Graffiti and the Discourse of Freedom and Control

Alexa's presentation is about how the dramatic conflict between different perspectives on graffiti in New Orleans, documented in her ethnographic work, is a microcosm of the larger interplay between the different perspectives on public space.

These perspectives shape the way public spaces are used in America today. The perspective that serves the interests of the wealthier parts of society is one in which public spaces are viewed as sites of potential danger. This perspective builds a discourse in which “disorder” of any kind is necessarily “destructive,” leading to crime and decreased property values, thus justifying strict regulation of all aspects of public space. This strict regulation essentially criminalizes homelessness as well as public discourse in the classic sense of the term. Recent trends in street art, however, have used the discourse of control against itself. Alexa will look specifically at the work of the graffiti artist Banksy.