Essay on Should graffiti be considered art or vandalism?
Should graffiti be considered art or vandalism? Essay :The term graffiti originally referred to the inscriptions, figure drawings and such created on the walls of historic architecture in Rome or in Pompeii. The term has evolved over the centuries to signify any graphical designs applied to the surfaces in a manner that constitutes vandalism. Vandalism literally refers to the action involving deliberate destruction of or damage to public or private property. Graffiti is a form of artistic expression which is inextricably associated with vandalism for its unauthorized status.
2.0 Discussion
2.1 Graffiti, like two sides of a coin, has two sides to it. It can be assessed from two perspectives. Graffiti is an established contemporary art form. It has its origin in ancient Greek and Roman times, however, it has been acknowledged as a legitimate form of expression only in the past few decades. As a medium of projection of thoughts, it is art for it is an expression and application of human creative skill and imagination. Graffiti is a typical visual form like a painting or sculpture producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional appeal.
However, there has been a consistently strong branch of thought arguing for Graffiti as Vandalism. It is a phenomenon that originated simultaneously with the concept of Graffiti in the ancient Greek and Roman Empires. Vandals were referred to as decadent groups of people, culturally unrefined and defying the principles of Classical art forms. Individuals who engaged in the destruction of classical murals, sculptures, monuments, the colosseum, etc were grouped as vandals. Graffiti is often assigned as vandalism for its lack of authorization. Vandalism would also include unauthorized destruction, hampering artworks of cultural and religious significance, and illegal purchase and sale of the same. For instance, any caricature or visual art created on unauthorized surfaces such as walls, monuments, pavements, etc would be considered vandalism. Authenticity and acknowledgement of artists are also key factors that have questioned the credibility of graffiti. The ingenuity of the art as well as the artist is often inquired about to consider the credibility of the work.
Graffiti as of contemporary times remains an intrinsic part of popular(pop) culture managing to establish itself in the mainstream art culture vaguely. The lack of formal principles in graffitis that define the characteristics of mainstream art forms deems the former as a relatively inferior form of art. However, vindicating graffiti as vandalism seems to be Draconian in its judgment. Irrespective of the severe reservations of artists about deeming graffiti as a serious and significant art form, it has managed to gain prominence amongst millennials and people belonging to contemporary generations. It would be ignorant to shun Graffiti as a mediocre art form as it is as significant as the classical art forms if not more relevant.
3.0 Conclusion
Whether graffiti is a legitimate art form or vandalism of existing works has been a debate from ancient times and will continue to be so in the near future as well. However, appreciating graffiti as an emergent form of art would be a prudent choice rather than dwelling on the fact that it is inferior in comparison to classical art forms. Graffiti’s significance and merit have escalated over the years and have garnered immense appreciation.
FAQ
1.) What is the origin of the word ‘Graffiti’ ?
Ans: The origin of word ‘Graffiti’ is of Italian origin in the mid !9th Century.
2.) What are the places in India popular for ‘Graffiti’?
Ans: Fort Kochi, Cochin and Panjim, Goa is famous for graffiti and street art.
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