Graffiti

Techniques of Graffiti

Some terms relative to graffiti include tagging, piece, throw-up, and blockbuster. Tagging is a single line of writing, usually an artist's name. A piece is a signature of the artist's name that utilizes stylized and decorative letters and colors, multiple hues, and cartoon-like figures. Throw-ups are usually two color compositions. A blockbuster is a large piece, typically covering a large wall or surface, and utilizes block-shaped letters with two contrasting colors; larger surfaces are often covered with paint rollers. Graffiti artists are also known to create cartoon-like faces or characters that accompany their text. Stencils [Page 270]are often used with spray paint. A more complex style is wildstyle, a form of graffiti that is created by interlocking letters that are undecipherable.

Humor in Graffiti

The act of doing graffiti may be viewed as subversive in that it constitutes a purposeful altering of the look and perception of public or civic space. The graffiti artists use the technique of transposition to create humor by creating images within contexts that are not associated with images, writing, or humor. It is not certain whether the intent of a graffiti artist is to create humor or a comic effect. However, the application of the techniques of exaggeration (with enlarged, “fat,” or distorted letters and words), juxtaposition of incongruous words and images, and contradiction (through stenciling and painting over existing images) by the graffiti artist often does result in a comic effect. In looking at the graffiti images by male and female graffiti artists, differences in imagery are noticeable. Female artists tend to use rounder letters, include personal and cultural symbols such as hearts and flowers, integrate popular culture references and imagery (comic book/Manga figures), and include personal writings such as poems. Many of their works have a whimsical feel through the use of imagery and use of psychedelic coloring.

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