Comment Re:Art? (Score 2, Informative) 222
With graffiti writing you have to take 2 things into account:
1. What is the location of the writing? Is it an appropriate location (i.e. no personal property i.e. houses, small businesses; not on a cultural monument or other work of art; nature is another big no) Is the work appropriate for the location? (does it work off the environment around it to assimilate itself into the general experience of its location?)
2. What is the substance of the writing? Any 12 year old with a spraycan can write his name wierd, but it takes years of practice and dedication to achieve the skill level of some writers. Also, anyone can rip off someone else's style; is the work original?
If a piece of graffiti writing is appropriate for its environment and well excecuted, it can be a significant improvement over what previously occupied the space.
A good work of graffiti will be well excecuted and appropriate for its location.
Now we arrive at the question of legality. Much graffiti is done on or in abandoned buildings, alleyways, secluded rooftops, and on billboards. Many, if not most, of these spaces are essentially abandoned before graffiti writers come and mark their surfaces. In fact, graffiti is often done on top of other graffiti- there are legal walls with up to a 6 inch thick layer of paint on them.
Graffiti does not structurally harm buildings and can usually be painted over quickly and cheaply (glass etch tags are a very notable exception, it can cost thousands of dollars to replace a marred window pane and many writers decry the use of such wantonly destructive implements). It actually keeps plenty of kids out of gangs and drugs and provides an outlet for young peoples' creativity that isn't found elsewhere, and can be a very constructive and positive thing. On the other hand, graffiti can deface community murals and private homes (fortunately, this sort of writing is frowned upon).
Links:
www.greatbates.com
www.graffiti.org
www.dare.c h
www.12ozprophet.com
www.theartwheredreamscomet rue.com
www.graphotism.com
www.nicekidnice.com
1. What is the location of the writing? Is it an appropriate location (i.e. no personal property i.e. houses, small businesses; not on a cultural monument or other work of art; nature is another big no) Is the work appropriate for the location? (does it work off the environment around it to assimilate itself into the general experience of its location?)
2. What is the substance of the writing? Any 12 year old with a spraycan can write his name wierd, but it takes years of practice and dedication to achieve the skill level of some writers. Also, anyone can rip off someone else's style; is the work original?
If a piece of graffiti writing is appropriate for its environment and well excecuted, it can be a significant improvement over what previously occupied the space.
A good work of graffiti will be well excecuted and appropriate for its location.
Now we arrive at the question of legality. Much graffiti is done on or in abandoned buildings, alleyways, secluded rooftops, and on billboards. Many, if not most, of these spaces are essentially abandoned before graffiti writers come and mark their surfaces. In fact, graffiti is often done on top of other graffiti- there are legal walls with up to a 6 inch thick layer of paint on them.
Graffiti does not structurally harm buildings and can usually be painted over quickly and cheaply (glass etch tags are a very notable exception, it can cost thousands of dollars to replace a marred window pane and many writers decry the use of such wantonly destructive implements). It actually keeps plenty of kids out of gangs and drugs and provides an outlet for young peoples' creativity that isn't found elsewhere, and can be a very constructive and positive thing. On the other hand, graffiti can deface community murals and private homes (fortunately, this sort of writing is frowned upon).
Links:
www.greatbates.com
www.graffiti.org
www.dare.
www.12ozprophet.com
www.theartwheredreamscome
www.graphotism.com
www.nicekidnice.com
