Urban Art and Tactical Aesthetics: Street Art, Policing, and Civic Identity

Kakungulu Samuel J.

Faculty of Education, Kampala International University, Uganda

                                                                    ABSTRACT
Urban art, particularly street art, operates as a powerful medium through which civic identity, collective memory, and spatial politics are negotiated in contemporary cities. This study explores the intersection of tactical aesthetics, policing, and civic identity, positioning urban art as both a form of public intervention and a site of contestation within urban governance frameworks. Drawing on a multidisciplinary theoretical foundation, the paper conceptualizes tactical aesthetics as a dynamic, situational practice that engages the temporal, material, and semiotic dimensions of urban space. It examines how policing regimes, surveillance technologies, and regulatory structures shape the production, dissemination, and reception of street art, while also generating adaptive and resistant artistic strategies. Through analysis of murals, tagging practices, and global case studies, the research highlights how urban art contributes to the construction of collective memory, territorial belonging, and public discourse. Methodologically, the study employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating ethnographic observation, spatial mapping, and discourse analysis to capture the complex interplay between artistic practice and civic structures. The findings reveal that urban art simultaneously reinforces and challenges dominant narratives, acting as a conduit for both institutional co-option and grassroots resistance. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for balanced policy frameworks that protect freedom of expression while addressing issues of property rights, public order, and community wellbeing, thereby recognizing urban art as a vital component of democratic
urban life.

Keywords: Tactical Aesthetics, Street Art and Graffiti, Policing and Surveillance, Civic Identity and Urban Public Space.

CITE AS: Kakungulu Samuel J. (2026). Urban Art and Tactical Aesthetics: Street Art, Policing, and Civic Identity. IDOSR JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION AND ENGLISH 11(1):78-82.
https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSR/JCE/111.19.7882