Students and symbols: a survey of graffiti at Jesus College, Cambridge

Abstract

SUMMARY Between December 2016 and February 2018, the author surveyed Jesus College, Cambridge (England) for graffiti, considering why and by whom the findings were made. 1,076 individual and identifiable examples dating from the late 16th to late 20th century were recorded including names, initials (and associated dates), apotropaic symbols and figurative graffiti. It is argued that not only does the graffiti suggest the various ways in which individuals 'made their mark' as a stamp of ownership over a particular space, but how they protected themselves against perceived malevolent forces. This article also represents the first comprehensive graffiti survey of the most historic buildings at the core of one of the oldest educational establishments in the UK.