In graffiti veritas: A paremic glance at graffiti in Tartu

Abstract

The article discusses the paremic (proverbial-phraseological) element in the public space in Tartu.I concentrate in particular on dynamic spaces which are freely accessible to all without any limitations (incl.important elements of urban space, such as shopping centres, cultural and leisure time centres, stations).They involve the values, symbols and signs of urban life.The aim of my paper is to analyse the nature, proportion and meanings of the paremic matter in the following sources:1) street graffiti, i.e. the (anonymous) drawings, scribblings and writings; 2) specific poster texts, generated by the Tartu group of the international Loesje movement, which have been glued on the walls of buildings, electrical switchboards, lamp posts, etc. in Tartu since 2004 (the poster collection is available in Estonian, English and Russian at http://www.loesje.ee).Analysis of multi-modal texts focuses on the proportion of traditional and improvisational, local and global in paremia.The aim of the article is to explain what kind of social status, mentality and expressiveness is contained in the texts of this specific cultural phenomenon, and what are the identities, platforms, ideas, and the social reality (particular events) that these utterances are helping to reflect.

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