Exploring Drawing

Woodstock:  When graffiti artists make political statements

 

 

 

Graffiti has become a relevant but also a controversial method in negotiating memories of a community.  In Woodstock, Langa, Muizenberg, and other areas, graffiti is used  not only to beautify walls but to make political statements of the times. 

Langa: Graffiti artist displaying the name of community proudly

 

Muizenberg:  a popular mural close to the station on the Main Road.
The mural captures the  Muizenberg vibe.



 

 

Third-year history students  will have to write a ten-page essay using the following title:

‘Space, Place and Doodling’                



 



Woodstock:  Artist's interpretation of  the changes in the community

 

In this essay they need to explore the physical space of a community and how it is changing over time.  Essential to this topic is what is influencing these transformations and how people respond to these spaces.

 

 

Timeline:

Students will be given three weeks to submit.

Submission date:  14 November 2017

 

Guidelines:

1                     Choose one particular community

2                     Keywords/phrases to guide your essay:  gentrification, delineating urban territory, inner-city spaces,  memory and space

Woodstock:  When funky and trendy = gentrification

 

3                     It will be beneficial to find graffiti artists who reside in the area they work – they have an in-depth understanding of the changing minds of its residents.

4                     Rubric will guide your writing.

 

Learning Outcomes:

1         The scope of this research will reveal that information will come from a wide variety of sources. Journals, books, blogs and youtube are just a few that will need to be investigated by the student.

 

2         It will be necessary to interview graffiti artists, residents of the neighbourhood, find credible literature  (books, journal articles, etc)
 

It is best to interview artists who have knowledge of the community.

 

3         Think of different ways of searching for information, trying to cross-pollinate disciplines in the hope of finding fresh, interesting views that can illuminate the topic.

 

Dispositions:

1         Students must realise that scanning one book will not be enough.  They need to throw their intellectual net further afield.

To help them in finding information, the lecturer will provide some titles:

Imagining The City (S. Field, R. Meyer and F Swanson)

Negotiating the Past (S. Nuttal and C. Coetzee)

Rap Music and Street Consciousness (C. Keyes)

Prophets of the Hood (I Perry)

These titles will give them a foothold in the hip-hop movement which graffiti is an element of.

 

2         Be flexible in mind when interviewing graffiti artists and residents.  Remember that as an interviewer, navigating memory and bias is a crucial part that at times will not be dependable.  Therefore, it is essential that they interview residents from different backgrounds and different graffiti artists whose aims and objectives may differ.

Find artist and residents with different views to enhance essay
Location:  Woodstock

3         Students should not be afraid to delve into other disciplines.  The essay allows for this.  Sociology, psychology, linguistics, fine arts are but a few divergent components that can help the student find serendipitous  information that can thread the essay together.

Graffiti is there to make you think. 
Ensure that your essay is thought provoking
Location:  Woodstock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploring Topics

ž  What individuals or organisations would generate information about the use, design, distribution and/or manufacture of prosthetic limbs? (5)

ž  Prosthetics can be defined as artificial limbs or silicone prostheses that replace a limb or other body part after amputation or congenital absence.

 

Ø  Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics

The Commons at Oaklands

 660 West Lincoln Highway

 Exton, PA 19341

 717/337-2273

abilitypo.com

 

Ø  Hope to Walk
3635 A South Main Street
Blacksburg, VA 24060
804/399-0990
hopetowalk.org

Ø  ProfNet Medical

Crossway Office Park 2

      240 Lenchen Ave (cnr Jean)

     Centurion

                   +27 12 622 9103

 

Ø  Medical Orthotists & Prosthetists (MOPs) are concerned with the design, manufacturing and fitting of splints, braces, surgical appliances (orthotics) and artificial limbs (prosthetics). MOPs are members of the rehabilitation team; helping those who require orthopaedic support. Once qualified, Medical Orthotists & Prosthetists register with the Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA).

Ø  J.M. de Burros

54 Tanner Rd
Windsor Park

Cape Gate

Cape Town

Tel:  021 988 9979

Fax:  086 684 8638

 

ž  Who would be interested in information about the effects of parental incarceration on young children? (5)

Ø  Social Workers

Ø   Researchers

Ø  Welfare departments

Ø  Rehabilitation Centres for female convicts

Ø  Chief Warden of a prison

 

ž  How  and where would the groups that you identified disseminate the information that they produced on the topic? (5) eg. websites, government publications

ž  Exploration of a topic can lead to other dimensions of interest which can lend  additional awareness to the study of parental incarceration on younger children.

Ø  Scholarly Articles on the topic

Ø  Look at the effects of adverse child behaviour  - Documentaries

Ø  Mental health problems in adults as well as children - Websites

Ø  Depression – Clinics

Ø  Suicide Attempts -  brochure booklets

Ø  Substance Abuse  - Workshops at schools

Ø  Domestic Issues/Abuse  - Women’s organsiations

Ø  Neighbourhood Abuse –Community Workshops

 

 

 

THE LAW IS THE LAW IS THE LAW

So many can't decide whether graffiti is art or a colourful mess that mars the senses of daily folks.  but in essences, graffiti artists are allowed to colour the urban jungle, should they wish to.  Only difference now is that that they need written permission to do so.  I have a niggly feeling that this does not sit well with graffiti artists.  Because isn't the unconventional and daring methods of painting in the dead of night, spraying dark corners of a subway and peppering unmarked walls with slogans,  a sign of one's radicalism...of being some sort of revolutionary? 

Sure, if done legally the artists will have more time to perfect their work but will it not lose some of its purity?  Will the message not lose its essence?  Will graffiti still have punch and spike or will it conform to the ideas of the ruling class, instead of speaking for those who are maimed by mainstream society ?

Just a thought...

e

Charactery Conversions

The first source I chose was a magazine article on graffiti from the New York Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/07/11/when-does-graffiti-become-art/legal-venues-celebrate-graffiti-as-an-art-form

This source I changed to a blog format and can be found:https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2718028827034264432#editor/target=post;postID=7890677869264114960;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=postname

Reflection:
I had to ensure that I did not use the certain phrases as one is at times accustomed to doing. I also had to be cognizant of the message so that it remained sincere to the article.

The second source I chose was a blog on a famous graffiti photographer:
 http://www.mtn-world.com/en/blog/2017/10/25/graffiti-here-was-just-a-game-for-kids-jeosm-interview-to-henry-chalfant/


This source I changed into a powerpoint presentation:
https://www.slideshare.net/secret/7gz5T60xgYqWWV

Rflection:  The powerpoint was easy todo, but the uploading gave some issues as it failed a few times.


My third source is a youtube video that shows the viewer that graffiti artists are not just lazy kids with time on their hands but real thinkers who ponder ways to change space figuratively:
https://youtu.be/1lMcq0UdgJw

This source I changed into a tweet:
https://twitter.com/estdale/status/924273720046342144

Reflection:  I found the youtube video refreshing and enlightening as graffiti artists are always regarded in a negative light.  The tweet was easy to do and I chose to copy the link in my tweet so that people can go directly to the link and find the video themselves.

The other formats are:

Movie:  Exit Through the Gift Shop: A Banksy Film is a 2010 British documentary film, directed by street artists. It tells the story of Thierry Guetta, a French immigrant in Los Angeles, and his obsession with street art.
Find out more:  http://www.banksyfilm.com/

e-book:  A photographic collection of underground works specifically located in Southern California
http://www.ebook777.com/graffiti-art-underground/

The Value of Doodling

Graffiti has essentially been given a bad rap over the years.  For too long people regarded graffiti has an eyesore on a many a building and that the artists should be locked away without any grub or bathwater until they learn their lesson!  Hold thine horses for a New York minute and lets debate graffiti on African time.  For if we do, we will find that graffiti has been with us since our forefathers wore loincloths...notwithstanding that it gets up the noses of some hoity-toities who are chained to their archaic ideas of art.

This is a Nswatugi Cave ensconced with rock paintings.
This image was taken by Mikeflickr.com. 
Attribution:  2.0 Generic (cc by 2.0)
This image is free to share (copy, redistribute) and adapt (remix and transform for any purpose)

People have become way too judgemental about graffiti, and why its that when churches have embraced it for the longest of times.  In the middle ages graffiti was deemed acceptable.

 

 

This image was taken for as book called Medieval Graffiti of England's Churches.  This artist is unknown and is said to be a commoner to depict Mary and Child.  It can be found on arches  in a Suffolk church. 

Image found on Google and is free to share .

 

 

But  not all graffiti of the past has real meaning.  Some common folk just scratched their names on walls to solidify their existence, especially since they were without rights or power.  In essence the image below is of someone writing today on the back of a toilet door:  'so-and-so was here'

 

 

Graffiti carved into one of the walls of Bayeux Cathedral, France

Image taken by Max-12

Attribution:  2.0 Generic (cc by 2.0)
This image is free to share (copy, redistribute) and adapt (remix and transform for any purpose)

 

 

 

Of course, one's beliefs are also exemplified, shared, so that people can gawk and think there is something wrong with you.  All gods were not made equal, some are just funkier than others:

 

Artist:  Pshycox20  (mmmmm)

Some Rights Reserved

Attribution:  Non Commercia Share Alike 2.0 Generic (CC

by NC-SA 2.0

This can be shared and distributed.

It cannot be used for commercial purposes.

If remixed or transformed, contribution must be distributed under the original license.

 

Some graffiti speaks specifically to a culture. This image below was photographed in Frankfurt 

and Mr Pharoah has gone through a transformation of sorts.  Arrrggghh!!

 

 

Artist:  Wolgang Sterneck

Art for Change - Arabic Graffiti and Egyptian Street Art in Frankfurt

Attribution:  Non Commercial Share Alike 2.0 Generic (CC

by NC-SA 2.0

Some Rights Resrved

This can be shared and distributed.

It cannot be used for commercial purposes.

If remixed or transformed, contribution must be distributed under the original license.

 

 

MEDIA

 

Graffiti is one of the four elements of the hip-hop movement.  It is an art on its own and works seamlessly with the other genres of hip-hop.

 

 

Street Painting

 

https://www.fatcap.com/videos.html

 

Title : Wire FatCap

Posted by : Vincent Morgan

Copyright © 1998-2011 Fatcap - All rights reserved

 

Top Ten Graffiti Artists

The Artists Block

  YouTube allows users to mark their videos with a Creative Commons CC BY licence. 

Attribution is automatic under the CC BY licence, meaning that any video you create using Creative Commons content will automatically show the source video titles underneath the video player. You retain your copyright and other users get to reuse your work subject to the terms of the licence.

 

 

Blogs also prove to be popular amongst the graffiti crew. From finding the tools, to how to make their own tool (read spray) there is a large following of bloggers who make it their mission to paint the internet with their thoughts as if it were walls.

 

Founding Father:  JonONe

http://156worldwide.blogspot.co.za/

In the United States, all creative works automatically fall under copyright law. Even if you make no assertions of copyright, your posts on Blogger belong to you exclusively. You hold the copyright on the text of your blog, but some parts of your content cannot be copyrighted. These include titles, phrases, ideas, methods, lists, facts and common phrases.

 

 

#thegraffitipodcast

The Graffiti Podcast is the first ever podcast of its kind.  they talk all things Graffiti and Hip Hop, bringing you exclusive interviews with people who are making waves wherever they go.

 

https://soundcloud.com/the-graffiti-podcast/episode-6-rosk

 

 

OPEN EDUCATION RESOURCES

 

Graffiti has been used as a tool for educating the young.  Because it is seen as funky and a trendy way to express oneself, they youth have taken to it easily.   Documents implemented aspects of graffiti to educate.  Dropping some heavy flavour, here are a coupla sources for you to peruse

 

 

Conditions of Use: 

Creative Commons Attribution, non Commercial- No Derve.3.0 unsupported 

 

 

 

 

The interactive activity below uses the graffiti idea and merges it with doodling.  It helps kids t visualise, thus helping with their reading.

 

 

Copyrighted materials, available under Fair Use and the TEACH Act for US-based educators, or other custom arrangements.

 

 

Graffiti artist Danny 'Dan-One' Polonco, a self-described "Alphabetical Engineer," talks about graffiti art form as a means for self-expression. 

 

 

 

Copyrighted materials, available under Fair Use and the TEACH Act for US-based educators, or other custom arrangements.

 

Below deals with the legitimacy of graffiti and the artist.  Lectures are interactive as student will be asked to find solutions to defining urban space.

Remix and Share:
 Remixing, redistributing, or making derivatives works comes with some restrictions, including how it is shared.


The artist below shows that graffiti artists determine their realms and that there are many directions in which to take graffiti art.

 Copyrighted materials, available under Fair Use and the TEACH Act for US-based educators, or other custom arrangements.

 Go to the resource provider to see their individual restrictions.

 

 

 

 

I hope this helps in terms understanding graffiti and the artists. 

Know that art comes in all forms and cannot be boxed or framed to make you feel comfortable.

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dont Be Conned by Authority

Researching the life of Wolfie Kodesh

 

 

 

Background:

He was a long-time South African Communist Party member and a prominent figure in the liberation struggle who died at age 84 in Cape Town on 2 October 2002.

Kodesh was one of the stalwarts of the liberation movement. He was described by those who knew him as a soldier, a patriot, an African Nationalist, a communist, a man of laughter and a father figure.

 

Discipline:

Third-Year information and library science students at UWC researching archive management.

 

Learning Outcomes:

1                     Define different types of authority, such as subject expertise (scholarship), society position (public office or title), or special experience (participating in an historic event).

2                     Use markers of authority to determine the credibility of sources.

3                     Recognise that authoritative content may be packaged formally or informally and may include audio, visual and non-print sources.

 

Materials Needed:

A             internet

B             hardware:  desktop/tablet/smartphone

 

Activities:

 

1              To prepare for their practical lesson on archiving the  personal contents of Wolfie Kodesh, the background and his activities during the apartheid struggle has to be researched so that  the  collection can be filed in a manner that is user friendly and sensible.

 

2              Students will need to access to the archives of Mail and Guardian and The Guardian newspapers to thread Wolfie Kodesh’s activities and what else has be noted of him.  They have to question the validity of the newspaper, the journalist who wrote the piece on Wolfie Kodesh and under which circumstances it was written.

Interviews with  and about Wolfie Kodesh completed by Julie Frederickse for her book The Unbreakable Thread must be analysed and her credibility verified.  In addition the students must be observant of  the light in which Wolfie Kodesh was regarded by his peers and others whom he encountered by paying close attention to tone and register while interviews were conducted.

 

3         Students will need to register and access the visual contents that SAHA (South African History Archives) has on Wolfie Kodesh and relationships that he nurtured to validate the printed documents  that they encounter in the collection that they are busy with.

 

 

 

 

Disposition:

Throughout this process students must cognizant of the voice of authority and the role it plays in the providing the information about Wolfie Kodesh so that, as far as possible, a true reflection may be displayed of such a great man.

 

Throughout the process, they must maintain an open mind and continuously address their bias as well as those authorities they are trying question/validate.

 

They must realise the importance of assessing information and validating it so that they can remain sincere to the process of archiving and as well as trying to do justice to the subject.

 

To complete the task at hand, they must realise the importance of questioning authority and being open to varying opinions and views.

 

 

 

 

E

Archival Inquiry

Research as an inquiry can be used as an effective tool to the contentious issue of the availability of archives to the public.  Public awareness of archives is important, but at what expense?  Archives are fiercely protected by collectors and curators, but this comes with a measure of discomfort as people do not feel at ease, or even that it is their right to look through documents. 

The questions put to students should addres the issue of availing archival pieces to the public by gathering and using information that  will have a positive impact on the archivist and the user.

 

Knowledge Practices:

 

1                     Determine an appropriate scope of investigation;

2                     deal with complex research by breaking complex questions into simple ones, limiting the scope of investigations;  using various research methods (survey)

3                     organise information in meaningful ways;

 

 

Activities

 

1              Students will have a discussion on the following;

                Problems  to address:

•       Do archivists keep enough data on users / study their users informational patterns;

•       archives do not receive sufficient use to justify their expense;

•       archivists do not advertise their services, rarely engage in efforts to build a client base

 

 

2      Students must conduct research by asking simple questions, so that they can limit their focus to reach a resolution.   Students can do a survey on people who have used archive material before or who would wish to, in so doing, they will gain multiple perspectives when gathering information.  Questions that can lead to further investigation:

•       Who are the users who will make use of archival material?

•       What kinds of projects they pursue / what are their information needs?

•       How do users approach records?

•       What they do with their results?

•       Does it have an impact on a community or on a personal level?

 

Students will (in groups) then identify the gaps that exist between the user and the holders of archival material, possibly look at user education so that the user will understand the terms and conditions and the holder of archival material will be more at ease about making material accessible to the public.

Students can organise their findings on user education in a meaningful way by :

•       making holdings known -- be aware of users disciplinary/professional fields and identify intellectual gaps that could be filled by repository’s holdings;

•       organise seminars on archival work or research methods

•       and investigate the digitization of material for a wider audience

 

 

This level of inquiry should then lead to more questions being asked and to further investigation so that archives remain an integral part of the historical fabric of any institution who wishes to maintain it. 

 

 

E