The Perpetuation of Graffiti Art Subculture in American Society

Indianapolis, IN

Graffiti art, the last true form of rebellion, is often confused with gang activity, random vandalism, or the boredom attributed to adolescents without enough extracurricular activities. In actuality, graffiti art is a subculture perpetuated by a group of individuals that share the collective identity of graffiti artists. The perpetuation of the graffiti art subculture would not be possible without the social interactions and relationships that the graffiti artists establish with each other. Graffiti can be found anywhere, but graffiti art can only manifest where there are social conditions favorable to its development. The researcher examined the subculture surrounding graffiti art and the social interactions of the individuals within it. The observational methods utilized by the researcher included partial participation and extensive dialogue with graffiti artists.