Is skateboarding still a street sport?

Barcelona is a beautiful city. Capital of Catalonia, Mediterranean port, Olympic host, multicultural meeting place, culinary haven, thriving metropolis, modernista wonderland. Maybe you've come not because of its football team or Gaudi’s monuments? in fact this amazing city is also the world capital city of skateboard. With a perfect climate, lax authorities and a dynamic street culture, is the place to go if you are a skater.. And with the amount of skating that gets filmed here, where better to ask the question, is skateboarding still a street sport?

film 2 - Fallen - Ride The Sky

I have chosen this as one of my supporting films because the video is unique in many ways: the skating and filming style goes together well and creates a smokey, Jack Daniels scented flavour matched perfectly by the bluesy rock sound track. There isn’t any blatant branding going on either, which is refreshing. ride the sky has been a major production but the finished product which feels honest, and even at times moving to watch.

I hope i have convinced you that skateboarding hasn’t fallen exclusively to the new-era hat wearing, Xgames aspiring, MTV show having fad that the current generation seem happy to let our culture die in. Skating’s back – it’s dirty, it bleeds, but if the Fallen can get up and Ride the Sky, skating is alive and kicking in 2008.

Annotated Catalogue

Films

Item 1

Lords of Dogtown 2005, Director Catherine Hardwicke

I have chosen Lords of Dogtown as my focus film for several reasons. The film is biographical following the rise of the legendary 'Z Boys', and the skate culture that they practically invented in Venice, California. Although a fictionalized take on the group of young skateboarders, none of the skating is glossy or over produced, simply raw. This was important to me as i wanted a focus film that truly represents real street skating. Also, as the film shows skateboarding from spark to flame, we as the audience are perfectly poised to follow the rise of skate culture from empty pools to over night sensation.

Investigation Title

The social impact of skateboarding on modern culture; fashion, art and music.

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