Writer-Ambrosia 3

Welcome back, M-pals!

This post is a little bit late, so please partake of my sincerest apologies. I stayed late babysitting for a friend, and the rest of the day was spent dashing about attending graduations. So, for all the graduates out there, congratulations! I hope you're prepared to grasp the world the world out there with both hands. And to help you do that is this beautiful little site, made just for people like you!

The official writer's website of the day is...

Life Is an Open Book http://esckeyes.blogspot.com/

Life Is an Open Book is a blog by Emily S. Keyes of the L. Perkins Agency. Deep breaths, everyone, I know agents are basically celebrities to us writers but you'll want to your mental faculties in order to hear this. On this blog are the inner workings of publishing and agenting. From updates on genres to writer conference announcements, Mrs. Keyes opens a bit of her working life to us literary fanatics. I think we all owe her a big, "Thank you!" So scroll on over to her site and check it out. Really, I don't mind.

Back already? Well, we'll move on then. Need a little inspiration pick-me-up after reading the realities of publishing? Well, I'll only be too happy to oblige. So, bring on the inspiration. Or as we M-pals say, bring the writer-ambrosia forthwith.

So, what's our visual bubble bath of the day?

Graffiti

 



Background:

 The history of graffiti art began in what is called the "Ground Work" time between 1966-71 with a surge of, primarily, political activists. It was used as both a way to make public and widespread statements, and street gangs to mark their territory. It wasn't till the late 1960s that this writing's current identity started to form. The history of the "underground art movement" most commonly referred to as graffiti, began mainly in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the mid to late '60s and has its roots in bombing. The writers who are credited with the first conscious bombing effort are CORNBREAD and COOL EARL. They wrote their names all over the city, gaining attention from both the community and the local press. It is unclear whether this concept made its way to New York City via deliberate efforts or if it was a spontaneous occurrence.

If you want to learn more about the history of graffiti, you can follow this link. Davey D. covers the progression of this art style throughout the decades. http://www.daveyd.com/historyofgraf.html

Literary Significance

I had a hard time finding any direct connections between graffiti and novels, classic literature (as can be expected), or modern short stories. That's not to say they aren't out there. However, I found a mental connection between this art movement and the tone and significance present in the short story The Destructors by Graham Greene. Though it's set in England's WWII aftermath, and was written in 1954, I believe you'll find a deep connection in both tone, generational values, and a strange parallel between creation and destruction that is present in most graffiti art.

Dare You to Try . . .

• Try to imagine what character matches which graffiti signature. What are they like, and how do their lives interconnect through this one piece of plywood?
• How will the man in the background be affected by this graffiti? I wonder if he will stop and notice the colors and the effort people have put into this work?
• "Now in the land of crackheads," says the navy blue writing. Why, and who, would put out this warning?
• I wonder why there is a star of David--the symbol of Judaism--spray-painted in this location? Is it a threat, or a declaration? How is it significant, or is it at all? What artist made this decision?   

The Challenge
Try to come up with a pitch for this picture's story, and share it with your fellow M-pals! You may never end up writing the novel, but if you can create the plot or pitch for one after looking at a single photograph, you'll never run out of ideas.