About this Book

One might normally think of modernity when thinking about Graffiti, but this art form has been with us for a long time. The word Graffiti comes from the Greek word graphein which means "to write." In ancient times Graffiti were carved on walls with a sharp object, and sometimes chalk or coal was used. Ancient graffiti displayed phrases of love declarations, political rhetoric, and simple words of thought. Today's Graffiti includes popular messages of social and political ideals, as well as territorial markings and exploration of the Self. Author Michael V. Uschan presents readers with a richly detailed and fascinating history of this art form.