Grafitti: Art or Crime?

2007-04-26 15:12:49

#1

Ryan: Member; +1,230|7139|Alberta, Canada

I know most of us are artists here, so what do you think about grafitti?
Is it an art or a crime? In my opinion, it is an art. I know you shouldn't do it on other peoples property, but I really like the looks of grafitti and think it is an art.

What do you all think?

https://keusta.net/blog/images/lettrages-graffiti/big_graffiti/cartoon_graffiti-lettrage.jpg

2007-04-26 15:23:44

#2

.robzored.: Roflcopter Pilot; +74|6572|Illinois

Maybe it they bought a large frame of canvas or a large piece of particle board and graffitied it, it would be art. But usually graffiti on buildings just gets sand-blasted away within a week, and whats the point of art if it's not around to enjoy?

2007-04-26 15:33:16

#3

KEN-JENNINGS: I am all that is MOD!; +2,983|6927|949

It is both. When you vandalize someones property, it is a crime, no matter what the it looks like.

I love graffiti, I even went through a phase of trying to get better at it (shh, I sucked anyway).

2007-04-26 15:39:02

#4

Bertster7: Confused Pothead; +1,101|6877|SE London

Both.

Just because something is illegal makes it no less artistic. Though most grafitti is rubbish.

A few of my mates do (or at least did) quite a lot of grafitti. Here's their website.

On public property, if it looks good then I think it's ok. Never on someones house or anything like that.

Last edited by Bertster7 (2007-04-26 15:40:08)

2007-04-26 15:44:07

#5

Parker: isteal; +1,452|6690|The Gem Saloon

Bertster7 wrote:
Both.

Just because something is illegal makes it no less artistic. Though most grafitti is rubbish.

we have a flood wall along the Mississippi river here, and certain sections have been made legal to grafitti. there is some really nice work down there, i dont have any pics so i might just have to go and get some.

but in other parts of the city it is on abandoned buildings, overpasses etc. it looks like shit.

2007-04-26 15:46:43

#6

.robzored.: Roflcopter Pilot; +74|6572|Illinois

Some Grafitti looks good, but alot of the time you see mono-colored signatures on trains and beside freeways, and that really doesn't take skill and is very ugly.

2007-04-26 16:48:42

#7

Scorpion0x17: can detect anyone's visible post count...; +691|7061|Cambridge (UK)

Graf' is art but it is also vandalism.

Tagging is nothing but vandalism.

2007-04-26 17:32:10

#8

Fenris_GreyClaw: Real Хорошо; +826|6815|Adelaide, South Australia

Bertster7 wrote:
Both.

Just because something is illegal makes it no less artistic. Though most grafitti is rubbish.

2007-04-26 17:42:11

#9

Jbrar: rawr; +86|6837|Winterpeg, Canada

Up here where I live, graffiti "artists" are encouraged to get building owners permission before covering a wall with nice artwork. It usually prevents further vandalism.

2007-04-26 18:07:01

#10

Skorpy-chan: Member; +127|6640|Twyford, UK

I fail to see how swearwords scrawled crudely in spraypaint every few meters along every fucking wall and billboard in town is art.

2007-04-26 20:48:44

#11

T.Pike: 99 Problems . . .; +187|6578|Pennsyltucky

If you don't own the property you are painting on you are a criminal and deserve to be punished.

Restitution would also be in order IMHO.

Why trash someone else's property? Go paint that stuff on the side of YOUR house.

Considering most of these "artists" probably live with mommy & daddy it probably wouldn't go over well.

Then again maybe it's one of those bleeding heart families where little johnny cakes can do nothing wrong.

Meh .........

2007-04-26 22:07:32

#12

TrollmeaT: Aspiring Objectivist; +492|6968|Colorado

If you get paid for Graffiti, it would be art. BTW only one T in Graffiti in case you want to paint it someday.

2007-04-26 22:15:33

#13

mcgid1: Meh...; +129|7012|Austin, TX/San Antonio, TX

Even though some (and I mean a small amount by that) grafitti does look nice, ultimately it's a crime. I still think it's way better than tagging though.

2007-04-26 22:19:17

#14

xBlackPantherx: Grow up, or die; +142|6638|California

Are you people crazy? The city gets it painted NICELY for free! I'm not saying that I would encourage it on the side of freeway, but it is still very nice work.

Edit: I bet if you try to graffiti (yes even on a canvas), then I can almost guarantee that you'll look at it differently. I'm an art major and i still can't make a decent one.

Last edited by xBlackPantherx (2007-04-26 22:21:42)

2007-04-27 11:26:51

#15

{uscm}Jyden: You likey leaky?; +433|6974|In You Endo- Stoke

I class it as art,as most of time they are covering boring grey areas.

2007-04-27 14:01:51

#16

heggs: Spamalamadingdong; +581|6684|New York

If it's done tastefully, it's art, otherwise, it's just useless and ruins the look of things.

Remember Me As A Time Of Day

2007-04-27 14:06:23

#17

Ettercrab: Member; +11|6947|Finland

With permission from property owner: art.
Without: crime.

Think it as someone scratching your car doors and calling that art.

2007-04-27 14:06:50

#18

OmniDeath: ~; +726|6939

both. some of it is art to an extent while some of it is just vandalism. it depends of the motive on the person doing it as well. but if you look it up, there are some famous graffiti artists...like basquiat

2007-04-27 14:09:45

#19

Mafia47: Member; +27|7036|Chicago

http://www.banksy.co.uk/

This is a crime? You could say it is...but it really is not hurting anyone. Graffiti is a crime and art depending on the situation...

2007-04-27 14:10:56

#20

Ninja_Monkey: I TK For Blackhawks; +60|6860|UK

if done well its art if some shit its vandalism

2007-04-27 14:13:47

#21

Ettercrab: Member; +11|6947|Finland

If graffiti is crime or not has nothing to do with how well done it is, but what law says about painting other peoples walls without permission from owner of the property.

2007-04-27 14:13:59

#22

[pt] KEIOS: srs bsns; +231|6948|pimelteror.de

if they try to do "art" on my wall, i would vandalise their faces. those punks should spray their shit on their own property

2007-04-27 14:39:06

#23

XanKrieger: iLurk; +60|6954|South West England

Depends in what context or form the said graphic is

2007-04-28 04:51:00

#24

ghettoperson: Member; +1,943|6945

Graffiti = art
Tagging = vandalism

2007-04-28 06:25:12

#25

Scorpion0x17: can detect anyone's visible post count...; +691|7061|Cambridge (UK)

Skorpy-chan wrote:
I fail to see how swearwords scrawled crudely in spraypaint every few meters along every fucking wall and billboard in town is art.

That is tagging. That is not art. Graf' is art.

Art	40%	40% - 32
Crime	48%	48% - 39
Undecided	11%	11% - 9
Total: 80

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