Graffiti: Art or Vandalism?

What do people think of when they see graffiti? Is it art, vandalism, or could it be both. Graffiti is a relatively new and developing art form that presents a lot of controversy due to its involvement of illegality. A lot of people see graffiti and instantly label it as vandalism and not an art form; however, by legal definition that’s not always the case. According to Oxford Dictionaries, art is defined as “The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination…producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.” Therefore, graffiti is and should be recognized and appreciated as an art form and accepted by the art community. Graffiti includes any images or letterings painted, scratched, or marked in any matter on property. It can appear as simple words and range to an elaborate art masterpiece. Graffiti has existed since ancient times dating back to Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. The term graffiti comes from the Italian word graffiato, which means scratched. Modern graffiti art originated in the late 1960s, specifically in New York, and has been developing ever since. Graffiti is not readily accepted as being art, like the kind that is in museums and art galleries. Most of the opposition to graffiti is due to its location, bold presentation, and illegality. However, this should not disqualify graffiti as art. A lot of people have a misconception of what graffiti is. Graffiti is mostly associated with spray paint, which is the main form, but it varies as it is much more than that. Using markers, any sort of paint, scratching, and chalk to write on property is considered graffiti too. Even just putting one’s hand in wet cement is a form of graffiti. George C. Stowers, a student at the University of Miami, poses an interesting question of, “Would Picasso or Monet’s markings be graffiti or art or vandalism or graffiti art?” (Stowers 1). The answer may vary, but art historians would consider this strictly as art and