Part Seven in a Series of Questions on Graffiti: Social Media's Impact on Graffiti Culture

I come from a really geographically isolated place and so the internet played a huge part in putting my art out there for people to see. Part of me feels resistant to new technology as it evolves and I have definitely experienced the negatives with forums and speaking your 'opinion' online because of the extent it can be misinterpreted. It's true that at times it's a lot more effective to say nothing but it’s also good to keep an open mind about the way socialization changes with internet media. – Askew TMD (New Zealand) askew1.com

Whatever one thinks or believes about graffiti today, it is a business, a big one. You can be a part or not. You can make fun of cheesy graffiti styled products filling the shelves of major stores but absolutely understand that money is being paid for all of it. The world doesn’t care about graffiti history, style kings or even who is good or not. The “un-graffiti” minded world thinks we all do the same art, think the same and may only be about a dozen or million of us who do it. Social media dumbs down the viewer, it’s our responsibility to educate the unknowing, not continue teaching the supporters. We have to raise our game constantly to keep the craft alive. – Erni Vales evlworld.com 

…Excerpts from:

Part Seven in a Series of Questions on Graffiti: Social Media's Impact on Graffiti Culture

http://estria.blogspot.com/2010/10/part-vii-social-medias-impact-on.html

by graffiti pioneer Estria Miyashiro, "West Coast OG writin' on walls since 1984" and "Head of national Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle"