SCRIPT
GRAFFITI: ART or VANDALISM
Introduction – Valeria – Lámina 2
Graffiti art had its origin in the ’70s in New York, when young people
began using spray paint and other materials to create images on
buildings walls and on subway trains sides. Although graffiti is a way of
expression for many young people and communities, we cannot forget
that some of those called "graffiti" are considered as vandalism and
pollution, but ¿why?
Development – Nicol – Láminas 3 a 9
Well, graffiti as vandalism origin goes back to the ‘60s and ‘70s in New
York City, where it became associated with gangs, crime, and urban
decay. Graffiti began to appear on walls and other public surfaces
where some young people used to write their names next to the names of
the streets where they lived, to make themselves visible, and then they
began to do it as labels on any wall, and little by little became large
posters that were repeated everywhere, so they even took over the New
York Subway trains and people began to call its graffiti.
Then, New York City authorities saw graffiti as a sign of urban decay
and a symptom of larger social problems. They began cracking down
on graffiti and treating it as a form of vandalism, leading to the arrest of
many graffiti artists and the removal of their work. Another issue we
could talk about graffiti as vandalism or visual pollution would be
politicians using street walls for their political advertisement.
Mª Emilia. Láminas 10-18
But that has changed a lot in the world. Graffiti first gained popularity in
the ‘80s, when artists such as Banksy, Keith Haring and Jean-Michel
Basquiat won praise from critics. Additionally, the legitimization and
inclusion of graffiti in galleries and museums has stablished it as a
serious art form and now graffiti became part of the broader street art
movement, as you can see in main European cities and others like
Wynwood Walls in Florida. U.S.
An example here in Venezuela is what is happening in Los Palos
Grandes neighborhood, where, with the council support, murals have
been created “… to brighten our lives”, as the slogan says. Neighbors
think that by improving the environment people change their attitude.
Conclusión. Nicol Lámina 19
So, the debate over whether graffiti constitutes art or vandalism is
incredibly complex and depends on many factors, such as the location of
a particular piece, and the quality and message of the design.
Valeria. Lámina 20
Exactly, there is no clear answer, and it’s easy to see both sides of the
debate. After all, not everyone would be happy to have their property
painted without their consent. On the flip side, it could also be argued
that graffiti is an artist’s right to expression freedom and a way to ensure
their work can be appreciated by those beyond the artistic elite. As
Diego Torres says: “Each mural is evidence of the impact art can have in
surprising places. As we honor these graffiti masters, let their creations
remind us that imagination has no limits and that the urban landscape
can become a platform for expression.”