A struggle or dispute over the right of individuals, within public spaces, to express their ideas through various forms of communication, such as graffiti, performance art, music, skateboarding, etc. Artists feel their works are appropriate expressions of creation, beauty and art that express anger, frustration, oppression, exclusion and inform others about their subculture. Property owners, police and some others see these forms of expression as being criminal and destructive - or “vandalism.”
After showing the film "Style Wars," Cheryl sent her students out onto campus to find examples of contested expression in the dorms.
by csk greener April 2, 2006
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