Welcome

2006-10-31T17:58:00.000-08:00

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This blog is devoted to freeing the oppressed art form known as graffiti. If you don't like what you see, fine. You are entitled to your opinions, but do not expect me to care about them.

Why politicians should leave graffiti artists alone

2006-10-31T17:57:00.001-08:00

Have you ever seen a train go by or see a wall with one of those huge graffiti murals on them? I’m sure that you probably have. Well, for some reason, politicians don’t seem to like those murals no matter why they are there. Some people say that graffiti is art while others say that it is vandalism. For once, I agree with both sides. While graffiti for the sake of vandalism or marking gang territories is a crime, I do not believe that graffiti for the purpose of art or making a statement is vandalism. Yes, sometimes artist do get carried away (you know, tagging churches, schools, etc.), but I do admit that I find their form of art rather pleasing to the eye. Graffiti artists, with their humble beginnings, really gave a new meaning to “painting a picture with words”. When I look at some of the art done by more famous graffiti artists, it makes my jaw drop. Not only are many of their works large, but they have created some of the most ingenious lettering you have ever seen. Also, they introduced many advanced techniques into their art, such as 3D lettering, color fading, and other techniques (I have little knowledge of graffiti art since I live in CA and also cannot afford all of the necessary equipment) but the really big murals also make some of the places they are put in less of an eyesore. Politicians in places like New York and Philadelphia are literally spewing out anti- graffiti campaigns, claiming that graffiti artists (even the good ones) are “reckless vandals who make our beautiful cities ugly”, which is kind of stupid, since they sometimes seem to forget where most of this graffiti is. I mean, most graffiti is in places like the Projects or the barrios, where, in case no one noticed, are: A) ugly places to begin with, and B) are already in ruins. The politicians seem to have pretty mixed- up priorities since they want to clean up graffiti, despite the fact that there are stripped down cars galore and drive- bys occurring on a daily basis where most graffiti is. If the message isn’t clear enough yet, the politicians have more important things to worry about, such as taking care of the real criminals first and then focusing on other things. Yes, it is the politically “right” thing to do, but does anyone beyond politicians care about that? No. If they only care about pleasing the crowds, they should have followed Hugh Heffner into his business and then they still would make loads of money, plus have the benefit of being able to please the majorities. My last argument for graffiti as art is this: Graffiti artists have made many big contributions to the art community. Like I said at the beginning of this article, graffiti artists have come up with many inventive writing techniques and also some of the most ingenious and original art you have ever seen. Despite the stereotype that graffiti artists are dingheads from the Projects that like to vandalize stuff, they are not all like that. One graffiti artist, known as OBEY, was an art major from Rhode Island and is now a prominent artist who is best known for his communist propaganda- style art (I doubt he is pro- communist since graffiti stands for the very values communism loathes). Furthermore, I support them because they, unlike most artists, refused to conform to the conventional art traditions and rules, which, in layman’s term, means giving those snooty art critics the bird. I am by no means against this because traditional art is always so high- and- mighty, regulated, and pushy that it’s nice to see those picky art critics get their cages rattled. While most art critics will often say, “The colors are too bright”, or “There’s not enough detail right there.” Well, let’s see ‘em try to criticize the art as it comes toward them on a freight train!
I bid you farewell and I would like to leave you with this reminder: Graffiti is only a crime if it is done purely for vandalism.

Free Graffiti

Welcome

Why politicians should leave graffiti artists alone