Craft or Crime
February 16, 2022 2022-02-16 12:09Craft or Crime
Is Graffiti Real Art?
Around almost any school campus, you will find drawings done on property not belonging to the students yet so carelessly vandalized. While these drawings are often crude, it is possible to see acts of genuine artistic talent on desks or walls. Graffiti is everywhere globally, and because of the examples of fine craft, it is discussed if this crime can be considered “real art” or an offensive to be punished and accounted for.
What graffiti should be considered worldwide has never been something everyone can agree on. In the eyes of the law, it is illegal, and vandalism but artists have used the world as their canvas to express themselves and let their work be seen. With such masterpieces in the world via graffiti, it has been hard to decide between legal violation and work of art.
As a key club and drama club member, junior John Diaz-Desilva holds a deep respect for any art alike. “I know what the law considers it (graffiti), but I can’t help but disagree. It’s easy to get distracted by doodling on desks in class, and I often enjoy the products afterward when I come across them,” compliments Diaz-Desilva. “It’s simply just artistic talent on anything but paper.” People such as himself, familiar with forms of expression, can disregard what legislation may demand for the sake of their fellow artists.
The countless ways people bring ideas into the world are fluid. However, property not owned by those who create said ideas is one of the most controversial places.
On the opposing end, Diaz-Desilva’s classmate, Xaiver Walters, takes a hard stand on what the law demands. “It can be pretty, sure, but it’s a crime, nonetheless. Those who get caught should be held accountable and clean up their wrongdoings, maybe even fined.” The topic stands at a battle of logic vs. heart, and Walters is unafraid to display how he stands with his head.
The question of graffiti’s place in the world may never be answered, and opinions will always be varied. In the end, what graffiti should be seen as is something subjective based on personal experiences, but both should be wary of backlash and possible punishments.
