Re: [PEN-L:6021] Re: Re: Re: Re: graffitti

["Anthony D'Costa" <dcosta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Although I don't have any catchy slogans to post, graffiti is fairly
common in large cities in India, and especially Calcutta.  Almost the
entire election campaigns are expressed through graffities, interspersed
with some commercials for local remedies for various illnesses, rat
poisons, and astrology.  Walls are "captured" well before the elections
and some are reserved permanently by parties.  The CPI (M) along with the
more radical CPI (M-L) do indeed have great art.  Perhaps the difference
with graffiti in Latin America would be absence of individual artistic
expression, except as conveyed through party lines.


Anthony P. D'Costa
Associate Professor
Comparative International Development
University of Washington
1900 Commerce Street
Tacoma, WA 98402, USA

Phone: (253) 692-4462
Fax :  (253) 692-5612

On Tue, 27 Apr 1999, S Pawlett wrote:

> Thomas Kruse wrote:
>
> > Graffitti here is pretty amazing, ranging from highly political, to
> > personal and poetic.  There is little tagging.  Many people find the walls
> > the place to write verse; some if it is relly pretty good.
> >
> > A student om mine did a research project on it and found that the artists
> > were not just young students, but also a frustrated lawyer, a young priest,
> > etc.  One anarchist feminist group is particularly good -- the Mujeres
> > Creando (Women Creating).  Many people (me too) activly look for there
> > stuff, in reaction to events.
> >
> > A couple of my favorites from Cochabamba walls:
> >
> > I have a poster of all of you on my wall.
> >                            ---[signed] Che
> >
> > This country has a beautiful future ... but will it survive the present?
> >
>
> I would second this. Graffiti can be a great way to get the message out and to
> spread the word. Latin America has a much more developed graffiti culture than
> North America. It is much more acceptable. Even the mainstream political
> parties do it. In some countries, every wall in the city is covered with
> graffiti. I've seen dates, times and places advertising riots written in spray
> paint.
>
> How about in Vallegrande:
> Che alive like they never wanted you.
>
>