The etymology of the word "graffiti" derives from "graffito" which can also be used to describe things from ancient cave paintings and rock inscriptions to its counterparts in Roman Empire times. But 20th century anti-social gang related graffiti culture is said to have risen in Harlem NY as well as becoming prominent in Southern California in the 80's mixed with gang activities in combination with hiphop culture. And this westcoast side of the tale is what I am interested in deconstructing.
I was exposed to mostly Hispanic influenced graffi works. my understanding is that this Graffiti culture from Mexican (or Chincano) people is coded in their DNA indebted to Mexican wall painting (called " Mural ") legacy. And this tendency spread to the so called " Low -Riders " car painting extravaganza.
WIKIPEDIA definition
18th Street gang is considered to be the largest transnational criminal gang in
Los Angeles, California. It is estimated that there are thousands of members in
Los Angeles County alone. There are approximately 200 separate individual autonomous gangs operating under the same label within separate barrios in the
San Fernando Valley, the
San Gabriel Valley, the
South Bay,
South Los Angeles, Downtown Los Angeles,
Pico Union,
Inglewood,
Cudahy, and
Orange County, according to the latest figures from the
NDIC. Their wide-ranging activities and elevated status has even caught the eye of the
FBI and
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who recently initiated wide-scale raids against known and suspected gang members netting hundreds of arrests across the country.
“The spread of 18th Street’s violence is shown by 154 murders linked to the gang from 1985 to 1995. This only plots homicides within Los Angeles where the killings have been tied to the gang.” The killings on the map show 18th Street as both victims and assailants of murder and one can see a concentration west of the 110 Freeway near downtown Los Angeles, November 17-19, 1996
