Urban art adds a unique artistic edge to an area this creates a brand and therefore, arguably, contributes to the gentrification process. Becoming more creative, artistic and unique certainly is a big part of the process of branding a city. This is something that is beginning to happen in Amsterdam-Noord as its reputation as a “hipster” area grows. Personally, I would tend to be critical of gentrification because of the displacement effects it has on the social class who in most cases used to occupy the area until rent prices forced them into relocation. Just like gentrification itself, graffiti will always have both supporters and critics. Gentrified, hipster areas like Amsterdam-Noord have developed a brand that relates closely to graffiti and urban art. It is necessary to consider why it is celebrated by some groups when it is just as illegal as the other types as well as how it is contributing to modern urban areas. It is possible that this kind is linked to the same demographic as the other types however, it could also be from progressive artists such as the infamous, hidden, graffiti artist, Banksy. It is unlikely that these forms would be attractive for the gentrifiers to use for cultural developments that would attract tourism as it is unlikely to contribute towards a safe street experience. The first two types are more commonly associated to areas with high crime levels, high unemployment and low education levels. The type of graffiti is representative of the socio-political context of certain, unique, urban environments. There are different types of graffiti “illegible messy scrawls”, “graffiti as a medium of territorial gang warfare” and “aesthetically juxtaposed set of visual images respectfully placed”. The street experience relies heavily on the individual and their perception. The context of graffiti is a very important consideration for the effect that it has on the urban environment or the “street experience” as Kane describes it. Therefore as a movement, it is contributing significantly to the cultural gentrification of formerly social class communities that is the cause of so much displacement. Graffiti is a “multi-vocal, visual urban discourse that alters the texture of street experience through inventive juxtaposition of mass-mediated and local imagery” (Kane, 2009). However, graffiti has gained more positive connotations as it is equally symbolic of uniqueness, culture and social expression which are becoming more evident in the recent ‘hipster’ trends. Graffiti is symbolic of rebellion from working class, ethnic minority and disadvantaged groups who are the main victims of the gentrifying processes of globalisation and cultural development. In an age of globalisation and gentrification, graffiti seemed to be the most relevant artistic movement. The relationship between artistic movements amongst the bourgeoisie described in his book is the inspiration for this article, which will put it in a 21 st century perspective. Art throughout history has been used predominantly as an expression of socio-political contexts, as highlighted in David Harvey’s popular book on Post-Modernism. Graffiti is a form of urban art that has allowed people for decades to express themselves, normally against political and social conformity. Graffiti: A socio-politically expressive gentrification device
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