An ethnographic research project developed in Lisbon's graffiti community between 2005 and 2007 forms the starting point for exploring the social condition of young members from this community. This article looks to add to the theoretical debate on urban youth cultures, invoking key concepts like creativity, agency and identity in this particular cultural universe. The graffiti writers live between two social and cultural worlds, evolving complex strategies to manage identities and everyday life. For many young people, graffiti represents a ground for their struggles and transgressions, a chance to reject the law and hegemonic norms, an arena where they can experience excitement, risk, behave heroically and, sometimes, suffer painful sanctions. In a safety-obsessed society, danger becomes a space for freedom where young writers can challenge the limits of life and normative boundaries. This is why there is often a feeling of release and autonomy, of escaping the disciplinary control of social norms and worldly habits and why their exploits appear to be imbued with greatness and heroism.
Graffiti; Youth; Risk; Heroism; Art
