Battle of Los Angeles - Rage Against the Machine

You've brought to mind an interesting interview I conducted a few years back that looked primarily at how abstract forms of art expression express not only a context or framework by which artists target their audiences, but work within a bigger notion of addressing an lifestyle.

We've been discussing at lengths how a good promotional targets not only the interests of an audience, but the very framework which surrounds their lives and all things pertaining to it socially. I'm originally from the Detroit area, where I've seen graffiti that made me desensitized even to some of LA's best on a trip there last year. In a previous course on a Detroit campus, I was tasked with interviewing a group of graffiti artists who regularly went out at night to work on highway overpasses. This group lived as a family, spending holidays together and admitted to me that most of their work is inspired much in the same way as traditional artists.

The whole concept was perplexing to me, as I was never really able to ascertain whether or not the messages they left were intended to addresses society, those that shared this way of life, or both. I came to the conclusion that because most of it comes from the heart (as one artist admitted a painting of a cityscape was inspired by strong emotional feelings for his mother, who had died young) that it very much is a reaching out to that same community. What becomes even more interesting, then, is how mainstream society itself interprets this as vandalism, a message, or some other deduction.

That makes a promotional label like this all the more fascinating. The band itself is political, and is targeting that said audience, but by using graffiti, are they in fact reaching out to a more specific audience? Perhaps those who find their legitimacies victimized by mere misunderstandings and socioeconomic misfortunes?

If it is targeting a more specific audience, a few things come to mind. Who would pay attention to this graffiti? Bfawaz notes that living in Detroit desensitized him from graffiti, so I'm guessing most in L.A. have seen it all. Also, the wording is interesting, as it is "The Battle of Los Angeles" and not "The Battle for Los Angeles". To me, the first implies a more generic instance where using for would give more emotion to an obviously emotional situation and imply a certain continuation of that battle to the present day. Regardless of wording, I agree with glmaster on the topic of audience. Political messages are at the heart of their music, so using this graffiti art is right up their alley (har har). In doing so, rage has included their politically minded audience and also perhaps those who do not share their views but at least share their appreciation of graffiti as a message, not just a misdemeanor. The only criticisem I have is that the outline has numerous lines where the paint streaks down, but the lettering has hardly any. This makes the two parts look photo-shopped together.

I agree with you in that the cover for this cd targets its audience very well. And i thought your views on grafiti as art were insightful as well, especially after listening to the CD.

One thing I disagree with is Silentos comment regarding the paint streaks. I think this gives the album cover a "rough around the edges" look which is representative of their music and their audience. I do not think that this gives the art a "photoshopped" appearance.

An interesting feature of the picture is that the person looks like he has a cape on. Also, he has the same pose that Superman has when he flies. This seems to paint a very different picture of the Riots than the destruction that they caused. Just as the riots are seen in different lights, maybe Rage was suggesting that their music would be seen by some as revolutionary and by others as dangerous.

I doubt there are very many people who wouldn't recognize that graffiti is art. However, just because something is art doesn't mean that it doesn't make a city look run down. I wouldn't really want a lot of graffiti around the place I live unless it was somehow organized to make the neighborhood look nicer.