The Hidden Life of Notre Dame: A Study in Library Graffiti

Summary

On the graffiti-covered desks and walls of the eighth through eleventh floors of the University of Notre Dame Hesburgh Library lies a study in duality—highly public expressions of students’ most private thoughts. Studying samples of graffiti left behind by decades’ worth of college students allowed us to examine aspects of life at Notre Dame that were not normally visible. An analysis of 107 pieces of graffiti yielded that 47% were sexual in nature and 53% pertained to non-sexual topics (e.g. religion, sports, school, race, current events). The greater the distance from the entrance to each floor, the higher the frequency of graffiti, and the higher the floor, the more risqué the content—suggesting students view graffiti as a private confessional for the expression of personal thoughts and exploits not deemed "appropriate" for day-to-day conversation.

Studies of graffiti in public areas of present and historical communities can lend archaeologists insight into aspects of life that don’t make the history books; it can show us what the voiceless truly experienced as it is an anonymous outlet for opinions free from authoritative restrictions. In this case, students use library graffiti as a tool to voice opinions and frustrations without fear of retribution.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage