By Barbara McAllister
Word of the Day: Graffiti
The word graffiti comes from the Italian word meaning “little scratch.” The modern term is used to describe writing or drawings scribbled, scratched or sprayed in a public area. At one time it would have been defined as an act of vandalism, but today it is a recognized art form called street art. Modern graffiti artists use their skills to make impressive art that stops people in their tracks. Some have made names for themselves in more traditional forms after starting as street artists. Perhaps the best known is British artist Banksy, a pseudonym for the street artist and political activist known for his powerful satirical images. His real name and identity remain unconfirmed. He uses a stencil technique, generally making an installation overnight. His “Balloon Girl,” created on the wall of an east London shop, shows a young girl with her hair and dress blowing forward, reaching for a heart-shaped balloon being blown away. In 2015, a print of the image sold for the equivalent more than $68,000. A 2017 poll showed it to be the United Kingdom’s favorite artwork.
Technically, a single wall scribble or scratch would be called a graffito. The singular term is mostly used in archaeology to describe a unique marking such as on an artifact. In that context the word is used with the same accordance as the Italian where graffito is singular and graffiti is the plural form. It is similar to other Italian words, like spaghetti whose singular form is spaghetto, or cannoli, the singular form of cannolo. Not very useful words, as whoever eats one spaghetto or wants just one cannolo?
