Tags are one of the primary forms of modern

graffiti Graffiti (singular ''graffiti'', or ''graffito'' only in graffiti archeology) is writing or drawings made on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view. Graffiti ranges from simple written "monikers" to elabor ...

, along with throw ups and pieces. The act of writing a tag is known as tagging. Tags are often thought of as the simplest form of graffiti art, prioritising legibility and flow, and are the form that most artists start with. Tags, perhaps due to their simplicity, are more likely to be considered vandalism than other more elaborate graffiti styles. Tags are an artist signature and vary through uniqueness and methods.

Form

Often produced using

spray paint Spray paint (formally aerosol paint) is paint that comes in a sealed, pressurized can and is released in an aerosol spray when a valve button is depressed. The propellant is what the container of pressurized gas is called. When the pressure hol ...

or markers, tags are established from throw-up and pieces. They are two-dimensional, often smaller in size, and with thinner lines reflecting the need for quick execution due to the often illegal nature of tagging. This necessity for speed has led to tags which are written in a single stroke called one-liners. While throw-ups and pieces may be formed from any word or even a sentence, a tag functions similarly to a signature, as if they are the graffiti artist's pseudonym (although rarely a personal name may be used) written in the artist's unique style so that two artists with the same name would be distinguishable, although an artist using the name of an existing artist in their locale or a "king" (well-respected artists) is a faux pas. An individual's unique style is called a handstyle. Graffiti communication

Tags may be existing words or made-up by the writer, but are usually only 3–5 letters or digits long, again due to the necessity of speed. Many tags use

Latin script The Latin script, also known as the Roman script, is a writing system based on the letters of the classical Latin alphabet, derived from a form of the Greek alphabet which was in use in the ancient Greek city of Cumae in Magna Graecia. The Gree ...

even in countries where this is not the primary writing system. About tagging, graffiti artist Kaves has explained that "with graffiti, most people can pass by and not even give a shit about it while other people are looking at the style, the letters—the technical stuff, y’know? The many layers of it. So, learning that over the years, you start to find your own style—your own voice".

History

Tags were the first form of modern graffiti. While people have been writing their names on things since ancient times, tags were unique as stylised monikers writers used to "get up" (make their name seen by as many people as possible). BOY IN BACK ALLEY IN NORTH PHILADELPHIA - NARA - 552747

BOY IN BACK ALLEY IN NORTH PHILADELPHIA - NARA - 552747

Tags originated in

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

with writer

Cornbread Cornbread is a quick bread made with cornmeal, associated with the cuisine of the Southern United States, with origins in Native American cuisine. It is an example of batter bread. Dumplings and pancakes made with finely ground cornmeal are st ...

, and became hugely popular in New York City in the 1960s and 70s with artists such as

TAKI 183 TAKI 183 is the "tag" of a Greek-American graffitist who was active during the late 1960s and early 1970s in New York City. The graffitist, whose given name is Demetrios, has never revealed his full name. Biography TAKI 183 was a graffiti tagg ...

and

Julio 204 JULIO 204 was a Puerto Rican resident of Inwood who wrote graffiti in his youth. He's usually credited as being the original New York City writer and the inspiration for Taki 183. He started writing his nickname in his neighborhood as early as ...

who unlike Cornbread, wrote over the whole city rather than just their own small locale.

Function

The purpose of the tag is for an artist to have their tags recognised by other artists in their locale. The most prevalent taggers in an area are known as "all city", a term that originated in traditional New York graffiti. While tags are often written onto objects directly, they are also sometimes written onto

stickers A sticker is a type of label: a piece of printed paper, Polyvinyl chloride, plastic, vinyl, or other material with temporary or permanent pressure sensitive adhesive on one side. It can be used for decoration or for functional purposes, dependi ...

(known as slaps) and stuck onto things, which is a faster and safer method when illegally tagging. Postal and ‘ my name is...’ stickers are commonly used for this purpose.

Crew tags

Crew tags function differently to personal tags, as they are written by multiple members of the same crew, who all have their own handstyles. Crew tags are often initials and tend to be shorter than personal tags using only 2–3 letters. They are sometimes postcodes. Crew tags are often put up next to personal tags, or used to sign larger pieces, especially if made by multiple members of a crew.

References

Graffiti and unauthorised signage {{Street art