To graffiti or not to graffiti

Today in class after the finishing of Style Wars my class had a very animated discussion concerning one of the key aspects of the movie. Put quite simply the major direction that the discussion took was rather graffiti as an artform is inherently right or wrong, and if so why or why not. Now while I heard a lot of compelling arguments from both sides of the argument, I never actually formed an opinion of my own. There are parts of both arguments that I agreed with and parts that I didn't feel quite so strongly for. Still, even after giving it quite a good bit of thought I really can't form an solid opinion on whether I think graffiti is right or wrong. Honestly I think that's where my opinion is going to stay. The best way I can articulate my opinion on graffiti as an artform is to say that perhaps there are parts of it that make it both wrong and right, and this is what makes it so unique as art.

In the argument against graffiti I heard a few points made, but best I could tell they, for the most part, fit under the statement that graffiti is defacement of property and that it is rude and unpleasant to put your art  in a place where other people are forced to look at it. Mr. Mitchell pointed out a good parallel to this, which is desktop doodles. Now, while I think desktop drawing can show a profound sense of creativity and artistic talent, they can also show a profound lack of creativity and an impressive showcase of teenage immaturity. A poorly drawn penis is not exactly what I would call the epitome of artistic ability. I don't want to have to look at this, because I don't think it's good art. Along this same stream of thought it's important to understand that taste in art is opinionated obviously, and perhaps there are those that consider phallic doodling to be true art. Unlikely, but related to this there is always the possibility that people find graffiti simply unattractive as art, and find it unpleasant to be constantly subjected to it.

In contrast to this view of graffiti as unpleasant art being forced upon you rises also one of the strongest support ideas that it has going for it. What makes graffiti so unique as an art form is precisely the statement it makes by shoving it in your face. Regardless of whether you want to see that penis on your desk, it's there and you've noticed it. This is not to say that all graffiti is as unpleasant as dick doodles, in fact a lot of graffiti displays tons of artistic talent. The point here, however, is that graffiti is a way for a demographic that America usually likes to pretend doesn't exist to express itself and let itself be heard. Bombing, the simple act of putting your name down somewhere, is the way that an inner city youth, who otherwise doesn't have much, can earn himself recognition and acknowledgment. The very thing that makes graffiti so undesirable to some, being forced to view it, makes it so attractive and unique to others.