Grafiti

Art or Crime?

a) Art• Artistic graffiti can improve its surroundings whether it is a building

or community wall.• Graffiti is a form of public expression to send messages often times

on religion, politics or personal business (i.e. love, family, etc.)• People often times do not consider graffiti as art simply because it

is not in a museum or gallery.• To a graffiti artist, a blank wall in the city represents a blank canvas.• Graffiti allows community members to utilize their talents to

beautify and contribute to their own community.• Fact: In some communities, graffiti is one of the only ways for

young people to express themselves creatively.

b) Crime and Fear • Graffiti is not always “gang-related”• Graffiti is considered vandalism because it

damages public and private property.

WHAT IS GRAFFITI?

• Graffiti is an Italian word that is the plural version of grafficar. • Graffiti can also be connected to the Greek words grapheion and

graphion (meaning to write). • Graffiti is a term used to refer to drawings, markings, scribbles, or

meanings painted, written, or scratched on a flat surface. • After years, the definition of the word graffiti changed. It now has a

negative connotation to it. • Now, graffiti is the name used for images consisting of lettering

scratched, scrawled, or painted on property that does not belong to the artist.

• It can also be referred to as unwanted vandalism or unpleasant damage.

GRAFFITI - Historical

• 1960’s• It has been said that the birthplace of graffiti in the United States began in

Philadelphia. • Two people by the name of “Cornbread and Cool Earl” are said to be the

founders of graffiti during the 1960’s. • Graffiti first gained popularity in New York and began as “tagging” (to

write graffiti on objects, walls etc.) by simply writing a name on a street sign.

• As gangs (A group of people who associate regularly on a social basis) gained notoriety in the United States they began to use graffiti to mark their territory.

• However, eventually graffiti would grow and become a modern form of art. Graffiti would soon inspire young people to use it as a way of expression.

1970-Present• 1966-71- Tagging began in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Cornbread and Cool

Earl. • 1971-74- Graffiti began becoming popular. Tags became more unique and

stylized • 1972- It is said that the first piece of graffiti was created on this year. • 1974- Designs began surrounding pieces. • 1975-77- The “throw up” (style of graffiti in which you need two different paint

layers) began to get popular. • 1978-81- Creativity grew, and “style wars” began once again. • 1980-Stricter enforcement caused U.S. graffiti to decrease. • 1982-85- Laws and punishments against graffiti were stricter. • 1985-89- Subway cars were headed for the scrap yards, so these years provided

the last surge of graffiti in New York. Burners (large, multicolored graffito) and marker tags were used by writers to keep the art alive.

• 1989-Present- in the late 80’s Graffiti grew popularity in Europe.

MODERN GRAFFITI

• In the late 1960’s, two men whose names were “Cornbread” and “Cool Earl” founded modern graffiti in Philadelphia.

• It was their way to get attention from girls. They did so by writing their names all over the city soon gaining attention from the community and the press.

• Graffiti in New York around the 1970’s where artists such as Taki 183, Julio 204, Frank 207, and Joe 136 popularized it. Taki 183 (whose real name was Demetrius) was employed as a foot messenger and took advantage of riding the subway. The subway was the place where Taki 183 practiced his “tagging” skills.

• Taki 183 got this idea of tagging from Julio 204. Julio 204 was a Puerto Rican who was from a gang known as “Savage Skulls”. Taki 183 began tagging (meaning the action of one marking on a surface) his name in his neighborhood as early as 1968.

• Juilo never got as much fame as his successor because he did not tag his name out of his community. He also had to retire early after tagging for a few years because he was sentenced to jail for vandalism.

• The other taggers Frank 207 and Joe 167 followed Julio 204’s lead and their soon emerged competition. This intense competition led to the tagging on subways, walls, buildings, and other surfaces.

Global Impact

1. North America• This picture is an example of one of the most well known

gangs in Los Angeles. • Graffiti is part of gang culture in many North American cities.

In the streets of Los Angeles, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Washington DC; and Vancouver, BC, Canada; graffiti is seen frequently.

• Even though in The United States it is illegal to write graffiti on walls or on private properties people still do it to prove a point or claim something that “belongs” to them.

• Graffiti is comonly used in the United States as a way to mark a gang's territory.

Europe• In Europe, graffiti is viewed as a democratic means of expression. Mainly in Berlin,

graffiti was a symbol of freedom in the West. The West side of the Berlin Wall, was a colorful sight of graffiti in which emphasizes the tighter restrictions of society in the East.

• However, at the same time many people did not welcome the graffiti art on walls of other people’s property. Opponents of graffiti argued, saying it damages property, and that it cost a lot of money to repaint graffiti-littered walls

• Today, the most famous location in Europe for graffiti would be in Berlin, Germany. In Berlin, there are beautiful graffiti spots that are colorful and animated. There are also other spots that graffiti can be offending and dull. Some graffiti can be seen as political graffiti in which people express opinions against of political issues.

• Graffiti can be found in Paris and in Lisbon as a positive impact in this part of the world. There is graffiti that some people find beautiful and call it art. For the most part some people find that in Europe there is a lot of graffiti and in a way, it has become accepted. Graffiti has influenced Europe and has become part of their culture.

South America

• There are many places in South America where there is graffiti, but in Brazil graffiti is important to the people.

• In Brazil, graffiti is focused on artistic expression. The drawing you see here is an example of how graffiti is used to draw characters doing things people see in their everyday lives.

• Graffiti is seen in the city Sao Paulo where it is full of graffiti. People all over the nation come for inspiration. This impacts viewers and skeptics on a global scale, because it shows a nation that appreciates graffiti for it’s artistic value.

Australia

• According to Australian Government ,the administration, decided to ban graffiti from many cities because “Graffiti gives many young people influence to go against the government or express political views”.

• Despite the government opposing graffiti, there are Australian’s who believe graffiti helps society. The University of Sydney, allows anyone to draw on walls. They can express what they want and it is not illegal. This place is known to be called “graffiti tunnels” , and is located at the Camperdown Campus. Camperdown Campus is the village where the university is located.

• Many students go to the campus to sketch a piece of art or some just go because it inspire thems. That will not stop artist from expressing themselves. These tunnels are such an impact to the world because many people think that graffiti is not being ban from other places in the world besides theirs. Making tunnels designed for people to draw graffiti shows other countries that this idea can be used or duplicated.

Africa• In Africa, there are many people that do not appreciate some of the graffiti found on

buildings and on private property. Residents of the buildings began to complain and so they held a community meeting about this issue. The police inspector pointed out that unkempt buildings were an invitation for people to write Graffiti on them. A majority of community members view Graffiti as vandalism and believe it is something that needs to be banned.

• Lately, South Africa has been the victim of Graffiti vandalism, also known as tagging. In South Africa, Graffiti is often insulting or of a racial nature. Residences do not like the Graffiti on their property because it negatively impacts the value. South Africa has turned to Graffiti Removal Services (G.R.S) to get rid of the graffiti problem that they face. G.R.S has provided products that help remove the graffiti easily. They have also provided services like repainting buildings for small businesses, companies and homes in South Africa. G.R.S is helping reduce vandalism.

• In South Africa, Graffiti, also known as spraycan art, is illegal. They do not tolerate graffiti, and whoever is caught painting Graffiti on walls is thrown in jail. Any Graffiti found anywhere is quickly painted over or taken down by police officials. Many Graffiti artist try their best to finish their art work quickly but their art work does not last for a long time. It is painted over even before other people can see it. Graffiti artists just want other people to look at their art work and enjoy it. Slowly, but surely, the vandalism of Graffiti in Africa is fading away.

ASIA

• Graffiti is nothing new to the Chinese in China. There, graffitists are constantly looking for a place to show off their “artistic” side. Graffiti can also be found on the Great Wall of China. This is something that the Chinese do not appreciate because they believe is disrespectful.

• In China, the graffiti style well known there is called Bombing. Bombing is the same as the style of Tagging. In Chongqing city, located in the southwest China, there is a whole street decorated with graffiti. This street is the largest graffiti building group in China

Styles

• There are many different types of graffiti styles but the most common styles that are used by graffiti artists are Tag style, Throw-up, Blockbuster, and Wild style. These types of graffiti can be found around neighborhoods or in an art museums. Graffiti can be recognized around the world.

• In different parts of the world like in Europe, graffiti is an art that is appreciated. However, in Los Angeles, graffiti is seen as vandalism and associated with gangs. Graffiti may be different because each person has an individual preference in styles, as well as different forms of interpretation. It is a way of being recognized and set apart from other gangs

Tag Style

• As seen below tag style is usually the writing of a person’s Artistic nickname. It is also commonly written in a corner after the artist finishes his art.

• This style of tagging is another way of receiving recognition from people or other graffiti artist.

• Tagging is written in a lot of different areas so people may see the art and would know whom it belongs to. This type of style is common everywhere in the world.

Throw-up

• Throw-up is another style of graffiti in which you need two different paint layers. The first are the letters, which thickness does not matter.

• After the word has been written out, it is outlined with another color; thus, throw-up style. This style can be found in Los Angeles and in subways like in New York.

Blockbuster

• Blockbuster is a style in which block letters are written. The letters are evenly spaced out and they are easy to read.

• This type of tagging is found in a large open area in which there is enough space to write out the block letters nice and big. This type of style may be used by anyone and is found in Los Angeles.

Wild Style

• Wild style is a style in which it is difficult to understand and read. The letters are blended with each other, and many colors are used.

• This type of style is colorful and wild. This type of style can be found in Europe.

Conclusionsome forms of graffiti become art according to four criteria:

First, graffiti art is separated from everyday graffiti markings by the artist's intention to produce a work of art.

Second, graffiti art has an established history of development in style and technique.

Third, graffiti art even has been recognized by the art world. A fourth , the public response to graffiti art indicates that it is art.

Whether or not all of the public agrees that graffiti art is good, bad, or extremely valuable is a different discussion about evaluation and not whether or not graffiti art is art. The evaluative concerns actually play more into where, when, and how graffiti art should be displayed.

Not all of graffiti is bad. Some artists in America use graffiti as a medium to make a statement of how life is in their community. This picture shows the arms in the left are offering her an education and there are many opportunities for a career and, ultimely, a future.