Forces pushing the formalization of the informal, in the name of a business model.

Just as valid as as Gartner’s Hype Cycle is Eric Hoffer’s logical progression, frequently misquoted as “Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.”

To what degree does knowing of the existence of a for-profit graffiti group operating in a city influence how you assess and perceive of a that city’s graffiti? The line between art and marketing can be (by design) hard to discern.

“Graffiti, we once started as a hobby, now our artists provide daily assignments for municipalities, companies, the government and private individuals. Sometimes in the distinctive street-art style but mostly as a commercial mural on interior or exterior walls where it can often no longer be seen that it has been made with aerosol.” (via Google Translate)

Also, more movement/business/racket-related musings from a Thai street market a few years back.