IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 20, Issue 7, Ver. I (July 2015), PP 63-67 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0837-20716367 www.iosrjournals.org 63 | Page A Case Study on Emotion Types of Graffiti Writers in Jogging Paths, Sri Lanka D.L.I.H.K. Peiris 1 , Jayantha, K. 2 1, 2 (Department of Sport Science and Physical Education, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka) Abstract: “The use of graffiti as a source of data has spread beyond studies of human sexuality and urban youth” and this study focused on emotion types of graffiti writers in Mahara Jogging Path (MJP). The main sources of data collected through pictorial analysis and observations from the graffiti along the MJP. The study was carried out in October, 2014 and 93 graffiti were recorded. There were three major categories found among the Graffiti in MJP viz. (1). drawn by jogging path authorities, (2). drawn by jogging path visitors and (3). drawn by jogging path sellers. 41.94%, 55.91% and 2.15% of graffiti were drawn by jogging path authorities, jogging path visitors and jogging path sellers respectively. Majority of emotions were expressed by the drawing of visitors (55.91%). Study demonstrated that 92% of the graffiti writers had happy emotions. 4% of graffiti accentuated an emotion of anger and 2% of graffiti revealed moody and confused emotions. However, the amenity and the maintenance of the park were disturbed due to graffiti drawings. Keywords- Emotion Types, Graffiti, Graffiti Writers, Jogging Paths. I. INTRODUCTION Graffiti; which are “any wall writing or pictures or symbols or markings of any kind on any surface anywhere no matter what the motivation of the writer” (Gadsby, 1995) have been surrounded most of the environment (ibid.) regardless the surrounding is private or public. And many scholars have been interpreted their aspects on graffiti as "a form of communication that is both personal and free of everyday social restraints that normally prevent people from giving uninhibited reign to their thoughts" (Abel & Buckley, 1977; Gadsby, 1995). Hence, graffiti either in public or private places must be a mode of communication which reveal the emotions of the graffiti writers as cited by Schwartz & Dovidio in 1984. As public graffiti [which constitute anonymous inscriptions found on public spaces, including the sides of buildings, transit facilities, and fences (Rodriguez & Clair, 2009)] graffiti in jogging paths should be a source of identifying the emotions of graffiti writers. Now days, not only in Europe but also in most of the continents jogging have been popularized as an outdoor recreational activity in means of improving health and wellbeing. Under the present government policy, several projects are launched to improve health and wellbeing of Sri Lankan citizens. Jogging paths in Sri Lanka is also one of the projects that emerged to enhance the health and wellbeing. In earlier period, the trendiest jogging track in Sri Lanka was the Galle Face Green. Soon after, jogging was spread to Kiribathkumbura in Kandy, Diyawanna Oya close to the Parliament and to Independence Square in Colombo 07, Oruthota, Gampaha and Mahara. Still policies are in progress to build jogging tracks in several other selected cities and towns in Sri Lanka. However, these all jogging tracks are widely important venues which emphasize the emotions of the jogging path visitors as these parks are being used not only by the visitors who are employing as sedentary workers but also being used by many other types of visitors such as graffiti writers. Previous research on graffiti and graffiti writers could be found out under nine approaches viz., cultural, gendered, linguistic, folkloric, quantitative, aesthetic, motivational, preventative and popularization (Gadsby, 1995). Considering graffiti as a representation of a specific community or ethnic group cultural approach of graffiti studies were driven (ibid.). According to Gadsby (1995) the gendered approach rarely seemed to look for similarities between genders but rather focused on the differences while linguistic approach was based on the language used in each graffito and the way the writer employed that language. Folklore approach used to collect graffiti as accurately as possible. And the quantitative approach was provided little or no contextual information and usually the researchers were studying differences in graffiti based on content or gender or some other measurable quality. Aesthetic analysis looked at the artistic qualities of graffiti. Motivational approach was examining the mind of the individual writing the graffito, rather than an entire culture or community, then look for patterns between all writers to find a common denominator. The preventative approach entailed research into which surfaces discouraged people from writing graffiti and popularization approach was a collection of graffiti provided to entertain the reader. Using the motivational approach on graffiti, this exploratory case study were conducted to identify the types of emotions of jogging path graffiti writers who are one of the jogging path visitors in Sri Lanka. The