What’s Up Doc:

A Review and Analysis of English Language Documentaries On Contemporary Graffiti And Street Art

Abstract

Over the past four decades, most large urban settings around the world have experienced an increase in graffiti and street art. One of the consequences of this activity is an attempt to interpret this phenomenon. Not only have popular and scholarly articles and books catalogued, examined, and analyzed graffiti and street art, and the people who engage in and respond to this activity, but so too have documentary movies. In order to better understand this latter method of capturing and explaining graffiti and street art, this paper reviews and analyzes seventeen English language documentary films (produced between 1980-2014) drawing generalizations about the dominant themes that have been expressed in this body of work. This analysis includes a review of the settings, individuals interviewed, and provides a critical commentary on this body of work.