Essay about Graffiti and Private Property

Submitted By AraytascoC
Words: 1062
Pages: 5
Open Document
Graffiti: Art or Vandalism?
Ashley Ray- Tasco Post University

Since I was about twelve or thirteen, I remember taking the Amtrak train from the train station in New Haven, CT. To 30th Street Station in Philadelphia to visit my father, grandmother, step brother/ sister and step mom. The ride there was about three and a half to four hours, providing plenty of scenery in route. Riding through New York and into Philadelphia there was always graffiti; on the buildings, on the walls, bridges, billboards, dumpsters wherever the tagger felt his/her name should be. Some of these buildings were really high, I would often wonder to myself, “Who was the person responsible? When and why did they mark up these places? What gratification did they get out of it? Trying to get a better understanding of the meaning and the motive behind graffiti, it seemed to me as a form of visual communication since there is usually some kind of message behind the markings on the walls. Although there are some styles graffiti that look very artistic, to me it is still vandalism. It depreciates the value of property, it is costly to remove, and it is very much considered a crime.
Graffiti is unwelcoming in most neighborhoods and communities. It is like a visual form of communication; whether good or bad it’s usually sending a message; it may send the message that no one cares about the community which in some cases can be seen as gang related, and possibly criminal activity in the area. A person who is investing their money into a business or a home they do not wish to be fearful, worried, or concerned about the area they reside in This causes the property value of home or business owners to decrease because it discourages home buyers to buy or shoppers to shop in that area. Also if a seller is trying to sell property in a area that is marked with graffiti, a seller would eventually have to lower the selling price of the property because no one is interested in buying property in vandalized areas. Zsako (2011) notes that according the National Associates of Realtors, home values that are plagued by graffiti can lose it value by up to fifteen percent. This is a big loss for property owners.
Not only dos graffiti cause property value to decrease, it is very costly to be removed. Depending on the state and its laws the property may be fined for not removing the graffiti in a timely manner. According to Rochelle Knops (3M marketing administrator) commercial buildings are the most frequent targets—especially those visible areas where all can view the taggers’ work. McCrea (2002) she also notes that nationwide commercial property managers and owners have to deal with graffiti every day and the problem is not getting any better. In 1990 the cost of graffiti removal went from $5 billion dollar to about $10-$12 million dollars (2002). It’s bad to see all this money going to waste just to remove “tags” and marking because people want to be rebellious and mark up private property. The money that is spent in the cities can go to more important things for the city such as, education (school system), city parks, which is sad but they get vandalized also, after school programs for children, and or music and sports programs for kids. It could be used for any type of enrichment program that would benefit our children. The money can also be used to create a place for children and young adults who like to practice graffiti be in an environment where they can actually learn about art and give them opportunities to perform their skills in a more artistic way rather than vandalizing illegally.
Vandalism is no doubt a crime and against the law graffiti is no doubt vandalism. There are different form and styles of graffiti to make it appear more like art work, but most graffiti is done on public or private property without permission. If one is seen tagging, marking, spray paint, or marking any territory that they are not supposed to law enforcement
Show More

Related Documents: Essay about Graffiti and Private Property

Arguments Against Graffiti

Graffiti is not another way or a form, of art because the way graffiti is shown throughout the world. At the end of the day graffiti will always be seen as vandalism meaning it's not wanted because of the way it is used by people which makes graffiti illegal, people also put graffiti on private property, and how it's associated with gangs. In article "what Graffiti Means to a Community" by Los Angeles Police Department stated that "Gangs use graffiti..." (LAPD, 511) and "Graffiti identifies territorial…

Words 302 - Pages 2

language analysis Essay

heraldsun.com.au/opinion/taggers-are-a-pain-in-the-arts/story-e6frfhqf-1226304469708 Graffiti taggers are a pain in the arts by: Michael Pernar From:Herald Sun March 20, 201212:00AM Graffiti in Hosier Lane, Melboourne. Picture: Source: Herald Sun TO many, graffiti is art. In the outer suburbs of Melbourne, it is blatant vandalism where zero tolerance should be enforced. A great deal of graffiti that people see in the outer suburbs is plain trash. If the words and images used are not…

Words 728 - Pages 3

Graffiti Vandalism

Many writers look at graffiti as their voice, a way of asserting identity and power. They see tagging as a way for them to make a name for themselves. Although many of these writers are extremely talented and spend a lot of time on their pieces, I believe that graffiti is vandalism. Since the inception of graffiti, the government has made incredible efforts to enforce graffiti laws. Each day, the problem of graffiti increases in cities nationwide. It is relatively cheap for taggers to leave their…

Words 405 - Pages 2

Essay on Art or Vandelism

Vandalism Is Graffiti an art or vandalism? To so many people Graffiti is an art form of freedom and self-expression but according to the law it is a crime known as vandalism. Graffiti, a marking or writing on a surface in a public area, is an art form that is considered illegal in most places. This is a decision that graffiti artist would disagree with. Dizzy, 27 year old Graffiti artist from Philadelphia who did not want to expose his real name said, “No I don’t feel like graffiti is a crime…

Words 804 - Pages 4

Harassment Vandalism Essay

Get a Clue About Graffiti Use this vocabulary game to introduce graffiti terms and build understanding about the impact of graffiti vandalism on communities. OBJECTIVES Introduce the terms and issues surrounding graffiti vandalism. METHOD Students compete in two teams and use clues to help one person on the team guess the correct vocabulary word. MATERIALS Blackboard, whiteboard, or paper and wide-tip marker VOCABULARY Following are vocabulary words to get you started. Work with students to expand…

Words 468 - Pages 2

Essay about business law

is a major problem for the city the vandalism and defacement of public property caused by unauthorized graffiti. Since the year of 2005 the city banned the sale of spray-paint cans and broad-tipped indelible markers to person under the age of twenty-one. Still the city have had problems with vandalism and defacement after banned the products, the new rules on other hand will also affect artist and students that creates graffiti legally in a negative way. My opinion is that the court should not grant…

Words 651 - Pages 3

Visual Arts Curriculum Analysis

How to use Street Art in Visual Arts Curriculum Investigation of street art is an effective medium for visual arts instruction. Through use of instructional strategies implemented through the new National Visual Arts Standards, street art is a contemporary counter-cultural art form ideal for classroom unit plans at any age level. Street-art is a particularly exceptional example of content area material, because the content application of this visceral art form is easily engages a diverse student…

Words 1731 - Pages 7

Essay 3 Borders

succeed and have a bright future. Universities will always pick the white applicant from the wealthiest family, with the best SAT score (result of tutoring and classes), best sports potential and extracurricular activities (result of clubs, private lessons, and private sports camps), and best essays (product of experiences and opportunities usually brought through money), over the poor Mexican high school graduate. This doesn’t mean that the Mexican student doesn’t have a chance at making it to the college…

Words 870 - Pages 4

CPTED Design Out Crime

As indicated by its self-explanatory name, CPTED is just that: preventing crimes through designing certain places throughout an area in a strategic manner. According to Dr. C. Ray Jeffrey in 1971, “The proper design and effective use of the built environment can lead to a reduction in the fear of crime, and to an improvement in the quality of life” (Designing Out Crime, n.d.). Although it may seem fairly simple, the CPTED method when utilized properly contains a variety of considerations. These considerations…

Words 1672 - Pages 7

Essay on cities of vesuvius -notes

dedicated public buildings to Agustus - temples of venus and apollo to whom Augustus was particularly devoted were restored Agustus commissioned aqueducts to bring fresh water from mountains - providing running water to public fountains as we'll as private homes The earthquake of AD 62- according to Tacitus, AD 62 was the year in which an earthquake ‘ largely demolished the populouss Campanian town of Pompeii’ - Seneca philosopher also believed wrote a contemporary account of earth quake pompeii…

Words 6040 - Pages 25