Closing Statements on Graffiti

As our section about graffiti is coming to a close, I want to express my feelings on this topic. As we first began talking about this subject, I was cynical and perplexed about graffiti. To me, graffiti wasn’t really an art. To me, graffiti was created by so called gangs in rundown neighborhoods or cities with no meaning at all. Because of this, I thought that graffiti looked awful on buildings and that the so called “tagging” was completely unnecessary and should be considered illegal as it appeared to be vandalism.

            However, as we are concluding this section about graffiti, I now see these colorful murals on walls in a new light. By looking at some of the most beautiful pieces online and on our trip to Detroit, I can now see why graffiti should be considered art. Graffiti allows rundown areas of cities to almost look like an urban outside art gallery that visitors want to observe. These pieces are almost always thought provoking and colorful, while also allowing certain areas to reinvent itself through this beauty. By studying graffiti, it has also become apparent to me that graffiti artists use their artwork as an opportunity to express and create their own stories. These artists want to tell their stories through these pieces of graffiti, but more importantly, they want the viewers to listen. They want the everyday person to pass by their work, stop, and think about the significance of the piece.

            For these reasons, I now see graffiti in an entirely new perspective. Although pessimistic at first, I can now visualize why graffiti shouldn’t be deemed vandalism. Rather, graffiti should be thought of as art that could revive certain areas by beautifying them.

Have a great Fall Break!