Comments on: Florence Defaced By Graffiti, Declared Ugly and Depressing http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/florence-defaced-by-graffiti-declared-ugly-and-depressing/ Featuring insider destination guides and how-to articles from the matador travel community. Our focus is sustainable travel, cultural immersion, plus work, study, and volunteer opportunities worldwide. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:45:29 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Ginny http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/florence-defaced-by-graffiti-declared-ugly-and-depressing/comment-page-1/#comment-2972 Ginny Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:48:19 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1901#comment-2972 I just got back from Florence, if you think the thousands of "yogurt" graffitis are obnoxious try going to Rome. Its bad enough to deface Piazzale Di Michelangelo but the Colloseum! Come on! It is everywhere BUT the Vatican. I think the natives have a very lax attitude towards it, I guess they figure that if the buildings have survived 600 years that they can survive graffiti too. From what I gathered it was a problem that the college students have with the "Police State" but I found that they are more liberated than anyone I know in the US. I just got back from Florence, if you think the thousands of “yogurt” graffitis are obnoxious try going to Rome. Its bad enough to deface Piazzale Di Michelangelo but the Colloseum! Come on! It is everywhere BUT the Vatican. I think the natives have a very lax attitude towards it, I guess they figure that if the buildings have survived 600 years that they can survive graffiti too. From what I gathered it was a problem that the college students have with the “Police State” but I found that they are more liberated than anyone I know in the US.

]]> By: dfinepa http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/florence-defaced-by-graffiti-declared-ugly-and-depressing/comment-page-1/#comment-2925 dfinepa Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:10:11 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1901#comment-2925 Nice piece! I'm not sure if it's so much about a need to be recognised in public though Josh. I also know a few graffers and if judged on the sheer number of tags they leave everywhere or some of the places they pick to do a piece, you could easily think they were just doing it to gain attention. But in my experience most graf writers only come out at night, and keep their work secret. Most tags are only known to a select few other graffers. It's more about getting one over on the other guys in the graffiti scene in town by spraying the biggest most daring piece or tagging your name on the most corners and telephone boxes. BTW - I have to agree that it sucks when it's done on beautiful old buildings... As for Italy, i actually have to agree with the author in saying that "probably nobody gives a shit". Italy is an amazing country for so many reasons, but it really lags behind most of the rest of Europe when it comes to keeping towns looking beautiful and doing things for the common good. But maybe thats part of the charm! Nice piece! I’m not sure if it’s so much about a need to be recognised in public though Josh. I also know a few graffers and if judged on the sheer number of tags they leave everywhere or some of the places they pick to do a piece, you could easily think they were just doing it to gain attention. But in my experience most graf writers only come out at night, and keep their work secret. Most tags are only known to a select few other graffers. It’s more about getting one over on the other guys in the graffiti scene in town by spraying the biggest most daring piece or tagging your name on the most corners and telephone boxes. BTW – I have to agree that it sucks when it’s done on beautiful old buildings…

As for Italy, i actually have to agree with the author in saying that “probably nobody gives a shit”. Italy is an amazing country for so many reasons, but it really lags behind most of the rest of Europe when it comes to keeping towns looking beautiful and doing things for the common good. But maybe thats part of the charm!

]]> By: James http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/florence-defaced-by-graffiti-declared-ugly-and-depressing/comment-page-1/#comment-2920 James Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:37:20 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1901#comment-2920 I think the citizens of Firenze feel so hopeless after a decade or so of "non-contributing" immigrants over-running their city, that they just don't care anymore. I think you would not find that the graffiti is being painted by the "local Italian boys". I think the citizens of Firenze feel so hopeless after a decade or so of “non-contributing” immigrants over-running their city, that they just don’t care anymore. I think you would not find that the graffiti is being painted by the “local Italian boys”.

]]> By: Hal http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/florence-defaced-by-graffiti-declared-ugly-and-depressing/comment-page-1/#comment-2919 Hal Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:21:49 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1901#comment-2919 Man, after spending a day in Valparaiso, Chile--the polar opposite on the graffiti spectrum--I have to agree. Florence looks like shit. Seriously, check this stuff out: http://kecia-chile-agosto2008.blogspot.com/2008/08/valpo-graffiti-art.html Man, after spending a day in Valparaiso, Chile–the polar opposite on the graffiti spectrum–I have to agree. Florence looks like shit.

Seriously, check this stuff out:
http://kecia-chile-agosto2008.blogspot.com/2008/08/valpo-graffiti-art.html

]]> By: Josh Johnson http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/florence-defaced-by-graffiti-declared-ugly-and-depressing/comment-page-1/#comment-2915 Josh Johnson Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:12:28 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1901#comment-2915 yogurt. That kills me. I lived with a Graffiti artists ( he actually would do huge, amazing pieces ) and I was fascinated by his all consuming obession with scribbling his name everywhere. Getting up. It meant everything. I think is was a need to be recognized, if only despised. yogurt.
That kills me.
I lived with a Graffiti artists ( he actually would do huge, amazing pieces ) and I was fascinated by his all consuming obession with scribbling his name everywhere.

Getting up.

It meant everything. I think is was a need to be recognized, if only despised.

]]> By: Eleonora http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/florence-defaced-by-graffiti-declared-ugly-and-depressing/comment-page-1/#comment-2914 Eleonora Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:34:04 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1901#comment-2914 "Or maybe nobody gives a shit." That's the point. Anyway it's not just Florence... Probably only Venice is a bit "cleaner". “Or maybe nobody gives a shit.”

That’s the point.

Anyway it’s not just Florence… Probably only Venice is a bit “cleaner”.

]]> By: Tim Patterson http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/florence-defaced-by-graffiti-declared-ugly-and-depressing/comment-page-1/#comment-2908 Tim Patterson Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:26:38 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1901#comment-2908 Harsh! I'd love to see some natives of Florence respond.... Harsh! I’d love to see some natives of Florence respond….

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