More Than Vandalism

Graffiti is only art depending on the person creating it. Although graffiti is known for tagging, especially in big cities where gangs mark their area or teenagers just looking for trouble. Graffiti is still a modern art that can be used in very creative and impactful ways. For example, there were graffiti paintings on building for the black lives matter movement, the Boston Marathon bombing, and others. Graffiti is an artistic way of displaying a movement and can be used in many other ways.

A problem with graffiti is that the display of it is what matters most. Graffiti should only be used in places where it is legal and or not negatively affecting others. “The problem with graffiti art is the question of whether it’s really art or just plain vandalism.” A way that artists are trying to stop vandalism is by encouraging the artist to do graffiti in pallets where it can be displayed in museums or displayed somewhere where it can be moved if needed. Basically, there are so many ways that graffiti can be used that classifying it as vandalism just wouldn’t make sense.

Graffiti is an art form that has been known for vandalism and its culture is being changed as time goes on. “Like all other artistic forms, graffiti has experienced movements or changes in style. From the first tag scribbled on a subway train to the large, complex mural on a billboard, the movement has experienced change.” Looking in the past in the age of 50 Cent and Tupac’s death, graffiti was used as a tribute to fallen stars. Fans who would vandalize with graffiti used it to spread a message as art. It all lies in the creator.

Graffiti is not like a pen and paper. Graffiti can be used on just about any surface which creates a window of opportunity for people to take advantage of such a borderless art form. “This is further proof that graffiti is a form of art and not just a result of random acts of vandalism. The graffiti community moves in different directions and the resultant artwork moves with it.” Graffiti is directed by movements and people use their voice in their graffiti to send a message. That is one of the strengths of graffiti and how it can be stopped being seen as vandalism and more as a message.

Art can be vandalism or it can be art, like anything that is created, it has a reason. With graffiti, the reason you paint is up to you. If you want to spread a positive message, your emotions, or tag and vandalize is up to the person. Regardless graffiti is an art but can be used to vandalize.

“Google Street View – Sao Paulo graffiti” by kevin dooley is licensed under CC BY 2.0