Marginalia: Graffiti and Other “Unwanted” Public Markings as Social Commentary

Abstract

Graffiti and other “unwanted” markings, such as bird droppings and leaf litter stains, either go ignored and unnoticed, or are considered dirty, ugly, and a form of vandalism. They fade into the background and are pushed into the margins of society. But what if we saw them as significant actors in social and political commentary? Through this essay, I aim to humanize these “unwanted” markings by imagining them as marginalia. I argue that they are potent forms of resistance, relationality, and radical ephemerality, as they are not just scribbles or stains; rather, they are notes from marginalized voices in our community. After reading this, I hope you take the time to notice these “unwanted” markings in your everyday life and listen to what they are trying to say.