The One That Started It All

I first saw this movie in the theater on July 18, 1993. Let me say that viewing this movie forever changed the way I looked at graffiti. I was 12 years old at the time, and I found it quite fascinating (and scary) when it came to the graffiti scene. Having been diagnosed with Autism in 1989, the scene revealed one of the many traits that have been both beneficial and troublesome for me. The vivid nature of the red graffiti against the dark blue/green observation windows was forever placed into my head like a digital camera. Even today, my autism allows me to actually picture the graffiti from the movie on a wall. Until the late 1990s, when I was put on antidepressants which curb obsessive compulsiveness, I was unable to sleep without my light on, since the scene involved almost complete darkness. Since 1999, however, I am able to comfortably sleep without my light.

I must say, however, Free Willy sparked an interest in urban social problems, such as troubled kids and graffiti. I express great interest in urban studies, having completed an honors thesis involving public housing and crime in Reading, PA. Graffiti has become synonymous with urban decay and inner-city lifestyles, and so it is often associated with such cultures. The graffiti culture is also fascinating to research and interpret, and can be viewed as a possible sign that street gangs are infiltrating an area. To conclude, Free Willy is considered to have started my interest in urban social problems.