Graffiti: a Medium for Change?
If you come to Buenos Aires, be prepared to see creative, social and political activism in full force.
While some historical buildings are protected by the government against graffiti, many public surfaces serve as open canvases for painting one's views of politics or societal issues.
From the Peronistas still touting the glory days of Eva and Juan, to those spreading their views of current president Christina Kirchner de Fernandez, speaking out about your government is a right Porteños embrace to the fullest.
Even though this graffiti slashes like a scar through the aesthetics of the city, it is in an odd way refreshing to see. In the United States, among youths in particular, there seems to be an apathetic attitude toward the government. Or even in recent years, a hesitance to speak out for fear of being deemed 'un-American' or 'un-patriotic'.
After enduring a long, brutal dictatorship, the graffiti here isn't just girls names on bathroom walls. It is a forum for social commentary and involvement that is at the heart of democracy.
