| dc.description.abstract | Since its emergence, the practice of graffiti and later street art has been a topic of great interest within
the field of Criminology. Much attention has been oriented toward male participation within the
subculture, with an evident underrepresentation of women, largely overlooking female graffiti and street
art practitioners. As Athens constitutes a popular illegal graffiti and street art hub, women seemed absent
from Athenian illicit urban art studies. Thus, through a Cultural Criminological lens, this thesis aims to
challenge the stereotypical narrative that graffiti and street art are solely executed by men. Using in- depth interviews with 11 female practitioners in Athens and visual analysis of photographs of their
graffiti and street art pieces, this study presents how graffiti and street art are practiced and experienced
by women in Athens. Particularly, this research examines the reasons for women’s initial engagement
in the practice of graffiti and street art, while also deconstructing the reasons that facilitated Athens in
becoming a popular illegal graffiti and street art epicentre. Additionally, this thesis shows that the
physical act of illegal painting results to be a strong, pleasurable body and mind experience for the
practitioners, highlighting its affective nature. Furthermore, this study showcases the methods, styles,
and thematic contents adopted by the female practitioners, illustrating their significant role within the
illegal Athenian graffiti and street art milieu, and describing how women are active members of this
subculture. Finally, this thesis analyses the relationship of female practitioners with police authorities
and the public, to evidently examine and understand the encounters between them. | |
