Graffiti: Art or Vandalism? - Essay Sample

Introduction

Graffiti has been a contentious issue heavily debated as to whether it is a form of art of vandalism. Graffiti is universal because it is found anywhere in the world although it is common in big cities. However, according to Steve Dolan, graffiti can occur in almost any community, big or small. Graffiti creates a certain kind of beauty due to how artists use a variety of colors and different writing styles. The question of whether graffiti is art or vandalism remains controversial, simply because there are various forms of graffiti. A tag also known as a monochrome collection of letters with an artistic touch is common (Dolan). It is the most widespread due to its simple quick way of producing it (Dolan). Nevertheless, there are bigger and complex forms of tagging that come in multicolored designs that illustrate the vice as art. Therefore, graffiti should be recognized as a form of art because it involves high levels of creativity, talent, and artistry.

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Graffiti artists can use their artistic skills to create authorized murals for private property owners and get paid for their graphical inputs. Such cooperation between property owners and even commercial companies can create a way of encouraging graffiti artists to use their skills in productive ways. Instead of removing graffiti from walls and public places, the artists should be hand trained so that they can produce their art in better ways as opposed to defacing public property, hence vandalism. A CBS report by Ben Tracy showcases how the museum for contemporary art in Los Angeles has created an exhibit that showcases the history of graffiti. In the report, Aaron Rose, Associate Curator, All in the Streets, stipulates that the exhibition is essential to encourage young graffiti artists to stop vandalism and pursue a real career in this type of art (CBS). Such an exhibition is fundamental in shaping the public view of graffiti as vandalism but showcases the artistic merit of the practice.

On the contrary, graffiti is viewed as vandalism because it is produced on private property devoid of permission from the owners (Dolan). As a result, the art in graffiti becomes a form of annoyance to property owners because they incur the cost of removing or painting over it instead of appreciating the artistic touch in the art (Dolan). CBS reports that the graffiti exhibition in downtown Los Angeles museum of contemporary art has led to increased graffiti vandalism on properties surrounding the museum according to L.A police. The police state that taggers have been effortless working to leave their signature marks illegally on the street. However, the exhibition reports that only ordinary people, as opposed to taggers, have been visiting the museum. For instance, a woman interviewed by Tracy in the CBS report stipulated that she viewed graffiti as vandalism but now sees it as a commentary or a way that artists can express themselves.

There are various solutions that have been implemented to fight graffiti vandalism. New forms of paints have been developed to dissolve the graffiti paint and make the removal process easy (Dolan). Furthermore, Steve Dolan indicates that community groups in collaboration with government departments coordinate teams to remove graffiti. Truly, graffiti vandalism does a disservice to property owners. For instance, Gary who runs furniture making business in Los Angeles (L.A) has been affected by vandalism since graffiti is all over his walls, posters, and waste dumps (CBS). Graffiti artists have taken over the space he can use to advertise his business.

Conclusion

In conclusion, graffiti is a complex form of art that if well nurtured, it can be used to generate revenue for the artists as well as be used in more productive ways. In spite of invading public and public spaces, the artistic merit of graffiti should be acknowledged. Most importantly, policies should be implemented on how to solve the problem without discouraging the art.

Works Cited

CBS. "Graffiti: Art or Vandalism?" Online Video Clip. YouTube, 2011, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2Eu2na_diY&safe=activeDolan, Steve. "Is Graffiti Art?". Ezine Articles, 2007, http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Graffiti-Art?&id=717054. Accessed 12 Apr 2019.