A young boy is standing in a dark, subway tunnel with a can of spray paint in his hand. His intentions are clear. Instead of being traditional and painting at home, he is using the world as his canvas. Vandal or not, he is still an artist. Even though he may just paint his name on the wall, it is still art to some degree.
Graffiti has been classified as a form of vandalism and not as an art for several decades. Rebellion against authority and public exposure of their works are reasons why teenagers and adolescents are attracted to the art, from gawking at it to taking up the art themselves. However, the reputation given to this "street art" has never been a positive one. When graffiti does not deface public property, could it not be just as fine as any other art? Graffiti artists use all the elements of art that painting, sculpture, and other art mediums do and the different styles and techniques associated with graffiti would easily classify it as a form of art.
[...] Just as the elements of art line, shape, form, color, value, texture, and space - are taken into consideration in a drawing or painting, they are equally important in graffiti art. Line, shape, and form are the most important elements when dealing with letters, which has almost an infinite amount of possibilities. As new styles and fads began to emerge, artists began to experiment with colors and blending them to create value, texture, and space . Feelings such as their hate of the government, or happiness and joy for getting a new job are all displayed together with the colorful swirls thrown on the wall. [...]
[...] As an adolescent grows, he is bound to make new friends, and seeing how much graffiti is out there, one would easily see that there is room for them to meet others, with the opportunity of eventually joining a crew, or group of artists. Graffiti artist explains knew them as artists before [we visited them at their own corners and] got to know them as explaining how they are revered not only as artists, but as people too. (Lachmann 241). [...]
[...] “Most of the opposition to graffiti art is due to its location and bold, unexpected, and unconventional presentation, but its presentation and often illegal location does not necessarily disqualify it as (Stowers). The major reason that graffiti art is not accepted as easily as other forms of art is because of its unsolicited appearance. However undesirable graffiti may be because it shows up on private property, it may also be simultaneously classified as art. The many forms of graffiti that exist, including gang-related graffiti, tags, and murals, “provide different means to satisfy the psychology and emotional needs of their creators” (Kan 20). [...]
[...] By learning about the extensive history of graffiti and even practicing it, many will come to realize that this art is not created the sake of rebellious destruction,” but instead it is an “innovative and truly original art form that is meant to bring an aesthetic pleasure to the audience like any other recognized art form” (Stowers). As Stowers presents to us, certain forms of graffiti become art on four accounts. Firstly, the artist must have the intention of producing a work of art. [...]
[...] It is obvious that the art of graffiti has enough history and substance to be taught to students in school. Perhaps colleges fear to introduce adolescents to graffiti, because age should very well be considered when teaching a select group due to what it may further introduce, such as gang behavior or create a dangerous environment. We see that there has been a development of style, along with innovation and the emergence of new techniques in graffiti, just like the history of any other art. [...]
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