Among the various forms of migration, international migration is most closely linked to globalization, characterized by both fluidity (routes) and barriers (walls). One of the most significant contexts in this regard is the line/zone that separates the United States and Mexico, marked by multiple and complex relations. Although migration is sometimes framed as beneficial and at other times as harmful, it is undeniably influential in shaping cultural expressions—graffiti being one such example, closely connected to walls. Thus, what kinds of content are represented in graffiti along international borders? This paper seeks to examine the graffiti found on the border wall between the United States and Mexico, analyzing forms of symbolic representation. The methodology draws on Geography, History, and Cultural Reading, based on the collection, processing, and analysis of primary data obtained from Google Maps® in 2022. The results point to a preference for individual territorial dispute markings, placed on panels at eye level, made with spray paint or marker, without group signatures or overlapping layers. By being marked, the wall becomes alive and open to ongoing contributions.
Erick Vinicius Pereira Lopes (Thu,) studied this question.