On the one side, Eric Felisbret maintains it is art: Legal Venues Celebrate Graffiti as an Art-Form.
On the other side, Heather MacDonald maintains graffiti is always vandalism: Graffiti is Always Vandalism
What do you think? Is graffiti art, or is graffiti vandalism?
At least two paragraphs! Express your point of view clearly, refer to classmates' perspectives, and cite textual evidence (and your source!).
By the way, whether you decide it is vandalism or art, isn't that last one painted onto the street to look 3-D COOL?!?!
Click on the photos to enlarge them. :)
In my opinion, graffiti is vandalism and not art. Graffiti is:"by definition it is committed without permission on another person's property, in an adolescent display of entitlement"(Graffiti Is Always Vandalism article). If a person were to put graffiti onto a person's property without permission, it is counted as vandalism. For those who find graffiti as an art style, how would you feel if a persson were to bomb your property with graffiti. Chances are you won't love it and you would call the police if not a painting company.
ReplyDeleteAs Heather Mac Donald writes in her article, she writes "Whether particular viewers find any given piece of graffiti artistically compelling is irrelevant. Graffiti’s most salient characteristic is that it is a crime"(Graffiti Is Always Vandalism article). This is true because if a person were to graffiti -even if artistic- it will still be a crime with no permission. I strongly support that graffiti is vandalism and I think graffiti is a crime.
Even though I agree with John that graffiti is vandalism if it is done without permission, this is not always the case. Graffiti in what Felisbret called its “purest form” is without a doubt vandalism, but it can be done on legal venues for a good cause. When graffiti is done in the right circumstances, it , can be quite artistic, beautiful and marvelous. Graffiti is just another form of art and a way to express ones feelings. It is a painting just like Van Gogh’s except on a larger canvas. Graffiti is a way for thriving new artists to express themselves through their art.
ReplyDeleteThere is no way to say that all graffiti is a crime. Graffiti is just another art form. Graffiti is admired in art galleries and museums just as a fine painting or sculpture. Graffiti can give a mundane facade new life with vibrant colors and pictures. The amazing 3-D graffiti Ms. Mansour displayed is truly breathtaking. How can something so beautiful be a crime? Next time you see the art form of graffiti, think twice before you label it as vandalism.
Extremely well said, John and Andrew. You've presented both sides of the debate beautifully!
ReplyDeleteGraffiti is everywhere, especially in major cities such as, New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles. There's always graffiti on the ground, overpasses,, bridges, walls of buildings, lampposts, you name it. Yes, I agree with John and Andrew that graffiti will be counted as vandalism if done without permission. Otherwise, it is a great form of art. These extremely talented artists paint graffiti to express their feelings. Not only that, but maybe bring a little more character to that particular area or if it's big graffiti, then to the whole town or city.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti can range from a very small one on a bench to a huge one that stretches along the length side of a city building or a bridge. Like Andrew said, it is admired in museums and art galleries. So many people enjoy the different kinds of graffiti. It can definitely change the atmosphere around it. From dramatic and full of sorrow to joyful and absolutely exciting, graffiti, as all other forms of art, have a story behind it. And did I forget to mentioned the beautiful and absolutely breathtaking 3D graffiti that Ms. Mansour displayed! Just WOW!
I think graffiti can be a crime and an art. I think it depends on where the graffiti is at and what it looks like. There is graffiti everywhere. It is on building walls, the ground, etc. Graffiti can be a crime if it is done without permission or on private property or somewhere it is not allowed. If you are doing graffiti to mess up the property it is a crime but if you are doing it because you like it, it shouldn't be a crime.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti can be an art if you are doing it because you love to. If you aren't trying to do anything to mess up the property, it isn't art. Graffiti is art when it is done to make the area look "better." For example, the 4th picture Ms. Mansour displayed is a form of art. It makes the ground look like it has a cave underneath which is really cool. That is art.
I agree with the others about how without permission graffiti is counted as vandalism. However, under certain circumstances it can count as very beautiful art that shows the person's skill. Plus, like any other form of art it can convey emotion and feelings and not to mention in the article it even states, " modern graffiti is widely acknowledged as art. It has been exhibited in museums and art galleries across the world since its earliest stages"( Legal Venues Celebrate Graffiti as an Art Form). That even shows that graffiti does count as art, of course as long as it is legal.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti can come in many forms whenever it is small, or large, colorful, or dull it is pretty and can change something boring into something colorful. Plus graffiti can help cities, for example," The explosion of art adorning 5Pointz brought tourists to the area and international acclaim" (Legal Venues Celebrate Graffiti as an Art Form). Showing that this form of art can help cities bring in visitors to help grow the city. Not to mention, have you seen the pictures Ms. Mansour showed up there? They are absolutely breathtaking and the use of illusions especially in the last one is amazing and as someone who loves to draw, I can say they all look like amazing works of art.
I think graffiti is both art and vandalism. Let me tell you why I say it is art. I say graffiti is art because it can show really cool things. Also it shows allows the artists to show their art to many people. Graffiti might also be a way of showing what they like to draw. But I think graffiti is also vandalism.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti is also vandalism. I say this because graffiti is done without permission. I wouldn't want graffiti on my building or property. Graffiti can also mess up peoples property. It could be permanent. Graffiti in my opinion is both art and vandalism.
I think that graffiti is both vandalism and art. Most cases it is just plain vandalism. The literal translation of "Vandalism" is any act committed without permission on another person's property, just for their own pleasure or entertainment. So basically all graffiti is vandalism unless they ask some one to allows it on their property which will be awkward. "Excuse me, can I spray paint your entire house... Please!" Most likely the landlord or owner would say no, but some will say yes and it won't be vandalism. However, they don't ask and it become vandalism.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti is also art but only to some. Art is defined as the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture. So technically all graffiti is art; however it all depends in the eye of the beholder(s). Some might think that it is beautiful art. Some others might think that the "art" is just plain ugly. It isn't really a question of "is it art?" but more a question of is it good art. Common people refer to beautiful objects, paintings, etc. as art. While they don't call ugly art "art". So it is mostly in the eye of the beholder it is actually art (technically all graffiti is art but this generation refers to art "art" only if it is beautiful), or not art (bad art). Personally, I don't like graffiti simply because it is graffiti alone.
~~~~~~~Jamal N.
Graffiti is an art. People deserve to see the art that the talented people can do. In the pictures above they are awesome, and they are great art. The definition of art is :The conscious use of the imagination in the production of objects intended to be contemplated or appreciated as beautiful, as in the arrangement of forms, sounds, or words. You have to ask for graffiti to be okay, you have to have permission. Graffiti is a great art and people love to see it. Today in San Fran, there are many graffiti spots and they are awesome to see.
ReplyDeletePeople love to see the art. Graffiti is only vandalism if you are on private property, or don't ask. “It’s easy to draw the line legally for both because it all boils down to permission. If you don’t have permission to write or paint, it is a crime. The law does not distinguish between a Rembrandt-caliber painting and an intentional act of vandalism.” Graffiti is an art because it is very creative and people love to watch and see it. Some people see it as vandalism only when it is private property, if they have permission, it is the best to see the creations.
Also, the last picture is the coolest thing I have ever seen. It looks like the people are going to fall in to the hole. That proves my point how people want to see the art of graffiti, and that it is art. It is not vandalism.
I think that graffiti is an art, but it is also a crime. I think that if you write someone's name on either a train, bridge, overpass, sidewalk, then the graffiti turns into vandalism. And if it is not a drawing, painting, whatever you want to can it, then it is vandalism. Another thing is that even writing your name, or a gang symbol, on a sign near the freeway, that is still vandalism. Even if it is a small doodle or small drawing, I would still consider it to be vandalism.
ReplyDeleteAlthough most people (like me) hate graffiti. I do love to see it to be "put to good use" through art. Like Ben said, you can go to San Francisco and see a lot of this type of work. But you really should have permission before you do that. Just in case people who haven't read this blog, catch you and say that you can't do that.
So overall, graffiti can be an art but be careful with what you do because the police could catch you in the middle of an art piece and then arrest you.
Also, I have actually seen one in Disney Land that looks a lot like the last one. :)
DeleteIn my opinion, I think that graffiti is an art and a crime, like Saskia. I do agree with what Felisbret said, "If you don’t have permission to write or paint, it is a crime"(Legal Venues Celebrate Graffiti as an Art Form Article), also what John said. I only agree with this if, for example, as Saskia said, that there was graffiti on a train, or a sign on the freeway .And sometimes, profanity is written. In some ways, graffiti can be a crime.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, graffiti, as shown in the pictures above, is also art. As Andrew says, "not all graffiti is a crime". I agree with Andrew because in these pictures, they took a bland and empty space and made something very beautiful for people to admire. I also agree with Andrew saying, “ Graffiti is a way for thriving new artists to express themselves through their art” because some artists want everyone to see their drawings and ideas, but aren’t sure how. In conclusion, I think that graffiti is a crime, and an art.
I think that graffiti is an art, but could be a crime at the same time. It mainly depends on where is it, what it is, and if there's permission or not. For example Eric Felisbret said,"If you don’t have permission to write or paint, it is a crime." I agree with him, you can't just go around drawing or painting or sharpie-ing around places that don't belong to you or is privet property. That is vandalizm, but if you do have permission, than it's obviously okay to do so. Graffiti is art as long as it's not too inappropriate for people to see. For instance there's a place in Las Vegas where instead of giant empty walls of the store sides, they hired graffiti peoples to spray paint some walls to make them look nicer (it's near Las Vegas' High Roller- or the giant Ferris wheel).
ReplyDeleteGraffiti is an interesting way people see art. as Felisbret said, "In the graffiti community a writer cannot achieve status solely based on artistic ability. The writer must also be willing to work outside the law and assume great risk." When you're an artist you may do crazy things for inspiration or in the name of art. Vincent Van Gogh cut off his ear! I mean, artists may seem crazy as to do something like that or to go against the law to express themselves, but it's still art. Well, I just see it as "illegal art". It's still art, but sometimes isn't appreciated as art because of the way it was developed. Graffiti was known to be vandalism and an ugly thing to see, but when you'd see it in places where it's okay to do so, like the artist has permission to paint there, it looks "better". So as graffiti became more accepted it started to look better in people's eyes. You just have to look over the flaws in art like you look over the flaws in life and you'll see the hidden beauty in things.
-Nikamarie F.
In my opinion, I think graffiti can be both an art and a crime. Like Isaiah said, it depends on where the graffiti is and what the design is on it. For instance, Eric Felisbret said,"If you don’t have permission to write or paint, it is a crime." I like what Eric is saying here because graffiti is an art that some people may not want on their property. One of the only times I see graffiti as an art is when, for example like Rawan and Saskia said,there was graffiti on a train, or a sign on the freeway .And sometimes, profanity is written. In some ways, graffiti can be a crime.
ReplyDeleteThe reasons I have listed above show how graffiti can be both an art or a crime. This topic is all based on people's personal opinion.
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ReplyDeleteAfter reading both articles, I believe that graffiti is vandalism. Graffiti is an illegal form of art. According to Graffiti Is Always Vandalism, “By definition it is committed without permission on another person's property.” This means that by dictionary definition graffiti is art done with no permission, somewhere that is not your property. I think that using someone else’s property to do “art” is not right. People should respect others property. If someone really wanted art on their wall, they would’ve paid an artist to paint. If something is illegal, no one should do it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with John, saying “For those who find graffiti as an art style, how would you feel if a person were to bomb your property with graffiti. Chances are you won't love it and you would call the police if not a painting company.” Many people saying graffiti is an art would absolutely hate being bombed by this vandalism. Also, “any given piece of graffiti artistically compelling is irrelevant,” according to Graffiti Is Always Vandalism. Graffiti is inappropriate and illegal, even if it is artistic. Graffiti is in no sense art, but vandalism.
~Karina V. 卌
Graffiti is always vandalism if done on public property. In fact, the direct definition of graffiti is, "committed without permission on another person's property" (Graffiti is always vandalism). The only time graffiti is not technically "vandalism" is when it is done on your own property. Or when a person gives permission. Either way, those tags are ugly and are ruining our architecture.
ReplyDeleteThe only time vandalism is art is when someone has permission (or is on their own property). Then they would have to skillfully and professionally paint a work of art such as the first two pictures and the fourth. The third picture could be passed off as art, but personally, I think it is an act of vandalism. Vandalism can only be art if it is somehow pleasing to the eye to look at. However, those tags that we see on stop signs and back ally-ways aren't exactly the most pleasing thing to look at every day. Vandalism could only be considered art if it is pleasing to the eye to look at.
-Isaac E. =D
I believe that graffiti can be both art and vandalism. It all depends on what it is and if they have permission or not. Graffiti can be art if it is done with permission. Graffiti can bring life to something very dull like a wall. If done professionally it can make a wall into a masterpiece like the pictures above.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand graffiti can be vandalism. If it is done without permission it is considered vandalism . Also if it is inappropriate. Many people will most likely see it since it is done on public property. They could be offended. For example people who work at building would not approve of their being graffiti on their building since it supposed to be professional.
I agree with Benji, it can be both art and vandalism. This one graffiti artist uses dust on a wall to create picture instead of paint. Also, "From the perspective of a graffiti writer, the debate about whether graffiti is art or crime is pointless because, ideally, it is both" (NYTimes.com). If a graffiti artist paints a picture where he/she is allowed, is should not be a crime. Although if he/she paints a picture where they are not allowed it should be a crime.
ReplyDeleteFor it to be a crime, they have to paint where it is not allowed or if it is offensive. For example, "By definition it is committed without permission on another person's property, in an adolescent display of entitlement" (NYTimes.com). This shows that without permission graffiti probably should be a crime. It it were to be painted with permission but highly offensive, it should be a crime. If you allowed a painter to paint your house and they just threw paint on it, it should also be a crime.
I think that graffiti can be both art and vandalism because the actual definition of graffiti is," Committed without permission on another person's property." (Graffiti is Always Vandalism). Unless you got permission from the mayor to graffiti the wall or if you "graffitied" your own wall/floor/ceiling.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti can be art if it is done well by a professional. Like in the fourth picture or in the third picture at the top. Also," Modern graffiti is widely acknowledged as art. It has been exhibited in museums and art galleries across the world since its earliest stages." This shows that graffiti can also be art. People appreciate art, but not vandalism and since graffiti can technically both, you'll have about 50% of the people hate it and 50% love it.
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ReplyDeleteI think graffiti is art. There are artists that have so much to say but they can’t put it in words. There are murals, colors, sayings, that can show us their perspective of life. I support graffiti, but that doesn't mean you can just barge in anywhere and just start spray-painting their wall. People have their own way of expressing themselves through architecture or exterior designing. Graffiti artists should just be careful where they put their art. For example, “In the graffiti community a writer cannot achieve status solely based on artistic ability. The writer must also be willing to work outside the law and assume great risk” (The New York Times: Legal Venues Celebrate Graffiti as an Art Form) The world is not a free canvas. You need to ask permission to paint the walls.
ReplyDeleteIn reference to my last paragraph, you must ask permission to the owner if you can paint a mural there. “Legal venues for the art form are great – they allow artists to perfect their works and, perhaps get paid for them” (The New York Times: Legal Venues Celebrate Graffiti as an Art Form) Graffiti is fun to do for artists, but it would be more fun if what they were doing was legal. And as an artist you must be responsible for the message you put out there. You want your art to be known, but no one wants to see art that would be discouraging and has a bad influence. That is not art. Express yourself. But not in a way that will tear others down, or affect anyone in a bad way.
I love what you had to say here, Favian! Very thoughtful.
DeleteIn my opinion, graffiti is a beautiful form of art. In the article "Legal Venues Celebrate Graffiti as an Art Form" it says, "...it all boils down to permission". I both agree and disagree with this statement. While permission is very important, I don't think that graffiti should be a crime, as it is actually very beautiful, if you take the time to not just look at it, but actually see it. What I mean by this is that if you look at graffiti and only think of it as a crime, you won't be able to truly appreciate the beauty of the graffiti.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, I understand how one might see it as a crime. In the article "Graffiti is Always Vandalism", there is not much that I agree with. However, I do agree that the location of the graffiti matters. By this I mean that people tend to enjoy graffiti more "...when it shows up on someone else's property", as stated in the article. I believe that we should just have an area where people can go and do graffiti without getting into any trouble. This way, people who think of graffiti as a crime will not have to worry about it winding up on their property, and people who think of graffiti as art can still enjoy it.
I think that Graffiti is art. Art is a visual application or expressions of feeling. So is graffiti. graffiti is a form of art in which artists use the world as their canvas. I think it is great that people can make such great works of art on the ugly city streets. Also, graffiti can help many young and talented artists be discovered. Many people with great talents go unnoticed.Graffiti is a great way for artists to show off their art.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, Graffiti can also be rude and destructive. "Tagging", a way of marking objects by putting gang signs on them, are all over. Gangs use them to " mark their territory." and to show where they are located. This should be made illegal. Any graffiti on public property without formal permission by the owner should be taken down and the artist should be fined or arrested. This is technically vandalism, but not all graffiti is. Graffiti should be applied when given permission by the owner of the object being painted. But even though it can be made criminal, graffiti is still art.
I think graffiti is art depending on where and what is in the design. If someone is putting their gang signs everywhere I think that should be vandalism. It should be vandalism if the graffiti isn't positive. Bad forms of graffiti should not be permitted but if it is a beautiful form of art it should be allowed. Graffiti can be really cool and amazing to look at.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with saying that graffiti is always vandalism. The art work of some graffiti is super amazing and can mean a lot if different things. I agree with Hailey I think we should have a designated spot for graffiti. Then more people would be able to share their art without getting in trouble or break the law. Graffiti can be amazing forms of art.
I think that there are two types of graffiti. One is vandalistic (swear words, derogatory remarks, etc...) and the other is artistic. The definition of vandalism is "deliberately mischievous or malicious destruction or damage of property:
ReplyDeletevandalism of public buildings".
Graffiti does fall under the category of vandalism and there is a good reason for this. Graffiti is unpermitted artwork on buildings and public structures. Unpermitted. That word is key. I believe that it can be classified as art if there is consent involved in the graffiti. The graffitier is potentially damaging a building. Whether the graffiti is beautiful art or not is irrelevent and unimportant because graffiti can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to remove. Without the building owners consent, the graffiti is classified as vandalism and thus cannot be classified as art.
I believe that graffiti is art only if it is drawn with permission from the owner of the property. Graffiti is a good way to showcase art in the public. It shows from amazing illusions, or colorful designs that are amazing to look at. However, there are forms of graffiti which is vandalism. I do not agree with the fact that all forms of graffiti count as vandalism.
ReplyDeleteThere is vandalism in which the graffiti is drawn over private property from gangs who want to mark their territory. These types of vandalism are criminal, and are negative in every way. It is wrong to say vandalism is a good thing, however its also wrong to say all forms of graffiti is bad. Graffiti is beautiful when it is done with permission and is positive.
Graffiti can be both art and vandalism. It is art when there is permission to do whatever. Although it is vandalismi when someone randomly graffitis something. Graffiti as art is amazing with illusions d any colorful drawings that are no where near being vandalism. I do not think that all forms of art are vandalism.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, it is vandalism when someone writes or draws on walls or trains or anything that belongs to someone else and they had No permission to do so. This vandalism is usually people or gangs that want to make that they've been there. This type of graffiti is is very bad and should not be allowed. Vandalism is the bad type of graffiti, but that still doesn't mean all graffiti is bad. The art type of graffiti is beautiful still, so as I stated before, I don't not believe that all types of graffiti is vandalism, only some of it is.
~Juliana P.
No matter what your opinion is, by law, graffiti is vandalism. "By definition it is committed without permission on another person's property, in an adolescent display of entitlement",says Heather Mac Donald. Graffiti on public surfaces can definitely make a place look dirtier, or make people want to avoid that area. There are only a few cases in which I have considered graffiti art because around here, large, beautiful paintings graffitied on the walls of a building are rare. We almost always see ugly, scratchy, and illegible lettering on the shipment containers of trucks, in alley ways, and on dumpsters. It's just not pretty.
ReplyDeleteI do think that the examples you've provided us are pretty, but like I've already said, they are hard to find around here. When you think of graffiti, do you really conjure up these murals, or do you think about that one disgusting building covered in gross tags. Graffiti is often done to mark ones area. It is something people do when they feel entitled to announce that they were there. Some graffiti artists take it to a whole new level and paint something amazing, but it's still not common.
-KA2
Graffiti can be found everywhere from under bridges or in popular cities. In my opinion,graffiti is a form of vandalism if it is done without permission. As John said,graffiti is defined as "it is committed without permission on another person's property, in an adolescent display of entitlement." Otherwise,i believe that it isnt considered vandalism. In a sense,creating vandalism is a form of art because it says a lot about the person and speaks for their mind. The art itself is a million words created into one piece.
ReplyDeleteWhile some see graffiti as beautiful and a form if art,others may argue that it is pointless and ugly. It can make a place seem more filthy which can often times cause people to avoid the area. Although graffiti is not pretty,its something new to the table that expresses something amazing and different.
-KA1