BENJAMINIAN PROFANATIONS AND THE PRACTICE OF GRAFITTI

Walter Benjamin (1882-1940) was an unparalleled thinker in the history of critical thinking of modern culture in the first half of the 20th Century. His vast work branched across many diverse fields of knowledge, such as Philosophy, History, Literature and the arts. Plural and often perceived as marginal, criticised for his lack of commitment to academic rigour, his thought still resonates strongly in many fields of knowledge and contemporary practices. This paper attempts to establish the connections between Walter Benjamin and the practice of graffiti, which would thrive in great metropolises following the premature demise of the German author, still echoing central aspects of his thought with respect to construction and presentation processes.