Graffiti Art: Perceptions and Connections

Students find out about graffiti art, explore different attitudes towards this form of art, and develop and express their own viewpoints. They analyse how graffiti art is related to other art forms, such as cave art. The activity will end with the production of a written statement and a pictorial representation of the connection between these two art forms.

• Art theory (theory of representation)

• History of art (cave art, graffiti art) 

• Interpreting and using visual arts elements

• Using different visual arts techniques

This unit has a critical thinking and creativity focus:

• Play with unusual and radical ideas

• Challenge assumptions

• Generate ideas and make connections

• Produce, perform or envision something personal

Web and Print

• Graffiti Gallery (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p023yhcf/p023yk52) – this gallery of images in New York in the 1970s and today could be used as a starting stimulus

• Tate Modern (http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/street-art) – 2 films (of 5 and 9 minutes duration)

• Tate Modern (http://www2.tate.org.uk/streetart/index_hd.html) – Interactive tour of Street Art Exhibition

• Interview of young people with street artists (http://www.tate.org.uk/kids/explore)

• The Why Factor (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p033l4gg) – Radio 4 programme exploring why people do Graffiti (15 mins)

• Wild Style (1983) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQQyGkWkTNU) First /American hip hop feature Trailer (Preview to check suitability for your group)

• Style Wars (1983) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9KxbaSU-Eo) – American documentary on hip hop culture and its American roots, with emphasis on graffiti, although b-boying and rapping also included. Full movie (you may want to select clips).

• Graffiti from an artist’s perspective (https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/nov/08/marcus-barnes-graffiti-art-can-be-a-positive-force-train-tagging) - Newspaper article

• Cave art:

  • Bradshaw Foundation image gallery, Chauvet Caves: http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/chauvet/chauvet_cave_art.php

  • Lascaux Cave Paintings: https://vimeo.com/40849516 

Other

• Computer and Internet access

• Digital camera / iPad / mobile phone to take photos

• Art and design materials for creating graffiti designs

English Version

• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1il-LXhvEGDN2aAugpcrlrLqhzhzjdsinDajETQ8-dIY/edit?usp=sharing 

Hindi Version

• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-tgMvtlT_eljP7o_UEicS1Lpyir73JUL6DziUHYhwIY/edit?usp=sharing 

Gujarati Version

• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RO0Uribyl5r0U_bPizKQKG73VjzK_jKIou4NwtfnkPg/edit?usp=sharing 

Kannada Version

• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jZjEoXQGSF7kAzfHl0htRPP3YSHwXBjPv4DhLZxdEjk/edit?usp=drive_link