Is graffiti art? Or vandalism? - Kelly Wall
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Published 2016-09-08
Spray-painted subway cars, tagged bridges, mural-covered walls – graffiti pops up boldly throughout our cities. And it turns out: it’s nothing new. Graffiti has been around for thousands of years. And across that span of time, it’s raised the same questions we debate now: Is it art? Is it vandalism? Kelly Wall describes the history of graffiti.
Lesson by Kelly Wall, animation by Tomás Pichardo Espaillat.
All Comments (21)
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I was reading a masters thesis about graffiti and she had a quote that said, "if you put a pen in any child's hand, naturally, he will go to the wall" I love that because it seems that there is something in human nature that wants a bigger canvas, aka the wall
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Feels like this person is more of a fan of street art than graffiti.
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I find it ironic that a video about wall art is made by a person with the last name of wall.
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The narrator has the perfect surname for this.
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I love graffiti- even just quotes and tags. However, I think it is wrong to deface historic buildings and people's homes and businesses. Otherwise, I always think that a graffitied wall will always look better than a blank one. It's like going through an art gallery that is less refined.
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Sometimes when I read youtube comments they feel like it's virtual vandalism. I guess there those who just label walls and there are those who make art.
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I guess graffiti being art depends on how much thought is put into it and how it makes the viewers feel like there's some meaning to it and not some mindless scribbling.
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It's about perspective. Im sure most would feel different if it were their wall. And it was an image or message they didnt agree with.
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I feel that modern graffiti is more an unseen performance art form than a static visual form. It's about the stealth, skill, and speed of the artist's performance than it is about the finished work that the public later sees.
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Watch this video with the sound off. It's a drug trip.
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since when does art have to obey the law? art shapes our culture, and can alter the course of history. art is something greater than law. why would you only recognize art when it's been endorsed by society?
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The first form a graffiti was in 27 Ad when I young man named brian who wrote "romanes eunt Sonia" as a form of rebellion against then Roman rule at the time. this original piece graffiti or what it became known as at the time, graffitus, is what created such a huge art form in your modern civilisation. thanks Brian.
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graffiti as it evolved in new York was never about the art. it was about getting up, being seen, and people knowing your name.
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Was kind of expecting a more contemporary coverage of the graffiti art explosion of the 70/80's in New York. Still very cool
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A brief history without mentioning Hiphop ?
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if I spend all my money in a new house including the costs of the wall painting and etc, I would hate to have someone drawing his own shit on my wall. I think it is indeed art, but it doesn't justify damaging someone's property.
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I don't get how people can dislike such a great video like this. Nothing offensive, nothing negative, just pure insightful life lessons. Just so long as the well minded outnumber the dislikers to such a degree makes it alright. Opinions?
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It's about how much effort people put in it. If it means something or is creative i think its art. But if it's some dumb statement about some soccer team thats vandalism.
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I think the biggest difference is the purpose for creating the piece. Did you just want to do a quick doodle or name for the rush of getting caught, or did you want to make a statement and ensure it will be seen?
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right now, in Italy graffiti is out of hand. You can come to Rome, Milan, Naples etc. and what will you see in the streets is pure vandalism. There are some graffiti that are very artistic and should be on the streets, But most of the graffities are a kind of vandalism.
