Graffiti is the art form of expression through inscribing one's thoughts and ideas on a public surface. In many major cities around the world, It can be found in almost every part of daily life. In some countries, graffiti is considered to be a form of vandalism; in others, it is thought of as a form of well respected art work. Some people even consider graffiti to be a form of poetry. However, there are many forms of art, and graffiti is an art form that ranges from good to bad depending on the artist, the location and the subject.
Is this not art?
Regarding whether or not graffiti should be considered an art form, some "experts" believe that it is a form of street art. This idea is based on the fact that most street artists are not criminals and are simply trying to make a living by creating art. They are not trying to damage property or disrespect others with their creations. Thus, it should be regarded as an artistic expression rather than vandalism.
In some areas, graffiti is accepted as part of the landscape. It can help unite different groups with similar interests and beliefs in a community. For example, in the UK, Banksy's thought provoking wall paintings have helped bring people together in some ways by adding humour to certain subjects, and celebrating, or at least help tolerate local areas that little bit more - even if they do not like those areas all that much. In this way, graffiti can be seen as a positive force in society; it unites people under common interests and ideas.
Other people disagree that graffiti is an art form at all because they believe that it is only a form of vandalism or gang culture. They argue that most graffiti is only seen as good when it expresses certain ideas or passions- such as
freedom of speech or political messages. However, they believe that any other type of graffiti - such as writing words - should not be considered art at all. They base this opinion on the fact that most street writing does not have any
aesthetic value and is only meant to communicate information or taunt others.
To understand whether graffiti should be considered an art form or not, one must look at different styles and subjects popular among street artists. For example, some popular forms of street art include
mural painting, stenciling and interactive installations. These styles are more accepted by society than other forms of graffiti because they are
more artistic and have artistic value- even if the subject matter is controversial or vulgar. Even so- called ' Tags' - using just spray paint, stickers or marker pen - can be accepted as art if in the right place and the subject matter aligns with one's interests. However, bad tagging and poor graffiti, usually called "TOY" can make an area look very run down.
Based on previous examples, graffiti can be seen as either an art form or a form of vandalism depending on who one asks and what type of graffiti it is. If we look at popular street art, it can look amazing if done right and can really bring a wall or building to life. On the other hand, some forms of graffiti are only condoned or accepted when expressing certain ideas or passions, such as political freedom or vulgarity toward authority figures. Whatever way it's looked at, though, and while there is great graffiti and really bad graffiti, it should definitely be considered as an art form.
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