This is where Certeau enters the scene as Cintron spins a narrative of how graffiti used to “enact a degree of violence against another gang or to implicitly do so by celebrating the power of one’s own gang” (170). In addition, it is from the mainstreams cultural material that street gangs draw their meanings. Citron also admitted that he is no expert on gang activities. In my opinion, graffiti that are left behind in a public area and the monument that we see in our daily life its a work of art it has some meaning like any other kind of art. Each memorial consumes its own significance, just as the artwork of graffiti creator itself. I believe that the focal point of graffiti is more vague and the secret behind it are sacred to the member of the…
Banksy is known around the world for his artwork creating conversations that people are too afraid to start. Although graffiti is seen as a vandalous crime, Banksy’s work is use to point out the crime that is really harming our environment and society. Politics, economics, homophobia, hypocrisy, and war are all themes used in his work to project his beliefs on the recent issues around the world. As there are many fans of this anonymous artist, there are also many people who disagree with him. Banksy’s work lies between rebellious vandalism and art that speaks for those who cannot. He stated in an interview that his work is harmless compared to others, as he says, “Twisted little people go out every day and deface this great city; leaving their…
What is graffiti? Graffiti can be a lot of things. Some people call it art. Some people call it vandalism. Where it was done, why it was done, the type of graffiti it is can all change how bad it can be seen as. Graffiti is markings on a surface that weren’t meant to be there. Graffiti is art when it is beautiful like a painting. Graffiti is vandalism is usually profanity or a pencil drawing on a desk or marks on a wall. Graffiti can sometimes be art but I think it is vandalism. Here are some reasons why I think graffiti is vandalism…
Art is generally seen as a canvas transformed into a beautiful and thought – provoking decoration. Genres and technique styles continue to evolve and transform over the centuries, creating new ways to influence the world through art. Graffiti is a controversial new genre and technique style that has taken the art community – and the urban streets by storm. The artists of this new genre call it “Street Art” and use the world as their canvas to provoke thoughts on controversial topics to the average man. A street art editorial written in 2013 states, “ Street art is contradictory: a form of artistic expression that resists institutional legitimacy while it simultaneously becomes more widespread, more accepted – an institution in its own right” (Sweeny, 2013). Stating that street art has ripple effect of its own in the art community.…
When one typically thinks about ‘art’, one usually associates iconic pieces such as Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa or even Michelangelo’s David to name a few. As humans evolved, so did their art pieces and the interpretations people had over whether or not the ‘artwork’ is truly a work of art. In the past, being an artist was highly respected, such as in the times of the Renaissance where they were alongside philosophers and others of the sort, an example being Leonardo Da Vinci. Nowadays, the arts are often looked at with disdain due to people believing they are simple and lack rigor compared to other fields such as the medical field. One form of art that experiences this severely is street art which is the focus of Banksy’s documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop. Banksy has two main points in the film, which is to give the audience a brief history of street art along with displaying the growth of an artist, that being Mr. Brainwash or Thierry Guetta, a main protagonist in the film.…
For centuries, street art has been perceived all around us in subways, schools, building and even in the bathroom. Graffiti however, is a form of street art that most people are aware of and seen before. Graffiti is used as a form of expression for many young children all around the world, but society has many misconceptions regarding graffiti. People interpret graffiti as a form of vandalism and breaking the law, but it’s diverse style of art can create a beautiful way for an individual to express their emotions and bring other perspectives together. This form of expression is not a simple task to accomplish and yet it does not get the positive attention that it should just because society doesn’t understand the conception of graffiti. With…
The painting by Jacob Lawrence GOING HOME, (1946), is an amazing painting. When I first looked at this painting the first thought that came to my mind was the musicians were on a train on their way home, feeling exhausted having just finished playing at a night club. The train seats are green; this is the first color that captures your eyes. The color of the seats along with some of the red luggage gives the impression of the mood as being calm and relaxed. Over to the left of the picture in the upper hand corner there is a silhouette of the sun going down, but when looking through the windows the color blue is showing the outside scenery as if the night is approaching.…
In todays society there are many different kinds of art. As well as many different meanings art. Exit Through the Gift Shop was a very interesting documentary that I have ever seen. It was very empowering in a way. This documentary was mostly based on graffiti, from how it started and how it ended. Now the question is, is graffiti real art? I certainly think that graffiti is real art. I think any art that is made is real art. A person, who is passionate and creative about art, makes real art. There is not false in that. A second question that is frequently asked is, “how is street art different from fine art?” Street art is specifically visual art, developed in public places and spaces. Public places such as “the street”, where everyone can see anything and everything. Fine art is creative art, but art that only comes from their artist’s imagination. The point of street art is to show not only people that make fine art are artists, so are the people who do street art. In the film, there are many cultures that appear. For someone to understand the cultural identities is just to realize that many people can make art. It’s just not a certain type of culture. The one culture that defines cultural identity is French. All of the artists started of with the French background.…
If graffiti shouldn’t be considered art, then tell me, why are there museums and art galleries that display it as art? While painting in museums has its benefits, such as money, fame, and the chance of having your art noticed by a different crowd; most artists would still prefer to paint throughout the city, in places such as on freight cars, the sides of buildings, or in an alley somewhere. “There’s just something about it”, says MONE, a graffiti writer from New York City.…
This particular painting from Van Gogh is very catching to they eye due to all of the primary colors or red and green that contrast another. One would ask themselves once they studied the painting for a little while if this was the scene of a bar. This setting seems to have sort of slouched over people that do not really seem to happy and may even be depressed. This is the sense that I get from the fact that no one really seem happy and they seem to be drinking their sorrows away. Also the implied lines of this painting suggest they are all pointing towards the wet bar in the back of the room. Also the ambient lighting that is going on suggests to me kind of a gloomy overcast feeling. It is awkward that this painting has been called a café because to many now days it would seem as if it were a bar. Maybe the artist was sort of implying this is what they were called back then. I also get a sense of pattern and rhythm from the seemingly textured lights and the pattern that is emitted from the glowing affect of the lights. The pool table, bar, and the man dressed in white are all examples of focal points to me as they are the bigger pieces that attract more attention by viewers. The bar could be considered a focal point because of all the implied lines leading to it. The man in white is considered to me as one because he is what stands out the most from all the other dark clothed people. The pool tables closest corner is sort of pointing towards the viewer and expressing a stern line directly at the viewer. The very vibrant and expressive and warm colors used by Van Gogh here contradict the whole meaning and feeling of the painting. Van Gogh has used all types of shadows and textures to give depth and atmospheric perspective all the way from the back of the room by the doorway and what may continue on behind it. Van Gogh also utilizes the overlapping of…
From cave drawings to hieroglyphics to the streets of New York, graffiti and street art have made their marks as the most ancient form of resilient communication. Whether viewed through the lens of skeptics or supporters, the practice remains in the gray area of legality, despite it’s remarkable positive artistic and creative worth. Graffiti has many unsung beneficial traits, and encompasses an entire urban culture, as is highlighted in The New York Times article “Writings on the Wall (Art is too, for Now)” by Robin Finn.…
"I wish for you to stand up for what you care about by participating in a global art project, and together we'll turn the world...INSIDE OUT."…
Graffiti is defined as the act of inscribing or drawing on walls for the purpose of communicating a message to the general public. The term comes from the Greek term "Graphein," which means 'to write.' It has been around since men first started drawing pictures in caves. The question as to whether any forms of graffiti can be considered art is controversial. Is it vandalism when it is placed on the side of a building or car and art when it is on a canvas on someone's wall or in a gallery; what’s the difference? Graffiti can be considered art because it contains artistic elements. It communicates the artist's expression to the viewer, and the traditional art community has already accepted it.…
Through the years, people have expressed themselves in different ways and manners. Some have chosen photography, drawings or sculpture. Others came up with new ways like graffiti which is a new form of urban expression that made controversial reactions. I believe that some graffiti is an artistic performance because of its expressive nature, beautiful display, and creative ways. The rest of it reveals a criminal behavior since it uses others’ properties without permission or consideration, harms the urban landscape, and sends negative messages. The major differences between both perceptions are the aim of the taggers and location of the tags.…
There are many different forms of art, from paintings to photography and sculptures to graffiti, and many historical, famous artworks relay a message to the world. For example, Edvard Munch’s painting, the scream, shows fear, Vincent Van Gogh’s painting, the starry night, expresses a more whimsical and elegant feeling, while Grant Wood’s artwork, american gothic, has a serious yet awkward tone. Many kinds of art can send messages and even graffiti. Graffiti is “writing or drawings that [has] been scribbled, scratched, or painted illicitly… often in a public place... range from simple written words to elaborate wall paintings… existed since ancient times” ("Graffiti."). While some graffiti isn’t always useful, it is form of artwork that can relay a message, emotion, or historic image.…