IRA, UVA, OTG ... GFC?
OK, I'll dispense with the mystery regarding the new acronym that's appearing here as a form of cyber-graffiti (blogfiti?) and just tell you that it stands for "Graffiti from Carter." That is to say, Carter has forwarded along some interesting images that she wanted to share with you (and perhaps we can call upon her good nature, either here in this space or in class, to say a few words about them eventually). These first four -- one, two, three, and four -- are from Northern Ireland, but I particularly like these two -- one, two -- by the legendary London-based graffiti artist, Banksy, both because they're visually striking and because they seem to be ideologically aligned with what McLiam Wilson's "OTG" might stand for in some way ... And then there's this last one, which is also quite arresting.
posted by Eric at 11:41 PM
4 Comments:
The image of the "flower thrower" by Banksy is particularly striking to me. Speaking out against violence and oppression is historically difficult. Sometimes it seems like violence is an inevitable part of conflict. Just like the peace process in Northern Ireland is broken up by bombings, murders, etc. The nameless masked man in this image is throwing flowers instead of bombs, representing peace instead of hate. I love his work mostly because his pieces say something without actually saying anything. Which is what the graffiti in Eureaka Street seems to do. It is an unnoticed, but constant presence.
I forgot to add something...
This quote by Banksy really represents the graffiti writer's idea of passive resistance to me:
"It takes a lot of guts to stand up anonymously in a Western democracy and call for things that no one else believes in- like peace and justice and freedom."
(Source: Banksy: Wall and Piece, 29)
Wow, thanks for these.
The last picture you have posted with all the painted over words on the wall is really fitting to the book because of the OTG guy painting over the phrases he writes around them. The chase scene of him and Chuckie towards the end really stuck out for me- this graffiti artists is fleeing the scene, yet he still has time to write messages to Chuckie on the walls. This really speaks to the importance of anonymity and the facelessness of the victims and criminals involved in the Belfast struggle and I was glad Wilson threw this random scene in.
Post a Comment
<< Home