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Reasons for and against graffiti
Graffiti cause and effect
Effects of graffiti
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Within the impoverished urban streets arose a youth culture captivated by infamy and self-pride. A youth culture virtually undistinguishable from members of modern society with a passion, setting them apart from the community. The members of this underground subculture could be your next-door neighbor, your son or daughter, or the contractor repairing your roof, yet you would have no idea that they strive to “bomb” objects and surfaces found in everyday life. It is the subtle differences that distinguish a graffiti artist from the average member of society, such as their, mindset, desires, speech and active lifestyle. The most predominant attribute of a graffiti artist is their mindset, for a graffitist is constantly surveying the streets in search for a new spot to “bomb” as well as examining the work of fellow writers. For instance, when a graffiti artist looks at an empty wall or a distant water tower they envision a canvas suitable for displaying their graffiti. A graffiti artist uses specific terminology when speaking to fellow writers as well as average people interested in this illegal art form. The use of terms, such as “tag,” “throw-up,” and “burner” are used to describe different styles of graffiti letters. In addition, the term “bomb” is used when a graffitist paints on numerous surfaces in a given area. When analyzing the desires of a graffitist, they explain the desire to go “all-city.” The term “all-city” describes a writers’ aspiration to display his graffiti throughout the entire city. The lifestyle of a graffiti artist tends to be more active than that of an average person, for graffitist go “bombing” during late hours of the night. The reason for these late-night paint excursions is to avoid cont... ... middle of paper ... ...Social Science Journals, ProQuest. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. Chang, Jeff. "The Writing on the Wall: Why are graffiti and vandalism bad words in the left? " Colorlines 31 Jul 2002: ProQuest Social Science Journals, ProQuest. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. Infamy. Dir. Doug Pray. Perf. ENEM and CLAW. Image Entertainment, 2005. DVD. "More Pics from Philly." Web log post. Silent Wrytes. Apr.-May 2011. Web. May-June 2011. . Rahn, Janice. Painting without permission hip-hop graffiti subculture. Westport, Conn.: Bergin & Garvey, 2002. Print. Reichert, Jake. "A wilderness of walls: past and future of graffiti writing in Winnipeg." Canadian Dimension33.6 (1999): 20-26. Alternative Press Index. EBSCO. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. Wright, Kai. "Paint Wars. (Youth)." City Limits 1 Jan. 2003. Gale. Web. 22 Apr. 2011.
In the performance of life, one cultural representation that captivates and entrances people more fluently and describes the human experience more eloquently is that of artistic expression. It imposes itself unto the face of society through the individual who creates it as a reflection of any one or combination of personal, emotional, or physiological effects society or one’s own environment has inflicted onto them to compel them convey their feelings to the public. The essential argument, is whether graffiti has a place in the grand context of society. One end of the spectrum paints it as a nuisance to property owners and city officials allow for a criminal perspective of the practice. While at another end you can view it as the artist in a sense blessing others with the fruits of their inner consciousness. An artistic expression no matter what the viewpoint of society, in an anthropological context graffiti is essential to modern society and its impact is one that cannot be forgotten or lived without.
Graffiti is often understood to mean “any form of unofficial, unsanctioned application of a medium onto a surface” (Lewisohn 2008). There are many terms that are associated with graffiti, including Graffiti Writing and Street Art.
Graffiti has been around for a long time, far back to the prehistoric times, where cavemen would spend hours drawing on walls, reflecting their daily lives. However, these walls were not walls of their own homes; they drew on walls that might have been someone else’s home, yet no one sees their “works of art” as vandalism. Archaeologists have even used graffiti on the walls of many areas to better understand different ancient cultures. Graffiti is a type of art that is popularly used among many young and middle-aged males, although it is considered vandalism, it is still an important piece of popular culture because of it’s ability to act as an effective form of communication and expression of identity, which can be used to reveal problems in society.
This primary source is an article from the New York Times newspaper and was published on July 21, 1971. The article talks about a graffiti writer known as TAKI 183 and gives some info on graffiti and the effects it has. This article was the first time graffiti was brought into the mainstream’s view through a major media source.
The Graffiti community is, although they will not admit, a bunch of aesthetic filled souls. Everyone gathers recognition in this community. “Graffiti isn't something a normal person does, I have been through a lot of situations just cus I do what I do,” my subject explains. These artist ARE outcasts, for a good. They express culture and it is something they get a feel for. It is brilliant, even with the trouble.
Graffiti has been around for centuries. It can be seen on buildings, cars, and anything that can be painted with a spray can. Since graffiti came to exist, there has been much debate on whether it is an art form or an illegal activity. While it has been banned and deemed illegal all over the world, it still persists in today’s society. Along with the controversy that comes with graffiti, many commonly known stereotypes are apparent within the act of graffiti. Stereotypically, graffiti is seen as an urban act done by younger people. Typically, since this act is considered illegal, it is mostly done in the middle of the night, and the people partaking are usually wearing dark or black clothes. The picture, “LATA 65 IS A CREATIVE
Even though graffiti, in general, has had a rough past, it has started a movement where it's a form of expression through the artist. Graffiti can be a wonderful work of art when it has a space where it doesn't disturb public or private property. The artist creating graffiti often wants to send a message. In many cases, the street art made on public property is to invoke a reaction or conversation to intrigue the viewer. A key element in graffiti and street art is to create a space where the artist can do his/her work and even receive compensation from art
an article on a writer named Taki 183. Graffiti is just about anywhere you look, from subway stops to tall skyscrapers. A lot of artists use spray paint cans and chalk to make their graffiti on. ``Art in the Street`` unrolled at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, California in 2011. This exhibit shows the works of U.S and international artists including Shepard Fairey, Margaret Kilgallen, Banksy, and JR. Jean Michel Basquiat's works are shown in a special gallery dedicated to 1980`s artists. In the last few decades, Graffiti art has even made its way into some of the most famous art galleries. People use graffiti as a way to express themselves and show their perspective of the world (youthvoices.net). Everyone has their own opinions on what graffiti is to them. Some people like it and other people hate it because they think it is a crime or it ruins the urban environment they live in ( Liz Gogerly). For some people, Graffiti is a powerful way to preach a point or share their opinions in a hands on way ( Liz Gogerly). The Cyber Bench documents New York City by saying that political activists use it as way to express their ideas and street gangs use it as a way to label their territory (www.at149st.com).
We are looking, in our group, at graffiti in a crime perspective. In this literature review we will be looking at journals, articles and websites for resources and discussing the cost and issues with graffiti worldwide.
DeNotto, Michael. "Street art and graffiti." College & Research Libraries News Association of College & Research Libraries. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 May 2014.
No matter what people say about it, Graffiti is a form of self-expression. It is important to realize the amount of talent and work required to create a piece of graffiti. The scale of such a piece can be small found on a corner to massive one taking up an entire wall. However, there are varying
First, what is graffiti? Graffiti, which is originally an Italian word meaning “little scribblings”, describes paintings on the walls, benches or buildings, mostly by spraying colors (Pipkin, 2013; Wendel, 2002). On the other hand, according to Mccorkle (2010), any acts or behaviors that have the intention to harm, to violate or to destruct the public privacy is considered as vandalism. Graffiti sometimes is reflected as vandalism due to the fact that it is a combination of random paintings on the walls or the façade of the buildings all around the city. Moreover, there is also a greater chance in increasing “cultural criminality” (Halsey & Young, 2002, p.166). Nevertheless, a plethora of positive feedbacks about graffiti increasing day by day suggests that graffiti should be considered as a type of street art instead of
Graffiti by dictionary definition is writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place. One form of graffiti is tagging. Tagging is a quick writing that can be defined by five distinctive features, “simplicity, location, permanence, opportunism and creative expression,”(Russel, 2008, p. 89). This is used when individuals or gang members are trying to tag in their area and proclaim territory (Ehrlich & Ehrlich, 2006). A common form of graffiti is hip-hop tagging which originated in the 1970s.The second form of graffiti is graffiti art. At first glance it would seem that graffiti art is more complex than graffiti tagging. While a main feature of tagging is opportunity--how fast can the artist tag and not be caught?--, this is not the case for graffiti art (Austin, 2010, p. 35). It is usually a picture or a composition of some sort, often referred to as masterpieces or pieces for short in graffiti culture (Rahn, 2002). In a masterpiece artists plan the composition and the ideal location where their vision can be achieved. A third form of graffiti is a throw-up which is one step higher than tagging and involves only lettering and two colors. It is more difficult than tagging but not as complex as graffiti art (Rahn, 2002). The different types and style of graffiti can be very confusing, but a way that the different styles can
Graffiti’s effect on society shows the true reason it should be an art form. It’s visuals allow for the common person to be in wonder at the detail in which some of these pieces. It allows for a new definition to the previously scorned act of graffiti as it brightens up cities all around the world and improves the entire psyche of urban life.
Graffiti is a beautiful art that expresses feeling and emotions. However, people think of it differently. Is it a crime or an art? Those talented people, young or old, a teenage, a child or an adult, have a passion for making graffiti art on street walls a...