Customer Reviews

Wallbangin': Graffiti and Gangs in L.A.

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

The reader from San Diego obviously did not read the book. Not only does Phillips separate taggers and gangbangers into different chapters, she delineates the underlying similarities in the reasoning and the form of the graffiti of both taggers and gangsters. She shows functional and material sociological reasons for the graffiti of these little-understood populations, while at the same time allowing us to clearly see her own views on the subject. She does not try to create a false objectivity. Additionally, the book makes a good read--and especially interesting for anyone living in Southern California.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The author's research approach and theory are both novel and intriguing. It is a book that will make one think again about the social construct of gangs as well as the political message of graffiti. The negative reviews of this book seem to be based in the notion that the book should demonize the informants as well as gangs in general. If one is looking for tired rhetoric regarding gangs and graffiti, this is not the book for you. Rather, the author's work expands the parameters of the dialogue regarding gangs.

Wallbanging explores the world of gang culture and writing...... great informational book....

Seven years in the researching and writing, Wallbangin' is a most fascinating read. A must for anyone concerned with the meanings behind gang and hip hop grafitti, with emphasis on the ubiquitous phenomenon in the Los Angeles area.

Beautiful book, highly informative! I really love this book. Susan's style of writing flows like the grafitti she describes - hardcore! Great photos, history... This book is a must for anyone who wishes to explore the world of graffitti. Let this book guide you!

David Spero

Wallbangin' is a great read. It's well-written, solid anthropology -- one of the best books on the topic available. The photography is fine; I don't think Phillips ever claimed to be Ansel Adams -- these photos were taken for research purposes. Still many of the pictures are more artistic than their subject matter (though some of the gang tags are beautiful). About the only problem this book seems to have is that a few bigoted readers (probably just one -- with multiple Amazon accounts) can't seem to get past the author's color.

Good book, although she seems to get tired after her discussion of Chicano gangs. Could use some more discussion of Hip-Hop graffiti. But overall an excellent discussion. Great read, a must for everyone in the L.A. area.

wallbangin' first off is badly in need of editing. constructions like, "remarkably successfully", make this text even more difficult to read. gang writing is one aspect of gang culture, whereas for graffiti writers, writing, for fame, style, etc. is the focal point of the culture. the constant blurring of these facts makes it difficult to discern the actual arguement. this book is all over the place and leaves us with a poor, undetailed account into two separate cultures, simply because they use public space for unintended purposes.

Taggers and gangbangers are two very different types of people. Don't confuse the two.

This book is typical of being written by a white person. The book is about a white woman documenting gang styles and graffiti. She wanders around south central with a camera in her bag and tries to become friends with the members. she often refer's to these people as her "friends" such as my "friends" from ( ) gang. The photos are nothing you can't find anywhere else. I have seen all photos similar to these in other books and magazines. If people are so interested in seeing this thing simply jump in a car and drive around south central yourself. The book is very un orginized and over all I think it's [bad]. I grew up in south central so I would know.