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During the 1970’s, graffiti proliferated in public places in different American cities (CBS Sunday Morning, 2014). During that time, it was considered as unlawful. Several decades later, many graffiti were showcased as work of art in the Museum of the City of New York. Despite this, graffiti should still be considered as vandalism rather than a work of art because of its effects to the society.
First of all, graffiti is vandalism, a crime, because it affects other’s property. Public properties, such as city walls, buses, or trains, are cleaned and maintained by people’s taxes. Not everyone appreciates what others consider as art so it is not right for graffiti makers to paint these properties whenever they want. This has been reiterated by Heather McDonald who wrote the Urban Policy for the Manhattan Institute. According to her, it is not appropriate to draw anything on someone else’s property without permission (CBS Sunday Morning, 2014).
Next, graffiti gives the impression that a certain place is in chaos because people are going against the law. Lady Pink, a 1970’s graffiti maker and a current artist, said that graffiti is only considered as vandalism if the artist is arrested; otherwise, it remains an art (CBS Sunday Morning, 2014). In addition, the spray paints that the 1970’s graffiti makers used were often stolen (CBS Sunday Morning, 2014). These ideas support the fact that people can commit a crime (stealing and manipulating other’s property without permission) and just get away with it. Therefore, graffiti promotes delinquent citizens that represent a chaotic society.
Overall, graffiti is vandalism. Although it is important to support the talent and skills of people, particularly the teenagers, it can be done in a more orderly manner if they will be given a decent and proper space to practice their craft instead of encouraging them to paint anywhere they want.
Reference
CBS Sunday Morning. (2014, March 30). Graffiti: Art or vandalism? [video]. CBS Interactive , Inc. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azolNnTCnMI
