Street Art As Political Resistance In The Global Digital Age

Abstract

Street art has undergone a profound transformation in the twenty-first century, evolving from a marginalized form of urban expression into a globally networked medium of political resistance and cultural commentary. This paper examines the intersection of street art and digital culture, analyzing how social media platforms, mobile photography, and viral circulation have amplified the political impact of murals, graffiti, and public installations while simultaneously altering their aesthetic strategies, audiences, and modes of reception. Through analysis of the work of Banksy, JR, and activist street art movements in Chile, Hong Kong, and Iran, the article argues that contemporary street art operates as a hybrid medium that is simultaneously local and global, ephemeral and permanent, anonymous and iconic. Drawing upon theories of public space, visual culture, and digital activism, this paper demonstrates that street art in the digital age constitutes a uniquely powerful form of political expression that exploits the tension between the materiality of the wall and the immateriality of the network.