Bomb It!

In lecture 2.2, we watched a documentary called, "Bomb It." Was really interesting.  It took me into the world of graffiti. It was a global view about the different styles of graffiti and the cultural influences and how they came be. I thought it was very straight-forward presentation of how the world of graffiti is there in our eyes even when we're not paying attention. I never realized how much meaning there was to all the graffiti I've seen myself and better yet the meaning of graffiti in different parts if the world. Every region has it's own meaning but what is intriguing are the stories behind the artists. It seems that for as long as graffiti has existed there's been a war filled with different battles, whether about race, politics, or just an individual's identity in the world.

In Europe, the colored youth from areas such as Berlin and Amsterdam were pretty intent with the idea that there was a lot of racism in Europe and that the white people were in places like Paris, separated from them. They felt they didn't have much to identify with and weren't being heard because they were a minority.  Their graffiti in a way was their identity and  it was their way of being heard. Their motto is, " I tag, therefore I am". I think that a very strong statement. I think that rather than fighting against the so called "racism" that they live around, the youth are taking the easy way out. It's the twenty first century and the youth that do graffiti in Europe aren't grasping on the fact that there are so many other ways to be heard today rather than doing graffiti. I understand that they are standing up for what they believe in, but using the excuse of racism just to rebel is starting to get old in my opinion. They are very blunt with the statement, " I tag, therefore I am." Yes, tagging is literally making a mark, but in this century, to actually be on record and to BE has to be done through technology. Long from now when we're all gone, eventually those markings will most likely be gone also.

When we traveled to Cape Town, South Africa in the film, the graffiti done there was more about social awareness. I never knew that it really started with the revolution while Nelson Mandela was in prison! I totally concur with this reason to do graffiti. The artist's in South Africa are more politically and mentally aware than the youth in Europe. Their pieces spoke of messages that their society should pay attention to and I'm all for it! One thing that was similar about  the artists in South Africa and the artists in Europe was self identity. On the other hand, the artists in South Africa that felt they needed something to identify with were the "colored" or the mixed race. I couldn't imagine being caught in the middle of  being white or black but feeling invisible. This is another reason for graffiti that I don't mind also. Although there was racial separation, I didn't think doing something as a group is helping the situation, but rather adding to the problem by creating more separation.

I noticed that in Sao Paolo, Brazil there was a bigger range in variety of graffiti styles. Not only did they embrace the hip hop styles from America, but a lot of the artists took their styles to a different level by creating pieces based on their culture. I love that they were inventive and approached the graffiti with many different ways  to get paint on walls and rarely limiting themselves to just spray paint. One Brazilian artist that I was really impressed with was Nina Pandolfo. I remember her mentioning that in Brazil, "the children had nothing to call their own." I love that something like that inlfuenced her to paint childlike art. I could only imagine how fascinated those kids become when they see her work up close. Not only was she influenced the children, now other people are becoming influenced by her work.

Here's a castle in Scotland painted with her style along with other artists from Sao Paulo such as Os Gemeos and Nunca. I was really amazed by this image!

Another thing I learned from the documentary was how Los Angeles has influenced so many parts of the world when it comes to graffiti, yet still the graffiti world in Los Angeles is so chaotic. Graffiti is every where here in Southern California. They're thousands of reasons the artists here do their work but what's crazy is the amount of hypocrisy going on from  people saying taggers are actually criminals not artists, to corporations taking advantage of the art of graffiti buy covering up as much space of buildings, public transportation, etc. To me I dont think people should be pointing the finger because both sides are at fault for all the "visual pollution" going on.

One last thing I would like to mention is that yes graffiti can be intruding and direspectful, but it is truly art when done in the correct way. For example, this is an image that made me finally respect graffiti for what it could be when people really use their brains for creativity, not war.

I never would have thought it up myself, but painting images of buildings on an actual building is just genius!!!! Here's another image! =]

Now, that is how you BOMB IT!