Sunday, March 28, 2010

Imagine

The Lennon Wall is a wall in Prague, Czech Republic which was once a normal wall but since the 1980's has been filled with John Lennon inspired graffiti and pieces of lyrics from Beatles songs. 
In 1988, the wall was a source of irritation for the then communist regime of Gustav Husak. Young Czechswould write grievances on the wall and in a report of the time this led to a clash between hundreds of students and security police on the nearby Charles Bridge. The movement these students followed was described ironically as "Lennonism" and Czech authorities described these people variously as alcoholics, mentally deranged, sociopathic, and agents of Western capitalism.
The wall continuously undergoes change and the original portrait of Lennon is long lost under layers of new paint. Even when the wall was repainted by some authorities, on the second day it was again full of poems and flowers. Today, the wall represents a symbol of youth ideals such as love and peace.
The wall is owned by the Knights of the Maltese Cross, who allowed the graffiti to continue on the wall, and is located at Velkopřerovské náměstí (Grand Priory Square), Malá Strana.

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