I guess this is not very fortean but I find it interesting.
My youngest has recently been going round old castles and abbeys photographing them for a dissertation. As he cannot drive I take him to these sites and then have a wonder around by myself while he gets on with his stuff.
What I have noticed, and think is quite interesting, is that when you look at the graffiti on the old walls a few things become apparent. The old graffiti, that is pre 20th century, is of a high quality, almost draftsman standard. The letters are well formed and deeply incised into the rock, they are well spaced and in line, sometimes there is even a crest or other insignia included. They are usually of the "I was here" type and there are few lovers hearts, just a name and date.
You find that the lovers hearts come later on, about WW1. The letters are still clear but the type of letter is not the same and the appearance is generally less crisp. Dates appear less frequently and when they do they are not full.
Later still you find the writing getting scruffier and nicknames used instead of a given name (Macca woz ere) The letters are badly formed and there is scant attention to the line of the writing. The carving too is less deeply etched.
Recent graffiti takes two turns, on the one hand it has degenerated into a defacing scrawl, marking the surface for the sake of it with no thought to any artistic merit. On the other hand there is a type of graffiti that shows a great deal of artistic thought with highly styalised letter forms and motifs.
The increasing use of the spray can is saddening on old buildings but graffiti has been on our castle, cathedral and city walls for centuries, and I think that notice should be taken of the passing trends in its style and form.
As I said, not very fortean.
My youngest has recently been going round old castles and abbeys photographing them for a dissertation. As he cannot drive I take him to these sites and then have a wonder around by myself while he gets on with his stuff.
What I have noticed, and think is quite interesting, is that when you look at the graffiti on the old walls a few things become apparent. The old graffiti, that is pre 20th century, is of a high quality, almost draftsman standard. The letters are well formed and deeply incised into the rock, they are well spaced and in line, sometimes there is even a crest or other insignia included. They are usually of the "I was here" type and there are few lovers hearts, just a name and date.
You find that the lovers hearts come later on, about WW1. The letters are still clear but the type of letter is not the same and the appearance is generally less crisp. Dates appear less frequently and when they do they are not full.
Later still you find the writing getting scruffier and nicknames used instead of a given name (Macca woz ere) The letters are badly formed and there is scant attention to the line of the writing. The carving too is less deeply etched.
Recent graffiti takes two turns, on the one hand it has degenerated into a defacing scrawl, marking the surface for the sake of it with no thought to any artistic merit. On the other hand there is a type of graffiti that shows a great deal of artistic thought with highly styalised letter forms and motifs.
The increasing use of the spray can is saddening on old buildings but graffiti has been on our castle, cathedral and city walls for centuries, and I think that notice should be taken of the passing trends in its style and form.
As I said, not very fortean.
