Gaddafi Killed: Social Media Kills Gaddafi for 40 mins or so

Gaddafi War of the Walls

Early in the week I wrote about the 'War of the Walls' protests that are happening in Syria. A well underway revolution that has taken graffiti to a whole new level,  in Libya showing the dismay of the rebel people and disgust of the pro-Gaddafi supporters. Twitter is currently blowing up with Gaddafi tweets and retweets about the revolution ending and/or the whereabouts of Gaddafi. Only an hour ago a rumor was spread that he was killed, but then retracted. 

The tweet was reblogged, then posted on Tumblr, then found itself on Facebook, then found its way onto CNN and MSNBC, then only to be retracted. That was the span of the first tweet below. Then came the backlash of anger from twitterers, reblogging like crazy reminiscent of Osama bin Laden's first news of death on twitter. In other words, social media is crazy and will spread like wildfire. About to set my current status as, "watching the Libyan regime crumble," because that's all we can do.

Lesson: Social Media can kill you, only figuratively.

Syria is next.

First to tweet this from on-ground sources and I can confirm: #GADDAFI IS DEAD. He was shot dead by #FF in #Tripoli. #Libyaless than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet ReplyMalik Al-Abdeh
MalikAlAbdeh

CORRECTION: Source in #Tripoli who has been v. reliable got his wires crossed. A lot of confusion out there. #Gaddafi is ALIVE. Just about.less than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet ReplyMalik Al-Abdeh
MalikAlAbdeh

Gadaffi has just been killed, then escaped, then held prisoner. I wish these news channels would make up Their minds.less than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Replybaztodd
baztodd

War of the Walls: Syria's Graffiti Revolution

Have you ever heard of a police raid conducted in one's house, but then police graffiti all over the walls in the meantime?

Eyewitness / Hama / AJA: Officers spray graffiti inside houses they raid. Insults, threats, and pro-Assad slogans. #RamadanMassacre #Syrialess than a minute ago via TweetDeck Favorite Retweet ReplyShakeeb Al-Jabri
LeShaque

شعب يريد اسقاط النظام Le peuple veut faire tomber le régime La gente quiere tirar abajo el regimen.

Syria is the latest country in the string of revolting Middle Eastern countries in the Arab Spring. While youth revolt, fighting for basic human rights and trying to extract the current Syrian leader, Bashar al-Assad, many are finding themselves at odds with police. The aftermath punishment of one Syrian youth, who was tortured by police, when found tagging criticism of the government.

The fire for revolution was lit when the people of Dara'a, an agricultural town in southern Syria, woke up one March morning in 2011.

Written in black ink, the Arabic words, "The people want the regime to fall." Those fifteen youths were then thrown into jail for speaking up against the government.

Thus, giving birth to the Graffiti Men of the Syrian Uprising and graffiti in Syria and Syrian areas around the world. 

This revolution has been dubbed, War of the Walls, because anti and pro government graffiti and politics has taken to the walls of the streets. In a time where public vocal points can get you killed, the only other way to show support or disgust is to tag walls in the cover of darkness. 

Pro-Syrian Government Propaganda? Translation: "In the heavens God is Allah; on earth God is Bashar."

The Syrian uprising is a unique revolution, because it's about the message and not the individual.  

Currently, Twitter is spreading like wildfire, a stencil of Bashar with an Adolf Hitler mustache, to cut and spray in support for taking down the regime.

If u want to show ur solidarity with #Syria in #graffiti, here's Bashar El #Assad stencil for u to print, cut &spray http://t.co/5IDovD3less than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet Replysu zee
suzeeinthecity

Right now, citizens are using the form of graffiti for a voice and are being either tortured or thrown in jail for it. While the people of Syria still fight for rights and a new government, there will be more tagging and graffiti. Let's just hope that the people don't run out of paint, there is already enough blood spilled on the ground, to have it on the walls.

Spotlight: CLOSE a.k.a. David Valencia

David Valencia. 2010.

David Valencia/20/Male

Location: Valencia, Spain.

To see more works by David Valencia visit his website.

AlottaArt: How did you get into art?
David Valencia: I started painting graffities when I was only 14 years old and that´s when I chose my artistic name 'Close.' I have finished my second course of Fine Art in the Polytechnic University of Valencia.

AA: What is your medium?
DV: Basically, the medium I feel more comfortable with is urban art. But, I am learning in my course new techniques and different styles.

AA: In a time of unrest in Europe, especially in Spain, what are the protests like?
DV: Since 15th of May onwards, there have been several demonstrations, where many Spanish citizens have asked for a change in our political system. Such demonstrations have been voluntary and peaceful. Although people have stopped camping on the streets, several meetings are still held all along the Spanish territory with the aim of achieving a general agreement. Obviously, our political system needs to undergo a change and I hope we achieve this goal.

AA: How did this current situation and your surroundings influence your art?
DV: In my last project, I give a strong criticism to the present economy´s situation, the politics´ corruption in my hometown and also in France or Italy, and the repression towards urban art. I also give a touch of humor and irony, representing each of those problems with a letter of my artistic name (CLOSE). I think that we have reached a point where the political and economical European situation has become unsustainable. A change is needed so I offer my support with my art for those citizens who are fighting for that change. Right now, I am preparing different projects in order to show my support with this situation through urban art.

David Valencia. "C." May 2011.

David Valencia. "L." May 2011.

David Valencia. "O." May 2011.

David Valencia. "S." May 2011.

David Valencia. "E." May 2011.

AA: What do you feel your art brings to the world in forms of expression?
DD: First of all, I believe that a true artist has to learn a little bit of everything in order to develop its (their) own style. I think that I am in that process, developing my own style. So I still have plenty of things to learn. Only time will prove whether I achieve my goals or not. Right now, I wouldn´t call myself ´´an artist´´ and I don´t know if I will ever become one of them, but I am sure that hard work will help me achieve my goal. To keep the hard work and follow the right path is my desire. At the moment, I hope to contribute with my work like anyone else does, so I don´t think I am more special than anyone else. I still find difficult to express what I feel and how I want to perform it.

To see more of David Valencia's works visit his website.

Tweet of the day -- Jill Krajewski

Graffiti may have lost the vote, but the war to protect street art is on. Ford, you are so out of touch with Toronto.less than a minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Favorite Retweet ReplyJill Krajewski
JillKrajewski

I asked Krajewski to explain further she tweeted back:

@alottaart Mayor of Toronto voting for an aggressive graffiti-removal plan that ignores the benefits of street art. It's such a shame.less than a minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Favorite Retweet ReplyJill Krajewski
JillKrajewski

Graffiti is the only news

"How many futures have to be sacrificed at the altar of "art" by ivory-tower academics like those in L.A. with an adolescent need for street cred?" - Peter Vallone Jr.

June 29, 2011 edition of the NY Daily News featured an opinion piece written by City Council Member Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria), "Graffiti draws out the worst in society." "Last year there were 3,840 graffiti-related arrests; out of that number 2,755 involved suspects under 20." Many know Vallone as a person who is tough on graffiti and those who paint the town. Also, in the editorial Vallone talks about how companies are capitalizing on the idea of graffiti as "cool" and being basically a bad influence on the youths of NYC.

Peter Vallone Jr.

In contrast, in the same issue, just a couple of  pages away, Macy's took out an entire page ad for the Fourth of July fireworks. Also, a couple of pages away, feature on the artist who created the ad Mr. Totem.

Mr. Totem Graffiti Artist

Bulgarian Monument Gets Graffiti Upgrade into Super Heroes

Sophia, Bulgaria-a monument which honors those who fell at the hands of the Soviet Union in WWII has been graffitied into a series of super heroes. Government has changed it back, both activists and officials were angry. In Bulgarian the vandal wrote, "Moving with the Times." A conscientious movement of culture and literally depicting those fallen as modern heroes.