Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


ucin1179409053.pdf (2.88 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

THE WRITING ON THE WALL: 1977 - 2007, NEW YORK GRAFFITI ARTISTS, JENNY HOLZER AND SWOON

SEDA-REEDER, MARIA
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1179409053

Abstract Details

2007, MA, University of Cincinnati, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning : Art History.
In this study I consider the work of two major American graffiti artists: Jenny Holzer (b. 1945) and Swoon (b. 1977). I focus on Holzer's early poster and sticker campaigns, Truisms (1977-79), Inflammatory Essays (1979-82), and Survival (1983-85), which she offset-printed and posted during the heyday of New York City’s graffiti movement (1966-1989), and Swoon’s life size woodblock printed portraiture posted on the streets since 2001. I argue that Holzer’s work merits consideration within the context of graffiti literature, and that Swoon, inherited Holzer’s legacy thus making her part of graffiti’s avant-garde movement. To accomplish this, I expand upon the definition of what constitutes graffiti, arguing that it is any kind of publicly posted unsanctioned writing. I trace a historical lineage of poster artists as graffiti artists, and provide a feminist reading of Holzer and Swoon’s pre-street production process within the male-dominated movement.
Kimberly Paice (Advisor)
80 p.
graffiti; Jenny Holzer; Swoon; avant-garde; posters; writing; New York City

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • SEDA-REEDER, M. (2007). THE WRITING ON THE WALL: 1977 - 2007, NEW YORK GRAFFITI ARTISTS, JENNY HOLZER AND SWOON [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1179409053

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • SEDA-REEDER, MARIA. THE WRITING ON THE WALL: 1977 - 2007, NEW YORK GRAFFITI ARTISTS, JENNY HOLZER AND SWOON. 2007. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1179409053.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • SEDA-REEDER, MARIA. "THE WRITING ON THE WALL: 1977 - 2007, NEW YORK GRAFFITI ARTISTS, JENNY HOLZER AND SWOON." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1179409053

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1179409053
1,923
© 2007, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.