"Style Wars"

The documentary "Style Wars" comments upon the perspectives of various people involved in an evolving hip hop culture during the early 1980s. Although the film features breakdancing and rapping, it mainly emphasizes graffiti. Throughout the one hour documentary, authority figures (such as Mayor Edward Koch) denounce graffiti, citing its financial burden on NYC, as well as its unsightly appearance for the city's residents. Nevertheless, in the film, many young struggling artists countered their attackers by asserting that "bombing" and going "all city" is their form of expression, an outlet for their distinct styles of street art. Disparaged by authority figures, they remain resilient and stand by their controversial craft. The film depicts these young people as both aloof about their supposed property damaging activities and pioneers for a hip hop revolution in the making.