Style Wars is a documentary from 1983 that highlights graffiti and hip hop culture, as well as bboying and rapping. This was my first time watching it and it is a wonderful work of art. Throughout the film interviews with different graffiti artist are conducted and they elaborate on their inspirations, highlight pieces they did, how they broke the law to get their names, art and messages on the subway trains. How they achieved "bombing" every subway line so that they would be seen throughout all of New York. They also showcase the many interviews with the governor at the time who started a campaigned demonizing graffiti in order to end this vandalism.
I am a HUGE graffiti fan, I feel like it is rebel art. I'ts F*CK your consumerism & owning of this thing kind-of- art. It's not always pleasant for the person who's stuff is being "ruined" by the graffiti, but never the less it is an art form. I think these graffitied trains are iconic, belong in the most prestiges of art museums and galleries. The people who tagged them are artist! They worked hard at their art, practiced, broke rules, created new styles, they were innovators.I found it interesting because now art is so contained, so regulated. We don't see this vandalism art as frequently, and I belief it has more to do with increased surveillance than the desire to do it. Society is also more accepting of large scale murals, they encourage and fund artist to paint on walls, so that they won't have to illegally express the desire to showcase on public spaces. I am a huge proponent for murals all over the city! The more murals, graffiti tags, business logos created by artists, THE BETTER!!
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