What is it about?
This essay explores the meaning of graffiti in Napes, particularly on garbage trucks, and its relation to short stories, films, and the handling of toxic waste as depicted in "beautiful cauntri" and "Gomorrah". Phrases from popular songs, particularly by Natasha Bedingfield ("Unwritten"), appear on the walls of Naples; "Hands over the City", and "Mensa Occupata" capture the mood in Naples as it moves towards eradicating graffiti. Still, there is something "delirious" about Naples, to quote a recent study, that transcends efforts to control its energy, as evident in a recent mural dedicated to Diego Maradona.
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Why is it important?
Phrases from popular songs, particularly by Natasha Bedingfield ("Unwritten"), appear on the walls of Naples; "Hands over the City", and "Mensa Occupata" capture the mood in Naples as it moves towards eradicating graffiti and the Camorra between 2014 and 2018. Still, there is something "delirious" about Naples, to quote a recent study, that transcends efforts to control its energy, as evident in a recent mural dedicated to Diego Maradona.
Perspectives
I see the essay as an instance of informed tourism, evaluating graffiti as a form of political protest and calligraphy, with intrinsic value. The essay contributes to ideas about gentrification, community clean-up and political activism regarding Syria, Palestine, and downtown beautification. The essay will be part of a forthcoming study comparing graffiti in Italy, Poland, Greece, and the United States.
Jonathan Gross
DePaul University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Reading Graffiti in Naples and Reading Naples in Film, Perspectives on Global Development and Technology, February 2021, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/15691497-12341577.
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