Continuing on my theory

Its more of an art thing, art has been lifted to high culture and taken from the people to the museums and now, we, as people, in response, have brought it down into our world. Where was art in the past? In churches, in the places where we visited everyday.

look at hip hop and slam poetry. The poorer levels of American culture brings art to the streets, with graffiti, with poetry. Its undeniable that hip hop and slam poetry are so closely intertwined, and that their roots burst from the poorer levels of urban American culture, a response to the elevation of poetry out of the hands of the average and into the arms of the elite.

In some ways, when looking at the Graffiti of Spain, one sees themes that run the gamut of Spanish culture. Imagery of Arabian style building feferencing its moorish past, African faces, the new immigrants of Spain, and a repeated image of the swastika crossed out, as much a response to Anti Nazism as it is to Anti Facism, as Spain was under a dicatorship well past the time of the of Mussolini and Hitler. Images of Roman numerals, possible a reference to the time before, the time of Roman Catholic Rule, the golden age of the Spanish Empire, and many references to violence and sex, themes that run throughout any culture, but more boldly in Spain.

I will try to photograph and analyze this graffiti and its place not only with in Spain, but its literal location in regards to Granada.... that is my goal.... let´s hope it works.

Allllllright,

now, beyond my lil thesis I got working here,
I am doing alright, the rain is still falling and the chilly breeze has finally woken me out of my slumber. The past few days I have been feeling like a zombie, walking the streets but not living in them. My homesickness had really entered my soul and ruptured my spirit, shaking me to the core and making me act in ways I usually do not. I am now back, normal, or atleast normalized, and drinking a little cafe con leche to perk me up.

There is something inherently romantic about rainfall, something I love deeply. While walking past my favorite mural, overlooking the city of Granada, I could see not only the Alhambra surrounded by gentle rain clouds, but the rolling Sierra Nevadas, being softly caressed by the pillowy clouds of misty rain. The breeze did nothing but to shake me awake, alive, aware, here I am. Living in the place to beautiful and yet, so dirty.

I have had many people here, fellow students, discuss there dirtiness of the city, see it as a downfall to the beauty of Granada. Maybe its me, or my personal taste, but I feel that a city should be dirty. The grime is closely related to life, that dirt says experience, says freedom, says ¨hey, this is what it is, we´re not going to clean it up for you, because then we would be lying.¨To me, the dirtiest parts of Granada are the most beautiful, why? Becuase they are LIVED in. Yes, the Alahambra is amazing, its idyllic location and decoration, its history, its everything, must be cleaned to be appreciated, but when it comes to a city, I like dirt. I like edge.