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Posts: 74

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Q: Does street graffiti have the same negative conotations in China as it does in other countries?

I see it everywhere. I even seen people staring (in amusement I think) as some dude tagged a shangdian's door. 

 

Where I come from, graffiti represents urban decay, social degradation, gang activity, etc. 

 

Here is it just street art? 

8 years 25 weeks ago in  General  - China

 
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I think it's the same as littering and spitting everywhere, it contributes to urban decay and squalor but people are indifferent to it, it's accepted as inevitable and probably no big deal.

From what I've seen, trashing your community isn't frowned upon here like in other places.

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8 years 25 weeks ago
 
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I think it's the same as littering and spitting everywhere, it contributes to urban decay and squalor but people are indifferent to it, it's accepted as inevitable and probably no big deal.

From what I've seen, trashing your community isn't frowned upon here like in other places.

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8 years 25 weeks ago
 
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There are 2 types of graffiti - art, by very talented artists who choose to use the medium of spray can and wall (or someone's property) ... and wankers, who can only 'paint' some sort of 'tag' to say to the world 'Look out, I'm a wanker who doesn't give a shit about your property - I'm gonna tell you I've been here".

 

The first - obviously doesn't happen a lot here. First;y, there's a lack of spraypaint. Also, there's a lack of true artistic talent. The sort of art that graf-art represents is quite avant-garde, and unlikely to develop here in China. I have seen some, but it's not a lot And certainly not to the extent we're likely to see back home - much like most of the arts. Mostly due to indoctrination.

 

The second type of graf would mean individuation. While there's a whole generation pushing desperately to individuate themselves, they do so in a fairly mainstream way (for the most part). And there is a fear of punishment. Also, it's difficult to be a stand-out wanker where there is so much competition, caused by a very spoiled generation of one child kids. They don't feel the need to tag, because the whole world adores them anyway!!!

Shining_brow:

Oh, also - graffiti is a type of cultural and social subversion (well, ok, that's what it is in the rest of the world!) And this is something that can get someone in SERIOUS trouble in this country!

 

Now if they were tagging with CCP or something.... :p

8 years 25 weeks ago
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talkword:

"Lack of spraypaint." don't know where you're gettting that. It's not true at all. 

"Lack of true artistic talent." Also, so far from the truth. I'm assuming you're not plugged into the art world here because there are loads of talented artists. There is a huge, burgeoning art scene in Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu. It's a bit overwhelming actually. 

 

Sorry for calling you out. It's just blatantly false.

8 years 25 weeks ago
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talkword:

Also, most of the art coming out of here would be considered avant-garde. Also, who uses avant-garde lol 

8 years 25 weeks ago
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talkword:

"Mostly due to indoctrination." Oh man you've really drank the "Chinese people are mindless zombies" kool aid hard. 

 

Get with it Shining_brow. It's a different China were living in. This country changes faster than most people can keep up with. The young kids here are doing cool things 

8 years 25 weeks ago
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Shining_brow:

"There is a huge, burgeoning art scene in Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu. It's a bit overwhelming actually."

 

OMG - you are SO right!!! How could I have been so stupid! 3 of the biggest cities in China are so incredibly representative of the rest of the country! Damn, I feel like a right fool now...

 

We're discussing CHINA here - not just their biggest, most international cities (although I'm surprised you didn't throw in GuangZhou into that list)

 

The fact is... a) spray paints are NOT as readily available here in China as they are back home, b) the artistic community here tends to either follow the classics, or (like in many places in the world) concentrated, and overwhelmingly c) they don't have that as a natural part of the culture - subversion and all, as 'harmony' is seen as more important. Such civil disobedience is seen as being really tempting fate

 

Some kids here are doing cool things. Most are not! The vast majority are still following the fully indoctrinated ideal of: education, job, boyfriend/girlfriend, house, car, marriage, kid. With a little bit of travel thrown in. This is the VAST majority of people here. (not that it's too much different back home).

 

The people you are suggesting are a VERY small minority - much less than 1% And, as you pointed out, in those few major cities that have a fairly substantial foreign population (not sure if there's much of a connection there - but statistically true).

 

 

 

 

8 years 25 weeks ago
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8 years 25 weeks ago
 
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Shining_brow  

 

You're assuming graffiti is seen as "subversive" by those who commit "civil disobedience" in this country like it is "in the rest of the world." That was basically my question. Is graffiti seen as subversive in China? You say yes,  but I'm no so sure.

 

The graffiti I've seen is never politically subversive and I''m not sure if it seen as an offense to the community here. You say it is, but is it? 

 

 

 

 

Shining_brow:

"Chinese graffiti is different".... :p

 

Ok, I see your point. I've only seen 1 bit of real 'graffiti' (not Diverdude's name and number stuff) in the city I live in (Hangzhou). Someone has sprayed a big frog (or toad??) on an underpass. That, and in the same general area, some wankers tagging a few places (which has no merit)... but it's been there for quite a while (some has been cleaned up).

 

Doing something which the government hasn't approved in a public place - indeed, because the government hasn't approved it - is one of the major elements of graffiti. After all, it's not really "graffiti" if you're just doing it in your own room... And this idea isn't something I've seen in China... anywhere. (other than, of course, the wankers who need to write their name - such as on 4000 year old Egyptian relics....).

 

This is vastly different to what's been going on back home... both artistically and wankerly... I know a guy who gets paid quite well for his artistry by both private business and local governments - to beautify the area (and to attract business... he did the side of a wall to a brothel - and the custom went up! :D) I've also seen so much tagging around that I think the coppers should (after catching all the other 'real' criminals)' go after those little shits - whcih they do!

 

So - the question then comes down to - is the OP's question about the artform - or the underlying idea behind it? Is it referring to tagging? Or the more skilled artists?

 

Which then leads to - if it doesn't have a negative connotation, then why don['t we see a lot more of it here? Or, at the very least, would it be allowed to flourish here if it wasn't seen as negative? Would they teach it in art schools?

8 years 25 weeks ago
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8 years 25 weeks ago
 
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never see proper graffitti around here, or at least never notice it.  However, just about everywhere you look some asshat has marked (spray-painted?) their contact # and some kinda little message for whatever service. This kind of vandalism of public/private property is widespread here in this third-tier city that could be a poster child for the bleak Communist utopia.

We need to take the next logical step and deploy a draconian People's Harmonization Battalion to patrol the city and when we catch a tagging perp we strip him and spray paint him top to toe. 

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The advertisements for the Youth Olympics in Nanjing featured several animated characters who tagged things.  Shortly after, I noticed graffiti for the first time.

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8 years 25 weeks ago
 
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