Sesame Street Vs. Graffiti

The birth of a movement?

I have loved graffiti for as long as I can remember. Driving through cities as a kid I was glued to the window in wonder watching an unknown world go by. It was my favorite part of going on family vacation. There was a piece on a wall near a grocery store my dad used to go to I would see once and a while. It was of a king in a blue robe (Probably a Bode character). It was buffed when I was about 6 years old. I was so upset when it was gone. I couldn’t understand why some one wouldn’t want it there. I used to get home and try to draw letters out of random symbols and shapes to mimic what I had seen. Being that I lived in the country 6 hours from NYC, I drew my inspiration from Sesame Street. I’m convinced now that Sesame Street is responsible for the explosion of graffiti in the 70’s and its resurgence in the 90’s. A whole generation of writers that were inspired by letters before they ever held a can.

I’m not joking, this shit is serious.

Case in point:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eLPPxSdwJw&feature=related[/youtube]

Inspired by graffiti or inspired graffiti?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi-ODZ3ING0[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA-lHADj6hk&feature=related[/youtube]

My all time favorite:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZshZp-cxKg[/youtube]

Connectors / Morphing letters:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vkFYicjOoI[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Lh_o-uPguw&feature=related[/youtube]

Styles for miles:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZIEi8QJExk[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVvbkh1puak&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL7AB8F9EE19FC5025[/youtube]

Are those Doze Green characters and TRAP throwies towards the end? Regardless, its graffiti on a truck: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fru8ROtAseo[/youtube]

The likes of HORFE, TWIST and REAS seem to draw from a strong 70’s animation style for characters, color ways and letter style:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-fpaUWMXYQ[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C782-Xf4NPk&feature=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEbTWupi21M&feature=related [/youtube]

Its a stretch, but Sesame Street is probably at least responsible for my obsession for typography:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAL9CvQYZeE[/youtube]