Graffiti. art or vandalism?

[mrdtf]

Graffiti is it art or vandalism post what you think and why below


My opinion is that its Art

[LifeisLife]

It does depend on what kind of graffiti it is, sometimes i do see it as art but most of the time I see it as vandalism because it doesnt mean anything, it's just swearwords. sometimes i see it as neither because (for example) on the way to school some people put graffiti up on a wall but it was about budget cuts and how artists of all kinds were suffering from it but not football players, it is sometimes a wake up call... but anyways, most of the time i see it as vandalism....

[UnknownError]

Vandelism.
If its there without permission of the landowners/council/whatever then its vandelism.

[Lucy the looney]

Graffiti art
Tagging vandalism

Banksy is one of the best modern artists

[huginnmuninn]

both if a person doesnt have permission to be doing it then its vandalism but at the same time it is art. Personally, if someone wanted to come and graffiti my house then as long as it didnt have a lot of dirty language in it (mainly cuz my grandparents live next door) i wouldnt care.

[ADC12]

Art :)

[mrdtf]

both if a person doesnt have permission to be doing it then its vandalism but at the same time it is art. Personally, if someone wanted to come and graffiti my house then as long as it didnt have a lot of dirty language in it (mainly cuz my grandparents live next door) i wouldnt care.

majority or graffiti doesn't really have rude words only the dicks really put swear words to be funny

[dnlsmth]

well the majority of it makes stuff look bad like on the sides of buildings and stuff. Of course some of it does look good(rare) but if its illegal then it is vandalism. they should just keep it to their skate parks and whatever and not ruin other people's property

[Sage]

both if a person doesnt have permission to be doing it then its vandalism but at the same time it is art. Personally, if someone wanted to come and graffiti my house then as long as it didnt have a lot of dirty language in it (mainly cuz my grandparents live next door) i wouldnt care.

I'll agree with this- vandalism and art are not mutually exclusive. I'm an artist myself, and if the side of my house had a nice brick wall suitable for a graffiti mural, I'd happily paint one. Sadly, my house has wood paneling which would make any mural rather difficult to create.

[christcenteredlife]

it's stragtigically placed art lol. it's vandalism by definition, but art by design, if the artist is talented that is, like any scenario.

[dontcare97]

Not all graffiti is art. There are ways that it could be beautiful and inspiring and ways it can look trashy and pointless. I remember on this highway was an elaborate graffiti art on the walls. It told this remarkable story of the king of the ghettos. It was really pretty but it got covered a couple of years ago. I was sad to see it go.

[Amnesiac]

If it's not on your property, it's technically vandalism, no matter how artistic it may be.

If it's on your property, it's art (if you define it to be, anything can be called "art").

[Qunt]

both, its art.. anythings art, and its vandalism UNLESS your doing it on your property

[Infidelitas]

If its not yours, its vandalism.

If you have their permission.

I wouldn't want someone to write all over my shit

[HaydenM]

Its vandalism for the most part. When i go to the city most of it is just crappy tags and it all looks shit. Now street art is something completely difficult to me. The definition of graffiti is that it is vandalism.

[AppealToReason]

I can be a bit biased against it.
At my great-grandparent's house, people would tag their fence with gang signs and curse words all the damn time. I had to constantly clean it until they decided to get rid of the wooden fence and put up a metal one.
I think it can be really amazing if done right, but most of it just annoys me.

[deadpie]

'Vandalim' is Graffiti and Graffiti is art, thus all forms of street art are considered art whether you like it or not.

There is no real definition or rules to art, meaning you can't really decide what isn't art. I mean you can say it isn't, but nobody cares and your words add up as useless shit nobody gives a fuck about.

[User Deleted]

Depends when it is, where it is, why it is done, and what it says. Because if there is graffiti saying fag on the white house, that's vandalism.

I guess I'll make a guide to if its vandalism or art.

--------------------------------------------

Vandalism: If it is done in the wrong area before permission (i.e. a decorative wall at a skate park)
Art: If done after permission or in ones own area.

Vandalism: It is a public location and it is unwanted
Art: In private or wanted by the public

Vandalism: It is insulting or rude intentionally
Art: It was designed to appeal to the eye and change the tones of the scenery

Vandalism: It says something like fag
Art: It says a name (with permission) or appropriate word(s)

-------------------------------------

EDIT: It can be both at once.

NOTE: This is MY opinion.

[screamtobeheard]

It's both. Graffiti is beautiful (usually only when it's legal, to be honest), but it should only be placed in places where it's permitted. If it's not legal or wanted, no matter how pretty it may be, it's vandalism.

[Azunite]

Vandalism, you are destroying something which does not belong to you. If that's the wall of your own house, then it would be art.

[Spook]

I think that it is both. It's vandalism when it is done in public places, trashing up walls and property. Alot of money is spent on things like this, and then it is ruined. If graffiti was done on a canvas, however, I think it would be an awesome new style of art. :)

[deadpie]

There's no point in even debating this. Like I said, no general rule of art, so technically anything and everything is art in it's own way. Also, go take an art appreciation class before you think you get to decide what counts.

[HaydenM]

There's no point in even debating this. Like I said, no general rule of art, so technically anything and everything is art in it's own way. Also, go take an art appreciation class before you think you get to decide what counts.

yes, but no matter what you say if someone sprayed a tag on the front of my house, it wouldn't be fucking art. If it is done somewhere with explicit permission by the owner of the property and is done in a tasteful manner then it is fine. A tag of a dick on government property, now that isn't art.

[Angel Androgynous]

yes, but no matter what you say if someone sprayed a tag on the front of my house, it wouldn't be fucking art. If it is done somewhere with explicit permission by the owner of the property and is done in a tasteful manner then it is fine. A tag of a dick on government property, now that isn't art.

B-b-but I appreciate penises on school desks. They make me smile, and think about the person who oh so wonderfully excels in drawing male anatomy and took their time to share their beautiful skills with us.

[corey5289]

haha nice

[Sporadica]

Both

I believe some of it is art because it just is, I can't really explain it, to me it explains someones emotions via images

but I believe it's also vandalism unless done with permission or on the artists own property, I know I wouldn't want someone painting on my property without asking me.

but some cities have a no grafitti law so even if you want to paint it on your property because some yuppie housewives don't like "gang art"

I've toyed with the idea of painting my entire house with grafitti, see what the city and neighbours would ay about that. I live in a rich town full of yuppies so I bet it'd cause a major row

[AmusedDJ]

if i owned a building i would put a big sign above it that said "GRAFFITI HERE"

tagging is for gangs and losers

[Neptune]

Vandalism.

[Default]

Regardless of if the graffiti is inspirational, moving, beautiful, etc. It falls under the category of vandalism, which includes defacing property.

If it is done with permission or on ones own property I consider it art.

[Unlucky_Leprechaun]

If you are defacing private property or property with which you have not contacted the owner to get permission... then it is vandalism. Does some look good and can it be considered "art" most definitely...but violators should be required to clean it up to at least the state that it was in prior to them starting.

[User Deleted]

There's no point in even debating this. Like I said, no general rule of art, so technically anything and everything is art in it's own way. Also, go take an art appreciation class before you think you get to decide what counts.

Then I suppose all text based creations on an unusual surface is art.
*google definitions art*
Oh, yeah, guess so. The majority of these definitions apply.

-----
1.The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power
2.Works produced by such skill and imagination
4.The various branches of creative activity, such as painting, music, literature, and dance
6. A skill at doing a specified thing, typically one acquired through practice
-----

But come on, can you at least agree that it is vandalism too SOMETIMES. Because if it is put on the side of my house, as creative as the art is, it SHOULDN'T be there.

[Korashk]

yes, but no matter what you say if someone sprayed a tag on the front of my house, it wouldn't be fucking art.
Why wouldn't it be art? Because you don't like it, or because you don't want it there, or because it was done without your permission? None of these things make graffiti 'not art'.

A tag of a dick on government property, now that isn't art.
How come?

[HaydenM]

a dick on government property isnt art because there is nothing creative about it. As for on somebody's private property it is downright unforgivable idiotic vandalism.

If you wanna make art, get a canvas, or get your own wall, not another's

[Genghis Khan]

yes, but no matter what you say if someone sprayed a tag on the front of my house, it wouldn't be fucking art.

If you wanna make art, get a canvas, or get your own wall, not another's

The location of said painting does not change what it is. Whether or not you think it's artistically appealing is subjective.

[Kdude146]

vandalism 100%

[Starlight Blaze]

well by law its vandalism, though sometimes it can be art...though where I live most of it is just vandalism and very offensive :mad:

[Sage]

a dick on government property isnt art because there is nothing creative about it.

Sure there is, the government's got their cocks up our asses all the time.

[Black Eight]

It's obviously both, but I like it that way. The fact that the artists are making their art illegally adds to their work.

[Bradworth]

It depends. Most of the time it is vandalism but there are a few exceptions where I would see it as art - when it is tastefully done.

[Sage]

It depends. Most of the time it is vandalism but there are a few exceptions where I would see it as art - when it is tastefully done.

What constitutes tasteful? And even then, art doesn't need to be tasteful.

[Origami]

Face it. It will be seen as art and vandalism.

Why? Because it is art. Face it. No matter where it's done, it is art. Good graffiti is a well practiced skill; however, where it is applied rules it as vandalism. None the less, even if its on private property, it's still art. Just very unappreciated art.

[mrdtf]

if i owned a building i would put a big sign above it that said "GRAFFITI HERE"

same

[Amaryllis]

It is vandalism art. It's art, but it's vandalism. If someone with real skill spray painted one of my house walls, I think I would be pretty pissed. Unless they spray painted the rest of the walls :D

Oh speaking of, I took this picture of a place in Australia. Beeauuttifffuulll, huh?

http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2011/136/f/a/walk_the_walk_by_xtintedlullabyx-d3gh4nz.jpg

Thank you redhead for walking by.

[superstar2067]

It all depends, some graffiti is art but a lot of it is just vandalism.
E.g. Someone's 'tag' is vandalism but I've seen some really beautiful and well done graffiti

[onedayforever]

I se it as vandilsam when they do not have permisson to graffti that wall, and plus if it is rude words and stuff like that. If they do have permission and it looks nice and stuff then it is art so it is not recking.

[Skankster]

If you're tagging your name or showing a gang turf or something like that, it just ruins the name of art.

However, if you're turning a nasty old wall or something into a beautiful piece of your imagination, it's art.

[Sebastian Michaelis]

Vandelism.
If its there without permission of the landowners/council/whatever then its vandelism.

This is 100% correct, no way around it.

[CryWolf]

Vandelism.
If its there without permission of the landowners/council/whatever then its vandelism.

^ This right here. If the property owner(s) hasn't given permission then there's no justification. Art is shared, not inflicted.

[Sage]

Art is shared, not inflicted.

Says who?

[CryWolf]

Says who?

Art is meant to be appreciated, not dealt with. If it's inflicted then it's not art, it's just opinion.

[Sage]

Art is meant to be appreciated

According to whom? You keep asserting things with no basis. Just because the property owner doesn't appreciate the art doesn't mean passers-by don't.

[CryWolf]

According to whom? You keep asserting things with no basis. Just because the property owner doesn't appreciate the art doesn't mean passers-by don't.

I’m certain this will open up a big “fuck what society has to say” debate and so on.
Nevertheless, the general view of art (whether it be drawing, painting, music, video, etc,) is that I’m going to present my stuff in a forum of choice (meaning you as the appreciator can come and see it, or turn it on and listen to it, or whatever)and you will either hate it or love it or not give a shit about it. However, in the context of the question which is “Graffiti: Art or Vandalism?” The forum of choice is removed and the ‘artist’ says fuck you. Look at this. I did it where I wanted, how I wanted, and without your permission. Example 1: If the ‘artist’ paints the side of MY house. Example 2: the ‘artist’ does manure sculpting and decides MY porch is the most excellent spot for a statue. Example 3: the ‘artist’ paints the Last Supper under a city owned overpass. All of these are examples of crime.

Now if what you are saying is one man’s art is another man’s vandalism I suppose I can grant you that. For whatever that's worth to any who 'pass by' this post.

[Sage]

I’m certain this will open up a big “fuck what society has to say” debate and so on.
You bet it will.

Nevertheless, the general view of art (whether it be drawing, painting, music, video, etc,) is that I’m going to present my stuff in a forum of choice (meaning you as the appreciator can come and see it, or turn it on and listen to it, or whatever)and you will either hate it or love it or not give a shit about it. However, in the context of the question which is “Graffiti: Art or Vandalism?” The forum of choice is removed and the ‘artist’ says fuck you. Look at this. I did it where I wanted, how I wanted, and without your permission.
That doesn't make it not art.

[CryWolf]

Now if what you are saying is one man’s art is another man’s vandalism I suppose I can grant you that.

I still stand by this. The question is "Graffiti, Art or Vandalism?" My answer is I just don't appreciate vandalism as art. You apparently see it differently in which case, see my above quote.

[Sage]

I still stand by this. The question is "Graffiti, Art or Vandalism?" My answer is I just don't appreciate vandalism as art. You apparently see it differently in which case, see my above quote.

And my answer is that art is art whether you appreciate it or not.

[CryWolf]

And my answer is that art is art whether you appreciate it or not.

And I see that's what you're saying. We just don't agree. I can live with that.
At any rate, the OP has two different points of view to consider....

[Peace God]

ITT: "It's not art because I don't like it."
"It's not art because the artist is a criminal."

[Sage]

And I see that's what you're saying. We just don't agree.
Enjoy being wrong, then.

[SosbanFach]

I will repeat what has been said before; Graffiti can be both art and vandalism. The phrasing of the question suggests that the two are incompatible, however there is no reason why that would be the case. I am not saying that graffiti is always art, for there is no way a 'fuk' scratched into a toilet door is at all artistic, but when you get to graphic designs carefully painted onto a wall, pavement or fence without permission from the owner, it is both vandalism ("criminal damage such as graffiti and defacement directed towards any property without permission of the owner") and art ("the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others"). It fulfils both definitions.

[Sage]

for there is no way a 'fuk' scratched into a toilet door is at all artistic,

Art doesn't need to be liked or well done to be art.

[Valkyrie]

Graffiti is art, its used to express the perspective of the artist publicly, no matter what anyone says it will be art. Even the word "fuk" is art, letters are just drawings like any other... Its quite amazing at how long a debate like this one has been going for... when the answer is right in yout face. Everthing is a form of art and no im not using drugs lol

[SosbanFach]

I suppose so, in a way...

[CryWolf]

Enjoy being wrong, then.

Considering that throughout this back and forth you have provided only your opinion in regards to the question asked while demanding that I prove myself with something more than my own, I find your above response extremely hilarious. Enjoy being pointless.

[Efflorescence]

Considering that throughout this back and forth you have provided only your opinion in regards to the question asked while demanding that I prove myself with something more than my own, I find your above response extremely hilarious. Enjoy being pointless.

:yeah: Power to the people!!!!!

I personally think it's art but if I catch someone doing it on the wall of my house without my permission.......he'll regret it. If he wants to show his artistic abilities he can go and do it on the wall of HIS HOUSE instead. HIS ART; HIS HOUSE.

[Curoz]

How has this debate gone so long?
The answer is simple.
A lot of graffiti is art. (not all as some is just stupid and pointless crap anyone with a sharpie could do)
Even if the style of graffiti isn't to your artistic flavour, its still art. E.g. If you didn't like the Mona Lisa does that make it not art?

Most of this street art is also vandalissim as you are wrecking someones property. I admire the skills of some of these people, but I would be extremely pissed off if they did it on the side of my house. If they want to do it somewhere then they should do it on a canvas, there own property, or get permission.

Vandalism is not subjective. It is the damage to someones personal property without there permission, and the people who do it should have the full weight of the justice system pressed down onto them.

[BOSSPENGUIN]

that kinda depends. vandalism is when people spray paint stuff where there not supposed to. like spray painting f*ck on a building that is still working. but if its legally allowed to be painted like an abandoned subway then its art.

[horseboi]

On private property such as rail freight cars it is vandalism.... My dad is a locomotive engineer/freight condr here in Florida and he tells me some of the kids have so many colors they use to do their thing

[Mike93]

Sometimes it can look very cool but if you're not painting your own property then it's vandalism!