Dallas Public Library

Graffiti lives, beyond the tag in New York's urban underground, Gregory J. Snyder

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 219-226) and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Graffiti lives

bibliography

234219152

Gregory J. Snyder

"On buildings, bridges, billboards, mailboxes, and street signs, and especially in the subway and train tunnels, graffiti covers much of New York City. Love it or hate it, graffiti, from the humble tag to the intricate "piece" (short for masterpiece), is an undeniable part of the cityscape. In Graffiti Lives, Gregory J. Snyder offers a fascinating and rare look into contemporary graffiti culture. Based on over ten years of extensive research, Snyder brings to life this largely unknown world through compelling portraits of scores of writers - some now famous artists in their own right. He takes us inside the creative process, explains the codes of this subculture and helps us to read the often hard to decipher pieces and tags." "A combination of amazing "flicks"--Over sixty works are showcased - and exhilarating prose, Graffiti Lives is ultimately an exploration into how graffiti writers define themselves. They are bound together not by appearance, birthplace, or class but by what they do. And what they do is reach for fame, painting their names as prominently as they can, getting up whenever and wherever. What's more, Snyder discovers that, though many public officials think graffiti writing will only lead to other criminal activity, many graffiti writers have turned their youthful exploits into adult careers - from professional aerosol muralists and fine artists to designers of all kinds, employed in such fields as tattooing, studio art, magazine production, fashion, and guerilla marketing. Snyder's illuminating work shows that getting up tags, throw-ups, and pieces on New York City's walls and subway tunnels can lead to getting out into the city's competitive professional world. Graffiti Lives details the exciting, risky, and surprisingly rewarding pursuits of contemporary graffiti writers."--Jacket

Alternative criminology series

beyond the tag in New York's urban underground

1. Getting In -- Starting the Blackbook -- A Brief History of Graffiti Writing -- Crime Space vs. Cool Space: Breaking Down Broken Windows -- 2. Getting Up -- VERT: First Contact -- Writer's Block: Blackbook in the Streets -- Welcome to ESPO Land -- ESPO: Illustrating Struggle -- Into the Tunnel: Under Manhattan -- A Pilgrimage to MEK: A Bronx Graffiti Tour -- Legal Graffiti: Contemporary Permission Spots -- Style Points: ESPO's Brooklyn Mural -- Illustrating Criminal: Split PSOUP -- AME: Bombing Styles, Inventing Self -- AMAZE: Out-of-Towner Gets Up in the Tunnel -- The Grate Graffiti Solution: ESPO's Public Surface Announcement -- 3. Getting Out -- Over the Wall: Graffiti Media and Creating a Career -- Writing Style: It's Not What You Wear -- Career Opportunities: Rewriting Subculture Resistance -- Timmy Tattoo: Timmy's Long Island Tattoo Shop -- Gabe Banner: Market Wise -- ESPO/Steve Powers: Dreamland Artist Club -- CODA: Graffiti for Life -- Appendix. The New Ethnography