modern graffiti was made famous in new york city in the early 1970s by the children of the working class. they called it "writing," and called themselves "writers." in a 1971 new york times article, the term "graffiti" was first used to refer to the new urban art explosion that was becoming popular in new york city. this period of the early 1970s is known as the "original school." later in the 1980s, the next generation of graffiti artists is known as "old school."