Analysis of Marginal Discourse: Identity Construction in Campus Wall Graffiti

Abstract

Campus wall graffiti plays a significant role in the identity construction of graffiti artists as a form of marginal discourse. However, due to its long-standing perception as a destructive activity and the unique cultural environment, graffiti research in China has been relatively underdeveloped, with a focus on theoretical investigations. This study collected a total of 391 textual and pictorial graffiti samples from a language university in China as the corpus. From the perspective of identity construction, this study analyzed the characteristics of campus wall graffiti, as well as the methods and content of identity construction. The findings revealed that campus graffiti exhibits characteristics such as informality, anonymity, and counter-culturality. The language behaviors and symbol usage in graffiti include both one-way output and two-way interaction, the employment of textual and pictorial symbols, and the use of metaphors and symbolism. The construction of identity in graffiti primarily involves cultural identity, social identity, and creative identity among others. Lastly, in terms of campus graffiti management, this paper proposes effective strategies from the aspects of discourse power allocation and management, as well as feedback and reconstruction of identity construction. These strategies aim to transform disorder into order and foster an open and inclusive campus culture.