Graffiti Is Art Essay Example

Graffiti can be seen more than just some spray paint slapped against a wall, it is a way of expressing yourself and showing who you are under pressure. “What does art mean to you?” one might ask.“If time and effort have been put into making it a beautiful or abstract or a fascinating piece of art then, it is an art form. Whether it’s good or bad, that comes down to the viewer who makes that decision, but anything is art if it has a meaning to you.”-VANS. Another quote to consider is “Graffiti is 100% art,” says Pearce. “It’s a symbol of rebellion, and it presents a fantastic new form of creativity, but what makes it art is an individual’s opinion.

I believe that truly anything is art if it has a meaning to you.” -VANS. It is indeed a form of expression but you typically see it on or made out of paper, canvas, clay, etc. We need to rethink how we view art as a whole. It is the passion that drives artists to create, the need to show the outside world what they see in their brains, but is doing it on public property the best way to showcase this? “Like all socially engaged art, there needs to be a purpose or intent, whether it is simply an artistic expression or making a political, social, humorous, or ironic statement. Tagging is a coded way of life for graffiti gangs and can seem arbitrary to those who aren’t aware of this culture. Some of the most effective graffiti has the power to surprise and move you as you walk or drive by.”-VANS. By doing it in a place that will reach out to many, you are more successful in spreading your message. It, as stated above, could be for political reasons and humorous, but there's a story meant to be heard and a message meant to be told. This can influence others to do good and to rethink how they view something, which is precisely what we should do when it comes to graffiti itself.

Many people still fail to understand why art must be “thrown up” on public property. Why not just do traditional art? The real question is, would the message be heard as loud and clear if it was done in a traditional way and not a way that made you look and listen? Some cities understood the effect that graffiti had on people “Interestingly, cities like Amsterdam or Berlin embrace graffiti as a cultural asset, and tourists are given tours of the highlights. I think there needs to be a clear distinction between what we see as tagging, graffiti, and street art. The latter is often commissioned by councils or communities. Attitudes to graffiti have changed considerably over the last two decades and cities like Bristol have capitalized on the fame and notoriety of Banksy, and of course, his work commands respect from art critics.”-VANS and they chose to embrace it. However, there are some downsides to graffiti that should be recognized. There are 3 different categories that need to be understood first which can change many perspectives and opinions. Tagging, graffiti, and street art are all different types of art. The first one isn't necessarily a form of art, “But there is a moral line that shouldn’t be crossed. “Graffiti can fall into the category of vandalism or ‘defacing’ when it is a random tag on any old wall that has no meaning,” he accepts.”-VANS, it is more putting up something just to gain recognition in the simplest of ways and has no real message behind it. Next to address is street art. This is usually something that is commissioned by a property owner, whether it be public or private.  Graffiti is mostly words and symbols, but the best form of graffiti is graffiti art. This would be a combination of street art and graffiti where words and elaborate pictures and symbols are combined, though it is still not legal.

Some people view graffiti as if it is defacing a city, “A city without graffiti is a city without a soul”-Didier “Jaba”, but they confuse tags for graffiti/graffiti art and so there is some miscommunication. Tags will only slander Graffiti the more that they are put up “I think the more we become accustomed to seeing it encroach into areas where it hasn’t been seen, the more it loses its impact,” Kulman says. “Designated graffiti parks or walls seem less effective than when you see it imaginatively used in derelict or neglected areas. The social acceptance of graffiti will only drive the more subversive practitioners to push boundaries and be more extreme.” -VANS and this where tagging is indeed vandalism. Street art is not vandalism but people might not know that it was done with permission from the property owner and might make assumptions.

Graffiti is a step above tags and can have more meaning and creativity to it, but graffiti art is where the art truly lies beyond what one can imagine. Having to create it in risky ways with fear of getting caught, meticulous planning, and for what? To show the world what they need to hear, and that would be considered art which in most cases trumps vandalism.