Graffit-Self Expression or Vandalism
"A painting tells a story on paper, and graffiti tells a story too," said Steve, a 22-year-old Vancouver-based street artist who asked that his name not be published. "People just don 't see past where [the story is being told]."
Societal conceptions of urban graffiti are all over the map. While some view graffiti as the flourishing of urban art and expression, others view it as a sign of generational decay or a lack of respect for others ' property. After all, the people forced to view the graffiti didn 't ask to see public displays of expression. According to the City of Calgary website, "Graffiti is an eyesore that ruins the natural and architectural beauty of a city." But has the city ever considered a difference between racist remarks scrawled on the side of a train and a mural portraying a dove flying from open hands?
The city 's website asks for citizens to call 9-1-1 if they see an act of graffiti or other vandalism in progress. While this may seem extreme, Constable Dave Laddick, the graffiti coordinator of the Calgary Police Service, said otherwise. "Any crime in progress you should be calling 9-1-1. It 's a criminal act, you don 't want to let that just slide by."
He continued, explaining that adults caught could pay up to $5,000 in fines, or even face jail time for up to two years. "What determines the scope of [the charges] is how prolific the vandal is."
Surprisingly, unlike what was implied in MOCA 's exhibit of the New York subway cars, gangs do not do the majority of graffiti, at least in Calgary. "We have very low gang graffiti in Calgary," Laddick added. "Most of our graffiti has been referred to as hip-hop graffiti."
Hip-hop graffiti is famous for its identifiable font. Most graffiti of this type spells out messages or tags. The art form 's correlation with hip-hop culture began with the controversial expression of rap artists. Graffiti as a form of art has always had a history of controversy -- a controversy based on location as well as
Societal conceptions of urban graffiti are all over the map. While some view graffiti as the flourishing of urban art and expression, others view it as a sign of generational decay or a lack of respect for others ' property. After all, the people forced to view the graffiti didn 't ask to see public displays of expression. According to the City of Calgary website, "Graffiti is an eyesore that ruins the natural and architectural beauty of a city." But has the city ever considered a difference between racist remarks scrawled on the side of a train and a mural portraying a dove flying from open hands?
The city 's website asks for citizens to call 9-1-1 if they see an act of graffiti or other vandalism in progress. While this may seem extreme, Constable Dave Laddick, the graffiti coordinator of the Calgary Police Service, said otherwise. "Any crime in progress you should be calling 9-1-1. It 's a criminal act, you don 't want to let that just slide by."
He continued, explaining that adults caught could pay up to $5,000 in fines, or even face jail time for up to two years. "What determines the scope of [the charges] is how prolific the vandal is."
Surprisingly, unlike what was implied in MOCA 's exhibit of the New York subway cars, gangs do not do the majority of graffiti, at least in Calgary. "We have very low gang graffiti in Calgary," Laddick added. "Most of our graffiti has been referred to as hip-hop graffiti."
Hip-hop graffiti is famous for its identifiable font. Most graffiti of this type spells out messages or tags. The art form 's correlation with hip-hop culture began with the controversial expression of rap artists. Graffiti as a form of art has always had a history of controversy -- a controversy based on location as well as