienced with the opposite sex in general. Women already have a hunch on their capabilities and roles in this fast- changing world. They are more empowered today than yesterday.

As you can see, graffiti have provided an outlet for people to express their thoughts with regard to what they feel and see in the community. Therefore, we can say that graffiti is also a valid form of communication channel. This outlet if for people who cannot voice out what they think and feel in an open area because of some apprehensions. The creation of this graffiti made a lot of difference in the context of understanding the differences of the individuals. The language and the culture work together that creates a united society. We can use this way of expression in knowing more the people around us and maybe provide better solutions for the problems that are associated with the inscriptions or graffiti.

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Reader Feedback

  • sukkran Nov 4, 2010 @ 10:36 pm | delete
    nice informative lens. thks for the info
  • Margo_Arrowsmith Oct 28, 2010 @ 9:08 pm | delete
    I have a friend who did this on subway cars when she was a teenager. She was featured in a book, gorgeous, huge, painting

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