Taking the Train

by Joe Austin

In the 1960s and early 1970s, young people in New York City radically altered the tradition of writing their initials on neighborhood walls. Influenced by the widespread use of famous names on billboards, in neon, in magazines, newspapers, and typographies from advertising and comics, city youth created a new form of expression built around elaborately designed names and initials displayed on public walls, vehicles, and subways. Critics called it "graffiti," but to the practitioners it was "writing."

Taking the Train traces the history of "writing" in New York City against the backdrop of the struggle that developed between the city and the writers. Austin tracks the ways in which "writing"― a small, seemingly insignificant act of youthful rebellion―assumed crisis-level importance inside the bureaucracy and the public relations of New York City mayoral administrations and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for almost two decades. Taking the Train reveals why a global city short on funds made "wiping out graffiti" an expensive priority while other needs went unfunded. Although the city eventually took back the trains, Austin eloquently shows how and why the culture of "writing" survived to become an international art movement and a vital part of hip-hop culture.

Genres: Graffiti, Urban Studies, Nonfiction, Art, Hip Hop, Art History, Politics

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This author was overly fond of quotation marks around single words and short phrases. I also thought I would enjoy getting more context on the political situation in New York City in the 1960s and 70s, but I ended up enjoying those segments of the book much less than the ones where the graffiti artists (sorry, "writers") themselves spoke out. I think a large part of my problem is that the author kept pointing out how the mass media and the government kept painting writers with an overly broad brush, claiming that they were all vandals at best and criminals at worst who didn't care about society, without really digging into why they might be doing what they were doing or attempting to solve the real social problems underlying the situation. But then I felt like the author turned right around and made similarly poorly-substantiated claims about useless bureaucrats running the subways, like he was more interested in taking cleverly-worded potshots than taking the time to prove his assertions. I also just wanted more pictures! With all those things that weren't quite as I'd hoped, though, I did learn some new things by reading this book. So it wasn't a total loss, but I may seek out a slightly different take on this same topic in future.

[Philk81 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very thorough history of the climate of New York and socioeconomic conditions that lead to early graffiti writing and the battles surrounding it through the following decades. Certainly not a celebration of style, more an academic study, complete with 75 pages of notes (I guess it was a thesis!). Interesting/informative but not completely captivating.

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

well written, but infuriating