Beautiful Destruction

Why does Graffiti have to be questioned that it’s either art or vandalism?  Graffiti is the use of art and vandalism to create a very powerful statement. It’s this twisted thing that the vandalism sends more of a statement which makes it more of an art form. They use vandalism to increase the arts statement, which makes it even more of an art form.  That’s why I think that it is both in one it’s beautiful destruction.

The reasons that graffiti is vandalism.  it’s done on private property. If this was not done on private property, or they asked the person to do the piece of art on their property. This problem would be erased “If it wasn’t for the fact that most graffiti is placed on private property without the owner’s permission” (Dolan 1). This shows that graffiti is in fact vandalism as it is done on other people’s private property. People’s property is important and should not be destroyed. This one crucial fact destroys any arguments to this. So to keep the art there and make it so people’s property takes less damage. They created “Paints have been developed that basically cause graffiti paint to dissolve when applied” (Dolan 1). This shows people can get rid of graffiti quicker now so even if its vandalism they can still get rid of the paint. with easy paint, people can now vandalize and also clean it up later easier so property is less damaged. Vandalism has a twisted fate with graffiti in that the vandalism makes it art.

Graffiti is still an art form as it uses vandalism to push its statement forward. The art form they are creating is that it send a statement to the person viewing it. The person commits a crime trying to share their art to others to try others to show that, “graffiti art makes a statement”(Stowers 3).  This shows that even if it’s vandalism others see it as something beautiful and see a statement behind it.  When people talk about art it’s always about the statement it sends, and I think graffiti sends one of the best statements to people. That one statement can inspire so many people to become or do what they want to do. Graffiti has even been recognized by the art world making it an art even if its vandalism. With this even if you say its vandalism that does not mean its a art as it was “legitimized as “real” art.” (Stower 3) With this proof, it shows that even though that graffiti is vandalism it still is art. With graffiti in recognized as real art even if vandalism is a part of it, it’s still art and should be recognized as art.

Graffiti is both art and vandalism as it destroys people’s property and also send a message to others. If graffiti was not done on private it would have a more positive output on people, and It would also send less of that message because it’s not someone committing a crime to send this message. That message shows that it is still an art piece even if it’s vandalism.

featured image: “Lightning Composite” by b_napper is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.