Graffiti & Politics

Public art and graffiti have long shaped the visual and political landscape of New York City. Students will trace the history of mural making locally and globally, with special attention to the rise of Hip Hop culture, the evolution of graffiti as an artistic language, and the emergence of spray paint as a defining medium. We will study how a practice once criminalized has become widely accepted and even federally funded, and how policies continue to influence who gets to create public art and where it can appear. Class discussions will center on the social impact of murals, the power of public art to engage communities, and the political messages embedded in the city’s walls. Fieldwork will be an essential component, including visits to major public art sites across NYC and, when possible, observing a mural in the process of being installed.