Is graffiti art?



By: Autumn Hill

            What is art? Is graffiti art? Art is a way of expressing whatever it is you feel passionate about, whether it is singing, dancing, or perhaps even painting. Graffiti, however, has been debated as art.

            There are two sides to every coin. On one side, people all the time try to excuse graffiti as art. On the other side of the coin are the people who believe that graffiti is vandalism and destruction of other people's property. Someone may like graffiti and consider it an art form and point to the definition of art, but, to others, those people are missing a major point about what art is. Art is created by commission or on the property the owner wants the art made on. Most graffiti is done without the consent or permission of the owner of which the graffiti appears on.

            The graffiti "artists" go where ever they want and destroy other people's property. Most of us wouldn't want someone to tag up our walls or building(s), just because it's someone else’s "self-expression"... If the graffiti “artist” was commissioned, then it's a different story.

            So, why don’t the graffiti "artists" do their work on canvas? Why do they need to use public property? Most of us would agree that self-expression isn't about destruction, it's about creation. Jon Valley from Debate.org, a website that looks at current events and issues, said, “Graffiti destroys. Go create graffiti and display it in a museum or an art show.”

            Typically, art is what is beautiful, appealing or of more ordinary significance. Art is any field using skills or technique, mainly in the form of paintings, sculptures and drawings. So, since dance is considered an art form, why can't graffiti? “Graffiti is beautiful, appealing and of more significances,” Tommy Hart from Debate.org says, explaining why Graffiti is considered art to some people.

            Izzy Monroe, also from Debate.org believes that, “Although it is wrong, that does not mean that it is not art. If someone makes a huge mural with awesome detail would you not call that person an artist? I know for sure I would. I think that graffiti is one of the hardest forms of art because you cannot erase or stroke, it is hard to get texture and shadowing.” Graffiti is considered to be illegal now, but the debate continues.