Graffiti

Graffiti are writing or drawings that have been scribbled, scratched, or painted illicitly on a wall or other surface, often within public view Graffiti range from simple written words to elaborate wall paintings, and they have existed since ancient times, with examples dating back to Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and the Roman Empire

In modern times, paint (particularly spray paint) and marker pens have become the most commonly used graffiti materials In most countries, marking or painting property without the property owner's permission is considered defacement and vandalism, which is a punishable crime

Graffiti may also express underlying social and political messages and a whole genre of artistic expression is based upon spray paint graffiti styles Within hip hop culture, graffiti have evolved alongside hip hop music, b-boying, and other elements Unrelated to hip-hop graffiti, gangs use their own form of graffiti to mark territory or to serve as an indicator of gang-related activities

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Controversies that surround graffiti continue to create disagreement amongst city officials, law enforcement, and writers who wish to display and appreciate work in public locations There are many different types and styles of graffiti; it is a rapidly developing art form whose value is highly contested and reviled by many authorities while also subject to protection, sometimes within the same jurisdiction

The first known example of "modern style" graffiti survives in the ancient Greek city of Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey) Local guides say it is an advertisement for prostitution Located near a mosaic and stone walkway, the graffiti shows a handprint that vaguely resembles a heart, along with a footprint and a number This is believed to indicate that a brothel was nearby, with the handprint symbolizing payment

The ancient Romans carved graffiti on walls and monuments, examples of which also survive in Egypt Graffiti in the classical world had different connotations than they carry in today's society concerning content Ancient graffiti displayed phrases of love declarations, political rhetoric, and simple words of thought, compared to today's popular messages of social and political ideals The eruption of Vesuvius preserved graffiti in Pompeii, which includes Latin curses, magic spells, declarations of love, alphabets, political slogans, and famous literary quotes, providing insight into ancient Roman street life One inscription gives the address of a woman named Novellia Primigenia of Nuceria, a prostitute, apparently of great beauty, whose services were much in demand Another shows a phallus accompanied by the text, mansueta tene ("handle with care")

Graffiti writing is often seen as having become intertwined with hip hop culture and the myriad international styles derived from Philadelphia and New York City Subway graffiti However, there are many other instances of notable graffiti in the twentieth century Graffiti have long appeared on building walls, in latrines, railroad boxcars, subways, and bridges The example with the longest known history, dating back to the 1920s and continuing into the present day, is Bozo Texino

With the popularity and legitimization of graffiti has come a level of commercialization In 2001, computer giant IBM launched an advertising campaign in Chicago and San Francisco which involved people spray painting on sidewalks a peace symbol, a heart, and a penguin (Linux mascot), to represent "Peace, Love, and Linux" Due to laws forbidding it, some of the "street artists" were arrested and charged with vandalism, and IBM was fined more than US$120,000 for punitive damages and clean-up costs

Modern graffiti art often incorporates additional arts and technologies For example, Graffiti Research Lab has encouraged the use of projected images and magnetic light-emitting diodes (throwies) as new media for graffiti artists Yarnbombing is another recent form of graffiti Yarnbombers occasionally target previous graffiti for modification, which had been avoided among the majority of graffiti artists
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