Graffiti: Art or Crime?
Graffiti is one of the most common forms of artwork seen by New York City pedestrians and passersby. Every day many individuals walk by these many times massive pieces of art and gawk at them in wonder. However, many people in this city are adamantly against graffiti, labeling it as vandalism that is clearly illegal. Some might argue that it is not hard to agree with these unsettled individuals. Many times a person can find tag names spray-painted or etched onto the windows of subway trains, making the commute for travelers a whole lot uglier. These same tag names can also be found on the front of small stores or bodegas, or even on desks in schools.
These forms of graffiti are blatantly not forms of artwork on any level, and can simply be considered vandalism. They do not try and portray any sort of message that is in any way beneficial. In fact, most of the time these tag names are gang related, identifying either a gang member or gang turf. They represent many of the negative aspects of graffiti that most people refer to when they complain about it. Some of these “taggers” even scratch their tags on glass, or engrave it on fresh cement. These people go through extreme measures just to have their tag recorded, yet fail to realize the damage that they make, the property that they destroy and the consequences that await them.
However, graffiti is much more than simple tag names on the door of a business or side of a building. Graffiti can be huge murals that portray a story or have a much deeper meaning than what appears on the surface. For example, many murals were made after September 11th, 2001 to commemorate the deaths of all the people in the world trade center attack. Groups of artists get permission to make murals under bridges, in tunnels, or on old building walls. They make many murals in memory of others, whether it be celebrities, family or friends. The messages that many of these artists try to convey are often very positive. Their goals are not like the vandals’ goals. They aren’t trying to destroy property. They are trying to get a message across in the form of art.
There are many anti-graffiti groups across the city, including “The Task Force”. These groups paint over walls that were once the home of what they believe to be a vandal form of art. However, many of these groups are painting over the murals as well. They paint over a big portion of the graffiti, and there are often strays of spray paint around the wall. It is a destruction of art. I think that these groups should encourage stricter laws against tagging, and other forms of vandalism that some consider art. However, the pieces of work with positive messages should be respected, because this form of art is part of New York City’s culture.
By: Juan Olivos