From censorship to tolerance: The social acceptance of street art in the historic town of Oaxaca de Juarez

Abstract

Since the beginning of the 21st century, urban art in the historic center of the city of Oaxaca, considered a World Heritage Site, has gone through different stages that have transformed not only the image of the historic town, but also the way in which society perceives these cultural practices, which in the last five years have multiplied, causing an evident acceptance and tolerance, both on the part of society and on the part of the authorities.

It also discusses the meaning that urban art can have as a manifestation of cultural expression, which, although it transgresses the image of an area of heritage value, should not be censured without prior analysis.

The article first addresses a context regarding the process of evolution of urban art in the historic town of the city of Oaxaca, then shows the results of a survey made to the Oaxacan society regarding what is their position on the presence of urban art in the historic center, to finally conclude with a series of reflections and questions about the implications of the presence of urban art in a historic center, which is not a phenomenon exclusive to Oaxaca, hence the importance of engaging in a debate that will contribute to the generation of proposals that will allow us to reflect on the necessary regulation.