The Economics of Everyday Things 26. Graffiti
Nov 20, 2023
This podcast dives into the controversy surrounding graffiti as an art form. It discusses efforts to remove graffiti quickly and the impact of graffiti on communities, including its negative effects on retail sales and property value. The podcast also explores Philadelphia's shift from punitive measures to encouraging graffiti artists to contribute to public art through city-funded murals. Lastly, it talks about the rise of graffiti vandalism during the pandemic and the ongoing battle with these vandals, with a humorous nod to their abundance of paint.
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How Repos Learned To Tag
- Repos started tagging as a teen after finding spray paint in an abandoned house and practicing on walls.
- He learned technique by watching other writers' arm movements and copying their styles.
Cornbread’s Origin Story
- Philadelphia claims a foundational role in modern graffiti via Darryl "Cornbread" McCray in the 1960s.
- Cornbread shifted graffiti from gang markings to personal recognition with memorable stunts like tagging an elephant.
Removal As Deterrent
- Philly's CLIP began as a small anti-graffiti unit and scaled into a large cleanup program.
- Rapid removal of graffiti became the city's primary deterrent strategy.