Compliments of Chicagohoodz: Chicago Street Gang Art & Culture

Description

Based on the original Chicago gang research website, Compliments of
Chicagohoodz analyzes the unique visual language and graphics of the city’s
street gangs, drawing upon decades of research, interviews, documentation and
collecting of memorabilia, and featuring commentary from gang members
(including artists Robert N. Taylor and Jack Walls). The now bygone practice
of creating and distributing gang business (“compliment”) cards was popular in
Chicago for over 50 years. These displayed the organization and branch; its
active and fallen members; and rivalries. This collection deciphers their
hieroglyphics (ranging from early stock images to elaborate hand-drawn
designs), touches upon the gang’s history, their neighborhoods, and era in
which the card was made. It tells the stories behind the names, bringing the
reader closer to the individuals who created, owned and added their personal
touches to the card as it passed from hand to hand. “Jinx’s” photographic
documentation of gang graffiti and members captures a lost era of large scale
full color promotional murals, and an extraordinary style distinct within
street art. The book explores other forms of representation including modified
varsity-style sweaters, patches and drawings. Through these images,
Chicagohoodz traces the development and consolidation of the neighborhood
street organization: from doo wop to hip hop, from greasers to gangster rap;
from dances, bands and softball teams, to racketeering, narcotics trafficking
and domestic terror. This story of ethnic warfare, multi-racial coalitions and
shifting alliances has been ignored by many who wish the culture didn’t exist,
but is a history of the city nonetheless. Read more

Features:

Product Details:

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Feral House (May 28, 2019)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 375 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1627310657
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 59
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.3 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 1 x 10 inches
• Best Sellers Rank: #344,644 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #298 in Sociology of Urban Areas #978 in Criminology (Books) #5,424 in U.S. State & Local History
• #298 in Sociology of Urban Areas
• #978 in Criminology (Books)