Legalizing Banksy And The Historical Background And Application Of It Today

Graffiti portrays contemporary sub-cultured art through its versatility and bold attractiveness on the communal grounds. In the 1970s, graffiti was blatantly acknowledged as territorial graffiti where

If you walk through almost any city, the buildings, bridges, and any other available spaces are seemingly filled with colors, picture, and words that are not part of the original architecture. This graffiti, which is a mix of tags, stencils, pieces, and freestyle, seems to have almost taken over cities across the world. Some of this graffiti, such as tags, are eyesores, but some pieces, such as the High Line “Love Is the Answer” and “Kiss” murals in New York City, are sites that have become iconic pieces of artwork. Unfortunately, pieces like these are also starting to be covered to a seemingly astronomical rate, which is causing outrage among those who visited to them.

By definition, graffiti is illegal. It is also considered vandalism because public or private property is intentionally destroyed, but in Alex Boyd’s blog “In Defense of Graffiti”, he clearly conveys his argument about how graffiti shows qualities of value and shouldn’t be criticized on impulse. Even though many people have seen graffiti as something to be condoned, punishable, and terrorizing, it is actually just another form of expression, communication, art, and point of view.

The cutting edge of the public art development, connected with the hip-hop society of breakdancing and rap music, began with African-American and Latino teenagers in Philadelphia and New York in the late 1960s (MacDonald 1). At that time graffiti to most, was considered to be a form of art work. Regardless of those that thought of it as art, there were and are still numerous individuals that loathe the graffiti movement. Works of art have been dependably charming for ages, as it is a method for self-expression and inventiveness. Artistic expressions have advanced in many ways, such as public canvases offering an approach to modern day unique artwork. Graffiti is progressively turning into a hobby. Although one of the major controversies of graffiti surround the statement that it is not art and considered vandalism, graffiti allow artists to display grateful meanings, skills and expressions to the public.

Coming of age in the United States has its privileges, you can vote, drink and buy spray paint. That’s right, spray paint. Many states, including Texas and Florida prohibit selling spray paint to minors. That means that, without an adult, under-age graffiti artists cannot purchase the medium needed for their creative work. Unlike other styles of art, graffiti denotes passionate emotional controversy. Ask anyone to describe graffiti and you are likely to hear anything from vandalized walls full of writings to beautiful commissioned murals. This paper will explore this intriguing creative expression, why it has such a negative stigma, and how or if it has evolved over the years.

The importance of Public Art in communities stems from a place of creativity, voice and rebellion. All art is a form of communication whether it is street art or museum art. Artists make art to express and address their political views, mark the anniversary of something, tell a story, etc. Public art creates a sense of community in cities and towns because it reflects what the places believe in. Whether it is street art or museum art, most all humans admire what artists express because it is easily accessible and almost always demonstrates a story. Street artists such as “Blek Le Rat” and “Banksy” have used their talent to create urban art that reflects societal, political, and economic views along with a pinch of dark humour. These reflections

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The nature of Banksy’s work is iconoclastic in the way he blatantly designs images to rebel governmental authority or depict the failings of

Unsurprisingly, there are arguments against the medium of graffiti. Since it is an unsanctioned practice, there are anxieties surrounding the fact that there is a single decision maker compared to art institutions and commissioned public art. Both include “numerous

The origin and history of graffiti is not what one might expect. Believed to have been created by a Philadelphia high school student named Cornbread in 1967, it was a bold effort to catch the attention of a girl (De Melker). In this same time period, graffiti sprung up in New York as well. It was “one among many forms of social protest” during

Structures that stretch high above of the hustle and bustle of cars and people on the ground level, going through any big city numerous attractions can steal your attention away. There’s so much to absorb some things will never be noticed. Walls of buildings and sides of train cars are rarely acknowledged with all the advertising, architecture, and of course the “tagging.” An average person would consider the widespread art form of graffiti an eyesore, but others would disagree. Who's to say what is art as opposed to trash vandalism? Since the late 60’s people have hit the streets, cans of paint in hand, to scrawl their wildest dreams onto whatever “canvas” they could find. Philadelphia high school student Cornbread is credited with starting this movement in 1967 in attempts to get the attention of a girl he fancied (The History Of American Graffiti). Others took notice and began to search for any surface they could post up a “piece.” Graffiti is stereotypically defined to be strictly in a public place or be illegal. Opposite to that there are legal graffiti locations such as 5 Pointz in Queens or street museums such as Bushwick Collective in Brooklyn run by Joe Ficalora where people are allowed to paint as they please free from repercussions (Kennedy, Graffiti Art of the City, From the Bronx to Brooklyn). Additionally, since it’s expansion, in the 80s galleries began to showcase this “vandalism” as artworks. Curators and collectors even began to hire artists to create

All art has beauty, but that beauty may not be seen by everyone. As revealed in the article “Banksy: The Man Behind the Wall” and the documentary “Banksy Does New York,” Banksy is one of few people who understands that. Banksy is an anonymous street artist who had his start in England. He took up a 31-day residency in New York plastering the state with his personal spin on graffiti. Also explained in the documentary, Banksy is an anonymous street artist who originated in England. Banksy’s art directly links to Birk and Birk’s language process and Rosenblatt’s idea of censorship, causing uproars as well as conveying the message that art is relative.

Banksy is a very renowned street artist who keeps his identity unknown. His artwork is portrayed by “striking images, often combined with slogans, [which] engages political themes, satirically critiquing war, capitalism, hypocrisy and greed” (“Banksy Biography”). He first started his bold street art in Bristol, his hometown located in London, but quickly spread to the United States of America. In the U.S., Banksy targeted the most populated cities; this was due to the fact that it was easier for him to spread his messages. With a crowded location, his lessons will extent over an audience much quicker.

The art of graffiti has been around for a very long time. Different audiences perceive it in many different ways. Some see it as vandalism, some as a work of art, and some even use it to portray a message to the audience. Banksy, whom is a pseudonym of a “guerrilla” street artist (biolography.com), is known portraying messages to his audience through stenciled graffiti. Unlike other graffiti artists, Banksy’s audience is more than just bystanders, he’s also recognized through media. One of his well-known pieces of art was made on Leake St. in London, England in May 2008 named Whitewashing in Lascaux. This location is often referred to as “Banksy tunnel” (Analysis of pic). In Whitewashing in Lascaux, Banksy makes you wonder several different

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