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Graffiti as Art as Language: The Logic of a Modern Language



Author(s)

Kylie I. Casino

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DOI:10.17265/2159-5313/2019.05.001

The notion of communication is in essence that of information transmission in its simplest form—the semiotic encoding and decoding of messages that occur in every type of language, be that written, verbal, non-verbal, or animal. Taking form in an Aristotelian syllogism, this paper argues that graffiti constitutes its own art form that must be equally represented, examined, appreciated, and documented. By exploring how graffiti is art, how art is language, and therefore how graffiti is language, this paper seeks to expand its audience’s understanding of how artworks are underpinned by a similar semiotic structure to that of the written or verbal. Through theory and case studies of contemporary graffiti artists and their works, the notion of graffiti as a language that can be read and contextualized comes to life in a way that is both grounded in history and stunningly creative.

graffiti, semiotics, language, art