Graffiti is necessary Essay
Theme: Graffiti is necessary in the city because ita) allows individuals to express themselves in places they normally couldn’t be heard cause of the high populations andb) attempts to make the city look better artistically.Title: In defense of GraffitiIntroductionGraffiti is a form of expression either in words or in art form. It can be found in various forms in various places – mural on the side of a building, slogan or insult in bathroom wall, a scrawl of someone’s name in buildings, or a political logo on a traffic sign.Graffiti is a cheap and easy way to make a statement. Graffiti artists often invent newer and creative ways to write. Since there are a large number of graffiti artists, each artist needs to think of a better way to express themselves. This fosters creativity to a large extent.
Besides, graffiti is a harmless form of expression. Not many people are blessed enough to be heard by the public. Not many people are influential enough to get a chance to express themselves to a large audience. Individuals who wish to be heard and have a serious point to make do so with the help of graffiti.
Graffiti as an important form of expressionGraffiti existed since the times of the ancient Greece and Roman civilizations. Even today they can be found in modern day Turkey and in Egypt. Not just the Greeks and the Romans, but the Mayans, the Vikings, the Chinese and many others had graffiti. Signature Rock in America stands proof of graffiti in this land. Ancient graffiti offer an insight into the lives of the people who lived at that time, the opinions that they formed, their interests etc. The use of graffiti in the olden days seems to have been natural and acceptable.Modern graffiti began somewhere in the 1960s mainly as a form of political expression. The idea quickly caught up and it started taking up newer forms and styles.
There are different types of graffiti, each associated with a different type of culture, and each serving a distinct function. Understanding graffiti will give unique insight into the society.Graffiti serves as an important tool of communication. Some serious messages written in graffiti often reflect honest and profound thoughts; which may otherwise never be spoken of due to social constraints. Most often they challenge supremacy and help in understanding the social and cultural meaning of the minor groups. The collective hopes, desires and failures of the underclass often take expression in graffiti.
Texts of various graffiti are interwoven with concepts of place, culture, authority, and identity. Gang graffiti is rich in information. Gangs from ethnic backgrounds articulate thoughts and feelings and express group and individual identity. Some graffiti contain intense themes such as labor conditions, freedom, political oppression, homelessness, unemployment, and civil rights. Groups who are denied legitimate ways of expression and feel oppressed, resort to expressing through graffiti.Graffiti on political issues are often placed on busy thoroughfares for extensive viewing.
Ideas against political establishment are best communicated through graffiti, since it is the most economical and the safest way of reaching a large audience.Some graffiti carry personal messages of love, inspirational statement, advice, humor, poetry, sex, religion or race. Such graffiti are often confined to the walls of the bathroom, restroom, or along narrow corridors.Graffiti as an artGraffiti is a vibrant art form. It defines space and improves existing territory. Graffiti is considered an artistic form of expression by sociologists and art historians. In fact, some graffiti even adorn the walls of many art galleries. This form of expression has gained so much of recognition that there are schools that give children pieces of chalk and color, and ask them to create their own graffiti on the walls and floors in order to foster creativity and freedom of expression.
Letters in graffiti are uniquely created in different shapes and designs, and they take on calligraphic appearance. The thickness and size of the letters were made to blend with the theme.The art form, though not profane used very interesting scenery and cartoon characters in their work. Polka dots, crosshatches, and checkers were extensively used and they quickly became popular. Artists began to expand and adopt changes to their work. During the course of time, as graffiti became popular, professional artists joined the bandwagon. Graffiti art is now considered a contemporary art form.
Graffiti artists are creative individuals with community feelings and are concerned about the inherent aesthetics of a city. Giving them freedom and identifying space for their art will do well.If change is always for the better, plain walls in high raise buildings can be enlivened with a dash of color.
Sensible graffiti on these walls wouldn’t just enhance their visual appeal; it would also serve as an encouragement to a host of artists with their heads full of ideas and who are dying for expression. Graffiti should be considered as a beautifying element to perk up drab buildings. Colorful murals on buildings will do well improve the dull gray face of public space. Graffiti can improve a city’s derelict areas.While the importance of respecting others and their personal property should not be taken lightly, it is worthwhile to do it in a constructive and lasting way. If it is done with the right kind of license and permission, it will be appreciated and remembered positively. All controversy surrounding this art form need to be settled and the advantages of this art can be promoted.The art forms of graffiti have been integrated into advertising.
They have been used to convey social and political messages. Nurturing it into something bigger, graffiti artists can be given enough time and space to create decent works of art. Done well, graffiti can be visually very appealing. Bringing it into the mainstream perspective and making it into a legitimate art form will allow graffiti artists to develop their skills professionally.Graffiti art is a strenuous one.
It is not spontaneous, nor is it done offhand. It needs a great deal of planning, imagination, and effort. The artist first does a sketch, plans out characters, selects colors, decides on the surface, and does a preliminary outline. He adds colors and decorations to complete the work. This kind of art has a meaning and conveys a message to the others. With the right direction it can be used to add beauty to community with a profound message. It can be quite fulfilling aesthetically.
This will be a pleasant deviation from the conventional way of the viewers going to art galleries to appreciate art. Graffiti will stand out in public and would surprise the viewers at the most unexpected times.ConclusionTypically, graffiti is perceived as vandalism. Considering it to be a public nuisance, special task forces have been formed to combat graffiti and millions of dollars spent on the process. However, graffiti is rich in information.
It would only do well to systematize the process. It would be money well spent, if young people are provided with more space to graffiti.Making the rules stricter makes it more of a challenge and gets it more noticed. Banning graffiti might even result in disruptive attitude or behavior, since the pent-up ideas need to find an expression.
Graffiti artists start young and it is important that their energies are channelized the right way and due encouragement given to them.It is altogether difficult to stop graffiti since the idea caught up with man thousands of years back – as old as the days of the caveman.
