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Street Art (CCDP20001)

Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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From illegally spray-painted stencils to secret exhibitions in abandoned warehouses to exclusive multi-million dollar art fairs, this subject explores the rise of street art in the contemporary city.

The subject examines the diversity of artists, materials and political impulses that drive street art and graffiti and its shift from an illicit subculture to a mainstream practice. Using examples from Melbourne and other key cities such as New York, Rome and Berlin, the subject investigates how the meaning and impact of street art derive from spatial and social contexts and how street art can provide new ways of understanding a city, as well as broader debates about art, public space and urban development.

Students undertaking this subject will develop skills in identifying, mapping and designing street art in Melbourne’s laneways.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • identify a range of street art in a variety of urban contexts;
  • demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of materials and creative practices that comprise street art;
  • demonstrate an understanding of how the meaning of forms of street art is shaped by spatial and social contexts;
  • have developed skills in the mapping and design of street art.

Generic skills

On completion of this subject, students should have developed skills in:

  • research and inquiry, including analysing information and constructing an argument;
  • visual literacy, including the ability to analyse spaces and objects and articulate findings;
  • communication and interpersonal skills, through the development of collaborative proposals and presentations.

Last updated: 10 January 2025