Written January 19, 2017
Graffiti has been around for years; a political and important statement scrawled even on the buildings of ancient Pompeii. Modern graffiti, though, started just in the 1970’s along with the birth of hip hop. Artists started using public property as a form of canvas to portray large thoughts and ideas. Today, you know graffiti as the marking under a bridge, or the images and names showcased on buildings in the city. Some people see this as an expression of creativity, while others see it as just plain crude. But what is it really?
First off, there is a big difference between “tagging” and “street art.”
Street art is any painting, drawing or writing of something on a surface in a public place. It comes in various styles and colors, and usually requires a bit of mastery.
Both street art and tagging are types of graffiti, though they each have their own meaning. According to Providence, Rhode Island crime statistics, about 65% of graffiti crimes reported are “tagging,” instead of street art.
Tagging can be explained as a basic graffiti type where the “artist” signs his or her name with the use of spray paint. This is usually used by artists to simply “mark their territory,” Unlike street art, tagging is typically done to vandalize or trespass and doesn’t require much skill.
Graffiti in general is quite argumentative, because so many people disagree on whether it is art or not.
Many see graffiti as simply a sort of voice of social change and protest, and in many cases that’s exactly what it is.
“If graffiti art is used in the right format with the right audience, it is a strong vehicle to take a stand. There are graffiti artists that are commissioned to have their work featured on buildings for public display. Shepard Fairey and Keith Haring among them,” says Mrs. Kolenda, an art teacher here at LHS. She believes that it is very important to express and make a statement with art. This is also what many others believe and feel strongly about when defending the thought of street art as a whole.
Although this is a good point and it is well taken into consideration, the work of graffiti takes many different forms and styles from a tag of identity to a strong, beautiful piece of political protest which is what makes it so difficult to decide whether or not it should be considered art.
There is no single reason as to why people take part in vandalism graffiti, though most artists who do are not motivated primarily to cause damage. Common motivations for tagging are things such as wanting to be seen or noticed and to claim control over an environment. Either way, sometimes harm is done unintentionally which brings us back to the fact that there is a point where graffiti becomes a large issue.
“Graffiti tends to not create beauty or thought for the viewer while Street Art is thought provoking, expressive, and creative. Graffiti, by my definition, is not creative. It is destructive. It is the “tag” that is done without thought or meaning,” expresses Mrs. Binder, another teacher of arts at Lincoln High.
To conclude, graffiti has many different components. While it is sometimes used for the good, it can cause damage that is unintentional and this factor is what makes the topic so debateable. But while this is true, there are so many other ways to express art and doing so in a manner that is just as bold as graffiti.
“When a company manager asks someone to paint a mural or something that is given permission, it’s alright. It’s not vandalism in that sense,” Mr. Cavanaugh, Lincoln Police Officer says. He has been a Lincoln High School officer for quite a while. Mr. Cavanaugh says that although he doesn’t see too many cases here in Lincoln, it is strictly vandalism unless permission was given.
Many business owners and companies in the city appreciate art and are delighted to have pure, art on their walls building’s wall. In 2006, small store owners were getting frustrated with the tagging on their walls, until a group of Cut Collective artists offered to paint over the vandalism with their own, aesthetic artwork free of charge. Business owners were glad for the offer and the artists themselves were glad to be showcasing their ideas. This case shows that there is great potential for property owners and street artists to work together.
As far as graffiti goes, there is no definite right or wrong, but the expression of art and creativity is important.“… I encourage students to use their creativity when they feel passionate about and issue as a vehicle to make a positive statement in their/our community,” finishes Mrs. Kolenda.
Olivia Wodogaza 