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Nancy Thao
U of U Writing
Rogers
18, Nov. 2015
A Beautiful Crime
In which ever city you go to, there is bound to be some sort of graffiti. Graffiti is everywhere;
under bridges, alley ways, dumpsters, and even the places up high where it makes people think, "how the
heck did it get up there?" What is mostly seen is tag, which is a style of graffiti but it's not as artistic than
the other styles. As most people know, graffiti has a bad name to it. When it is mentioned, it is usually
spoken as a terrible thing. "It's not art, its vandalism!" Some would say. Graffiti isn't all bad if it's art,
which some people cannot see. Not only is it art, but it can also mean something meaningful and make
history from itself such as Banksy. He's done many things with his graffiti and started out young as an
artist. Some of his art is called out to be vandalism yet it still has a great meaning to it and some people
love his street art. There are other places out in the world that does consider graffiti to be art and
encourages it. Despite the negatives of graffiti, graffiti should be accepted as it is because it is a form of
art, it's just not in the way people are used to seeing it; it is art through vandalism.
When graffiti comes to some people's mind, they see and think of it as vandalism. What they do
not see is that it is a form of art as well. Graffiti is a form of art because it "contains elements like color
and composition" (Sanchez). Art is defined to be the expression or application of human creative skill and
imagination. So, why is graffiti not considered art? Graffiti has it's creativity and different types of styles.
Artists use their imagination to create what they have in their mind. Graffiti has actually found its way
into art galleries like in New York and London after it gained recognition (Sanchez). Some people do
adore and appreciate graffiti and they consider it as art. Some people, however, do think that graffiti

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destroys the city area. Graffiti artists arent the only ones who use graffiti; some graffiti is gang related,
which is why people would think that a city is scary, dirty, or ghetto (Melchor and Evaristo). Both
Melchor and Evaristo says. It gives life to a city, it may be seen as a negative but it gives off color to a
plain and hurt city (Melchor and Evaristo). The color gives the city life and character; its what makes a
city unique. People who see graffiti as vandalism only points out the negatives of the graffiti instead of
looking at it in a different way (Sanchez). They "don't embrace the beauty that graffiti has to offer...
Before we criticize, let us try to understand the process and the meaning behind the very art we look at.
(Melchor and Evaristo). Trying to understand what the artist puts on the wall would make some people
see how graffiti can be art and the message behind the art. Through graffiti, there can be messages or
expressions from an artist.
Graffiti artists uses different styles of graffiti to make their art their own and unique, one of them
is tagging. Tag is used by gangs to "mark" their territory. Tag, however, wouldnt be much of a form of art
due to its lack of aesthetic appeal, as George C. Stowers would say, and also it is a basic form of graffiti
(Sanchez). Unlike other styles like stencils and wild styles, it doesn't have the color compositions like the
others do. Tag comes in letters, sometimes it comes along with a simple drawing on the side with one
color. "Tagging is more of a representation of self" (Difference Between). It's more like a signature but
some tags can be quotes that could inspirational and have meanings just like other graffiti, in this case,
street art.
Graffiti can show how an artist thinks, it lets them express what is on their minds and through
their art there may be a message behind it. Graffiti isn't only art, but a form of expression. "Artists should
be free to make their thoughts and beliefs public" (Delavari). This way, people can see different points of
view about life or even related to the piece of art. Graffiti artists tend to make the graffiti about issues the
country has such as political and social issues. "Graffiti shows how different places in this world are full
of governments that are corrupted, drugs that overwhelm in the streets, or an economy that is falling"
(Spiegel). The artist's graffiti is how the artist themselves see an issue and how they feel about it. It can

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also make the issue more universally known since it's displayed in a public or private areas; it a reflection
of the social and political issues. It is a voice that wants to be heard that wants to change a part of the
world to become better (Spiegel). Graffiti can sometimes be a help of social or political movement. Erika
Hoekstra gives examples of how graffiti can be the start of a social movement: In Paris in the 1960's, the
art of graffiti was used to let the student's "imagination explode in reaction to the repression they felt in
the French society" (Hoekstra). During the July 1979 revolution "Anastasia Somoza used pinta to refer
the extensive use of graffiti politically driven slogans" (Hoeksrta). A group called FSLN would create
their art overnight in order to keep secret from police forces; graffiti was really their only way to display
their thoughts since there was no media outlets (Hoekstra). The Nicaraguan revolution used Augusto
Sandino as a symbol who was a leader of the 20's and 30's who resisted US impact and persuasion in
Nicaragua (Hoekstra). In South Africa, graffiti was given the people a democratic voice during an
apartheid era of extreme racial segregation (Hoekstra). Through each of the examples, the artist(s) used
graffiti as an art form to express how they saw an issue; it acted like their voice and made the issues more
recognized by other people. "It can be destructive, but it also represents freedom and love" (Spiegel).
Some people can relate and understand how the artist feels about a certain thing. Through the art of the
graffiti, there is a voice that is wanting to be heard. Graffiti also lets a person see the different views of
what another human being would feel about what the subject is.
Despite the fact that graffiti is illegal in most places, in some cities graffiti is legal and loved by
many people. There are places where graffiti is considered as a form of art and is accepted by the people
in the city. In Taiwan, police officers don't bother to catch the artist who's doing graffiti; they let people
express their art all over the city (Spiegel). Graffiti lets an artist express themselves as said before. In
Melbourne, Hosier Lane, there is a street lane full of street art, it is a popular tourist attraction. People
actually encourages graffiti in Melbourne due it its artistic form (Spiegel). In Paris, France, "With so
many variety, each piece speaks a new message about life while whispering secrets of the city" (Earth

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Porm). Cities that allow graffiti considers it to be art and not vandalism. Just looking at the art pieces in
some makes you wonder why something so beautiful is not called art in some places.
Artists like Banksy create street art have meanings to it. Banksy started graffiti as a teenager and
remained anonymous for approximately 20 years; throughout the research I have done, articles say he is
still anonymous but apparently it all points out that his real identity is Robin Gunningham. He joined up
with a gang of street artists called "Dry Breadz Crew", DBZ for short. Since then, he's had other artists
working with him (Stencil Revolution). For the most part, Banksy used stencils for his graffiti, which he
discovered by hiding under a truck from the police after his attempt of painting bubble letters on a public
train (Stencil Revolution). His art all have different meanings and it shows what his views of things are.
The core message of Bankys artwork is always the same - he overtly advocates social awareness and
free thinking (Ana). Mobile Lovers shows two couples are holding each other close with a phone behind
their heads. I believe that it would show how the modern society is; technology has taken over us that
even with loved ones, we pay more attention to our electronic devices and our social media. His art also
promotes equality, like the painting he did on the Israeli West Bank which shows a figure of a girl being
taken by balloons (Ana). Banksys art makes strong statements and because of that, his audience is huge,
even when his ephemeral art is destroyed, it draws attention to political issues (Stencil Revolution).
Once his art is out in public, it stays out there even after a cover up, just like how things go in the internet,
his art goes viral. Some of Banksy's art work ended up being displayed in exhibitions and sold at
auctions. In 2002, Existencilism was his first works to be in an exhibition in L.A. Soon, another piece of
artwork was displayed in London at a secret location (Stencil Revolution). There are other graffiti art that
make its way to museums as art such as the Museum of the City of New York. If graffiti can find its' way
into museums from subways, can you still not consider it to be art? What would it take for someone to
consider graffiti to be a form of art instead of vandalism? With graffiti contributing with vandalism, is it
still not allowed to be called art at all? Graffiti isn't all bad to begin with.

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Vandalism is defined to be: deliberately mischievous or malicious destruction or damage of
property (Dictionary). What makes them think of graffiti vandalism is that it takes place in a public or
private property; which would make sense (Sanchez). The artist does it without permission whenever they
want to, all they have to do is not get caught while doing it. What the artist paints on the wall is not
destruction, it is art; people are just not used to seeing art in a form of vandalism. As said before, graffiti
can also be gang related. Gang members usually use the style tag as their way of marking their territory
(Difference Between). With that being related to gangs, it scares people away and makes the community
feel unsafe. When there is a tag or some type graffiti on someone's property, it is removed, which could be
expensive. In 2012, Kansas City park paid $130,000 a year to remove graffiti off the property (Ernsting).
Even if you removed graffiti by yourself, it could cost as much and obviously no one would want to pay
that much.
Graffiti is a form of art because it has the concepts of art such as color and composition. It's got
different styles and can a be very creative way to express one's self. As an artist expresses themselves
through the art of graffiti, you can see their views of political and social issues. It helps them express how
they feel and how things look in their point of view; also others can feel the same and so they can relate to
the artist. Graffiti is like their voice wanting to be heard about a certain situation and they want a change
in society. Banksy is an artist and most of his art work of graffiti had big statements that it draws attention
to either social issues or political issues. Graffiti is illegal in most places but in some cities, they'll allow
it. The people there consider it as a form of art and encourages it, like in Melbourne. They have a street
full of street art and it is a tourist attraction. Many graffiti art are displayed in exhibitions and in
museums. Graffiti should be more acceptable in modern society. Even though graffiti started out with a
bad reputation, it is a form of art. People are just not used to seeing art in this sort of way because it is
considered to be vandalism but it helps a person express how they feel and if you analyze it, you can see
what the artist is trying to portray and maybe you can relate with the artist; it is art through vandalism.

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Sources
Ana. "30 Pieces of Banksy Street Art." Cuded Design & Inspiration. May 14, 2014. Web. Nov. 15, 2015.
"Art definition" Google.com. Web. Nov. 18, 2015.
Delavari, Sami. Graffiti should be recognized as art, not vandalism. Calabasas Courier Online. Oct. 31,
2013. Web. Nov. 07, 2015.
Ernsting, Jena. "OPINION: Graffiti should not be considered art." Thecollegein. Feb. 01, 2015. Web.
Nov. 05, 2015.
Hoekstra, Erika. History of Graffiti in Social Movements. "Graffiti for Social Change." Apr. 11, 2013.
Web. Nov, 14, 2015.
Melchor, Nicholas. Evaristo, Jeilah. "Graffiti, Crime, and Untapped Talent" Society. Jan. 22, 2014. Web.
Nov. 11, 2015.
Sanchez, Noel. "Graffiti as Art." Graffiti: Art through Vandalism." Noel Sanchez. Web. 02 Nov. 2015.
Spiegel, Sara. "Graffiti with RISK." Graffiti for social change. Apr. 23, 2013. Web. Nov. 11, 2015.
Unknown. "Banksy: The 'Biograogy' of a Graffiti Art Legend." Stencil Revolution. Web. Nov. 16, 2015.
Unknown. "20 Of The Best Cities To See Street Art." Earth Porm. Web. Nov. 14, 2015.
"Vandalism." Dictionary.com Dictionary. www.dictionary.reference.com. Web. Nov. 18, 2015.