PunkeeC in OC

Hey everyone, my name is Cynthia and Im am writting a research paper on graffiti and its societal, political and enviromental influences who better than all of you to help me with this. I am 23 year old artist though I have never practiced graffiti I do live in a city where I encounter is everyday and I respect and admire it. Some questions:

*Do you see graffiti as an accepted form of art?

*How has the media and commercialism influenced graff?

*Are there rules or conventions writers follow?

* Tell me your personal experiences with graff, how u started, what it does for you as an individual? or anything else u want to share.

*Do you see graffiti as an accepted form of art?

I think one of the major reasons why people graff, is because its something different, if it became a real art form and people of all ages started it wouldnt be such a thrill. I have been to many graffiti gallerys and respect what there doing, but dubstars dont sellout (DDS).

*How has the media and commercialism influenced graff?

Its changed it alot, graffiti used to be a underground event that just seemed to happen and no one stopped us. Now they will do anything to stop us. Also the development of spraypaint wow its changed alot. I myself never had to use the old stuff but I have used some the other day its incredible how much they have changed.

*Are there rules or conventions writers follow?

Not so much now, there used to be alot of respect for graffers you didnt line people out (go over a piece) now it happens all the time which is ashame, each state country has there own rules some people just do give a fuck and do everyone, but one of the main rules is dont grass. Seen it happen so amny times people go down becuase people grass.

* Tell me your personal experiences with graff, how u started, what it does for you as an individual? or anything else u want to share.

Wow experiences I think every writter could write a book. Each time we go out for a bomb its a experience, something different happens i learn something new or just have a larf. If it stopped being fun I wouldnt do it any more. I started in 98 not that long ago but its been a while, I duno why i started just I saw it all the time from the trains view I loved it the pure thrill of getting scene and known to alot of people it didnt bother me that it was illegal, I started bringing a sketch pad with me and learning from dubs I saw, I got the letters from the dub then I would try and draw the whole alphabet well it was a fun why to pass the time. Wow what it does for me as an individual, well it stops me from getting fat. I get alot of fresh air LOL na its something that just happens when you see your dub running (train bombs) its a buzz you get a thrill from seeing your name up or when your on a train and people are talking about your style its a great feeling.

if you need anything else pm me :)

VET

if you have not done it why are you compelled to write a paper on it ?? just wondering.

i would say street art is a better avenue to search down for the type of info you are looking at or describing. graffiti can be political and talk of needed social changes, yet (in my view) its mostly a contest for people of like mind. trying to out do each other in the art of self promotion. in forms of style, amount of "ups", placment of your "canvas" ... but untill you can understand all of these elements in full its hard to know whats really good and what looks good to the untrained eye.

there are rules to be passed down generation to generation, however the internet hindered the flow of that ... kids can come on here and learn everything they need to know and not have a more experienced person to look up to, to tell them how important it is to follow the rules.

as Zeypher said " there are thousands of historys of graffiti."

as much as life is a unique experience for each of us so is graffiti.

The worst thing that could happen to a graff artistis is the vandal sqaud.they are a type of police that hate the crap out of graffiti and will do just about anything 2 stop it.they follow u around and watch ure every move if they saw you leave somewhere late at night.graffiti is art for people who think painting a picture of george washington is stupid.alot of people spray at 3 in the morning and go painting with there cru.graff is basically a lifestyle.I started because my brother was nice and is pretty well known graff artist ive been sprayin 4 about 10 years and practiced like mad.

Well first of all thank you guys for replyings, as to the reasons why I decided to do my research on graffiti? Well I am a huge fan of underground hip hop, and the culture and history surrounding it. I think graff has evolved along with the hip hop entity and I truly admire graffiti writers both for skills and for balss. I think my talent lies in painting although I would love to try to throw something up, Im scared it would look damn foolish. So needless to say I think there are alot of unique factors in graff which make it intriguing to me, and I would like to open perspective so that the less accepting like proffesors at my University might see it differently.

Graffiti sucks, and it hates you.