Graffiti - art or vandalism?

"Graffiti is not art, it's crime," - Tony Blair

What do you think about graffiti art? The professional one. Do you think its art, or is it a vandalism?

I dont think graffiti is vandalism, i generaly believe its art, just outside the studio or museum. But closed minded idiots like Tony Blair come out with sentences like the one above due to the ignorance!

I hate when people think that making something illegal will solve all problems!

I dont believe graffiti should be banned. Not at all. The tag-graffiti should be controled, i agree, but banning it all together is like banning a style of art.

Thoughts?

Well, I rather think he came to that conclusion by opinion, Lil, not ignorance. I think it is rather vicious to try and write it off as such.

Graffiti is inflicted upon people, on public property, whether they want it or not. And a very large amount do not. So it is entirely appropritate to label it criminal.

It is a wide term, of course, and if done in a more formal manner it has as much right to be art as anything else- but the modern day phenomenon of graffiti is a public nuisance.

I think it definitely is art, it's only vandalism when it is used to destroy other people's property ✅ I don't think anyone can define what is not art

and I don't like Tony Blair anyway 😛

So if someone shoots someone dead and calls it art no-one has the right to say otherwise? That's ridiculous thinking. If done in a criminal manner it does not deserve to come under the banner of art as is generally recognised.

Well statues are art, are they not? They are on public property are they not? So why not ban them, why not bann everything everywhere in case someone gets offended?!

Statues cannot be put up on public property without legal permisison, can they? You cannot just randomly build one. The point is that graffiti is inflicted by people on others without any form of process.

Art forum 😛

There are people who are being payed to draw such things. How can you just make it illegal all together, just because there are some tag-graffiti arround?

The point is that making it illegal is certanly isnt going to get rid of the problem. People who draw tag-graffiti will do it regardelss of wheterh its legal or illegal.

Graffiti is vandalism for me. And yeah, I agree. ART FORUM!

Lil 😛

Originally posted by lil bitchiness
There are people who are being payed to draw such things. How can you just make it illegal all together, just because there are some tag-graffiti arround?

The point is that making it illegal is certanly isnt going to get rid of the problem. People who draw tag-graffiti will do it regardelss of wheterh its legal or illegal.

If they are being paid and they are going through the correct process, then no-one is complaining!

And making murder illegal doesn't necessarily stop it. That's hardly the point! If it is wrong, it should be made illegal, so that perpetrators can be punished if caught.

Originally posted by Ushgarak

Graffiti is inflicted upon people, on public property, whether they want it or not. And a very large amount do not. So it is entirely appropritate to label it criminal.

Right on the spot Ushgarak. That's why is call Graffitti and not art. I can understand an artist trying to express his/her artistic gift on public. But to damage other ppl property with gang logos or thugs names is unacceptable. I can also see the rule getting bend a little. For example, chalk artists who draw on the streets. It's art and it's chalk eventually it will wash away.

Many cities like Los Angeles and New York have been trying to put a stop to gang thugs from spray painting walls and murals on the streets. But it keeps getting worse everytime. There have been new laws prohibit (sp?) the sale of spray cans to ppl under the age of 18. So far there have been some improvements. There have been fewer reports of Graffitti in commercial areas of the city.

In my view its criminal when its on public property or private property or anywere not wanted or permited. Besides who wants a park or a public place too be graffied and vandalised? I dont realy care if its legal or banned not my problem, but Just like Ush said its all a part process.
Also if your paid to do the job then it would be legal. Also making actions that are wrong illegal is the only things that keep criminals at bay. If everything were legal there would 100 times more criminal activity than there is today.

WD you either havent read my thread, or you have missed the point of it, or you dont know the differance between tag-graffiti and art-graffiti!

Actually, there are places in New York and LA where there are places allowed for painting in people's memorry for example.

I dont get how/why is this vandalism that deserves to be made illegal?

And Neo Version 7, im not talking about the graffiti as a goddamned art and its beauty of it or whatever im talking about the idea thats currently on the news in UK about making it it illegal altogether.

depends on what kind of grafiti...

But if it is permitted under official projects it isn't being termed vandalism any more, is it?

Which is exactly the point, i was trying to make Ush. They are wanting to bann it all together.

Im all for the banning of tagging, but not approved art-graffiti.

Err... no, they are not banning that, Lil, so your point is kinda lost.

Erm..yes they are. I have just read the news and listened to them before i made a thread.

There wouldnt be an argument going on currently, if they are only banning the tagging.

They have to get permits from the City, the community, and the owner in order to make those memorials. That's acceptable and legal. When a thug does it without a permit he is breaking the law. No matter how artistic the mural might be without a permit is illegal and is consider criminal.