Weissman School of Arts and Sciences | Baruch College
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Gregory J. Snyder is a sociologist and ethnographer who received his Ph.D from the New School for Social Research in 2003. His work focuses on urban subcultures, such as graffiti writers, hip hop artists, skateboarders and musicians. His research aims revolve around the concept of urban space and issues of social justice. He joined the department of sociology and anthropology at Baruch College in the Fall of 2007, where the classes he teaches include, Introduction to Sociology, Race and Ethnic Relations, Social Class in American Life and Urban Sociology. His first book, Graffiti Lives: Beyond the Tag in New York's Urban Undergound, published by NYU Press, (2009) is now in stores. Currently Professor Snyder is hard at work on his second book tentatively titled, Against the Grind: Professional Skateboarders and the Critique of Urban Space. This project is a detailed ethnography of professional skateboarders.
Professor Snyder has been awarded The Whiting Fellowship and will receive a full year release from classes during 2009-2010 to work on two papers that have emerged out of his ethnographic study of professional street skateboarders. The first paper, “The Subculture Career and the Creative Class: The Case of Skateboarding and Graffiti” looks at the phenomenon of subculture careers highlighted in his first book Graffiti Lives (2009) and applies it to the world of skateboarding. This paper will show that in subcultures like skating and graffiti, participants transfer many of their skills and talents into legitimate adult careers in the creative economy and are thus becoming members of what Richard Florida calls the “creative class.”
The second paper is an empirical look at the process of professional street skateboarding. “The Subcultural Production of Urban Space: Street Skating for Posterity”, follows the entire process of professional street skating and describes all of the elements that go into the execution of skateboarding tricks which are produced in magazines. This paper will highlight the complex roles different members of the subculture play in the production of skateboarding images.
Professor Snyder will be available in his office by appointment during the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 semesters and looks forward to resuming his teaching duties in the Fall of 2010.
Graffiti Lives Video Trailer on Youtube directed by Indie filmmaker Jacob Waxler
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