Moral Mystery Was Graffiti Vandalism

“It may be called art, but I don’t like it,” (DuBois, 2015). Most of these artists who haven’t been recognized by galleries, risk themselves on a daily basis. This is their job, expressing their pain or happiness on a piece. Each time you pass a piece on a wall just ask yourself, “What could they be going through?” Art is expressed in so many ways. Graffiti is spread all over the world.

Like all other artistic forms, graffiti has experienced movements or changes in style. The messages have also evolved. Graffiti has always been somewhat political, but it has come a long way from simply tagging one's name to parodying world leaders to make a statement. (Sanchez, 2007)

"The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules, but by people following the rules. It's people who follow orders that drop bombs and massacre villages." -Banksy. The topic of graffiti is a highly controversial, and Seattle is preparing a statement on whether graffiti is an art form or whether it's vandalism. But I'm here to tell you that all graffiti is street art not vandalism because, it takes lots of skill to do. It also uses lots of color and detail in it. Finally graffiti art because it is beautiful and gives people lots of happiness and joy.

For several decades, graffiti has been a subject of great contention. Is it art that should be appreciated? Or is it vandalism that must be condemned? Semantics aside, what can be definitively agreed upon is that graffiti is an urban phenomenon and that its many manifestations are unique in their own ways. The urban landscape that is the canvas for graffiti artists and taggers houses some of society’s most problematic factors, such as socioeconomic disparities, power struggles, political unrest, and a sense of isolation. For some communities and individuals, these social stratifications and feelings of detachment have led to their use of graffiti as an outlet to express their urban realities.

Graffiti can be found in various parts of the world and on anything that can be painted. It is considered to be an “illegal ‘eyesore’” but has been starting to be considered an art form (Sanchez). This art form can be found anywhere including building, trucks, and bridges. Graffiti can be done by anyone with can of spray paint and could be done for any reason. The main reason one involves themselves in graffiti is the “adrenaline” that comes with it and also it can be a way to “connect with culture that broke down social, economic, and political barriers” (Nick A.J). graffiti can be done as a rebellious act but most of the time is just done for complete fun. Graffiti is just a form of art for people to express themselves and put the art on public display for all to see when walking down a street or driving on the road.

Graffiti has been around for more than half a decade and practiced worldwide. However there is debate between whether it is a form of art or vandalism. Graffiti artists’ debate that many do not understand the reason most graffiti artist take the risk of incarceration, fines, injuries, and in some cases death to paint a wall. A graffiti artist can have the simple desire to become recognized, or to create a piece that speaks to their audience as a form of self expression. Because graffiti is associated with gangs and acts of destruction to some many cannot see the history and importance graffiti can have on a worldwide scale. Due to the fact that graffiti is usually produced illegally, meaning it is

According to Boyd, through Graffiti is essential to understand as a form of art that crosses the boundaries of location, method, and motivation. He acknowledges that graffiti might include “racist remarks, empty slogans and illegal signatures.”(Boyd 251) Boyd’s piece is also very informative because according to the author, there are two methods for creating this form of art: murals and tagging. The most popular one is tagging because it can be found almost everywhere from fence posts to trains, street walls to buses. The main goal of graffiti writers is to put their signature tags in places to be recognized by their

Most people can argue that there is a fine distinction between what is recognized as art and vandalism. The individual is often faced with uncertainty when the topic of graffiti arises. The public often portray graffiti as a destructive act towards his or her surroundings however; graffiti can also be considered a form of self-expression. Many questions can be made pertaining to the graffiti movement, but the main question is graffiti a crime or an art? The answers lie in the complex phrase of “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.

Most people think of graffiti as vandalism or the defacing of private property by wild teenagers with spray cans. I had never really thought about graffiti or art for that matter until I found myself defending something I didn’t know about because I liked what I saw on the sidewalk in Memphis, Tennessee. Now, that’s sounds crazy but I did my best to explain using simple words that I hoped they would understanding.

The roots of graffiti started about 1971 by a Greek American who tagged “TAKI-183” in all New York subway system, he declared that he “used graffiti to create an identity in which he is certain about” (Fortuna 3), then it emerged all around America and the world. (David 72)

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.

While society may view graffiti as a negative aspect in communities even if it isn’t harmful, it also receives praise from many people. In “The Making of Space, Race, and Place” Dickinson stated that “Graffiti writers would be referred to as vandals, thugs, and criminals in the mass media, and their own voices would be largely shut out” (29). This is not completely true because even though graffiti writers are considered “vandals” and “criminals”, people are still treating them as people they can invest in. Graffiti writers are actually being acknowledged and paid to write. For example, “High profile graffiti writers and crews form relationships with spray paint companies through ad hoc and more enduring paint contracts, can be sponsored to attend invitational events and are often the subject of articles in the graffiti magazines that have grown with the subculture” (McAuliffe and

From the early humans who painted on cave walls to the angst-ridden teenager getting their kicks from spray painting profanities on the side of a small business, human beings seem to have an intrinsic desire to paint images on the walls that surround them. This has led to many individuals painting on walls without permission. Although the walls cannot speak, city officials and the owners of businesses can and when they do, “Graffiti” is usually one of the words used to describe the images produced. However, although often overlooked, a line does exist between graffiti and street art. Christine Graff writes “Graffiti is defined as ‘writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public

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.

This negative shadow on the art form of graffiti has caused the decline of the graffiti movement. As many have predicted, “graffiti may eventually disappear” (“The Writing's on the Wall; Graffiti”). Graffiti has already begun to dwindle from what was once a flourishing art movement, to an almost disesteemed hobby. However, a soiled reputation is not the only culprit in the murder of authentic graffiti. The occupation of the current generation with technology and social media has caused many artists to focus solely on selling their work and gaining attention through social networking platforms. Another, perhaps more common, reason for the decline is the improvement of police work and punishments for those indulging in the illegal form of graffiti (“The Writing's on the Wall; Graffiti”). Because of this decline in authentic and prohibited graffiti, artists have channeled their work into new forms and established their own artistic community.