I choose Cypress College to be my community since I was transferred from there to the California State University of Los Angeles. when I went there I approached a couple of students near the Art building, I introduced myself to them and told them that I have a project about public art, they were so supportive and introduced themselves to me, I was surprised when they told me their major is art science and the others were pilots who took many art classes.
I explained my project that is about Grafitti, and I asked them for their opinion. they stated that they had a similar project and they said Grafitti is so good but the problem that not all artists doing graffiti to convey the meaning of art. some of them get paid to cause vandalism which forces the police officers to catch anyone doing graffiti.
I asked them to sign a photo release form and I took their permission to post their photo publically
They have been affected since they do graffiti sometimes because it is a part of their passion and I asked them if I can take a picture of them to post it publically, they smiled and looked at each other then they said ok but they wish not to harm them in the future since they do graffiti sometimes to convey their art to the people, I respected their thought and I took a selfie with them and promised that it won't harm them at all, we also exchanged phone numbers and social media.
What is Civic Engagement?
1. "In a thriving community, residents take an active role. Through civic engagement, such as voting and volunteering, people develop and use knowledge, skills, and voice to cultivate positive change"
2. "Civic engagement involves “working to make a difference in the civic life of one's community and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values, and motivation to make that difference." it is important because such actions can help improve the conditions that influence health and well-being for all
https://www.rwjf.org/en/cultureofhealth/taking-action/making-health-a-shared-value/civic-engagement.htmlLinks to an external site.Links to an external site.https://youth.gov/youth-topics/civic-engagement-and-volunteering
3. Grafitti is a major social issue in my community and it is so important to me because I was always wondering why the police and the majority in my community rejected the idea of the graffiti
Graffiti vandalism is a form of vandalism in which individuals use paint, often spray paint, to create words or images on public and private walls and property. This is done without the permission of the owner of such property and is often seen as a form of illegal vandalism.
Cornbread. Born Darryl McCray, Cornbread is generally acknowledged to be the first modern graffiti artist, who got his start tagging in Philadelphia during the late 1960s
Now, you can explain why this issue is relevant to you.
1.) Explain how this social issue directly affects you
2.) Why did you choose this issue?
this case issue directly affects me because I work as supervisor security with Allied Universal Security Company, which is the 7th largest company in America. because of that, we help the police if we find any graffiti in one of the properties we patrol for safety.
graffiti caught my attention ever since I started that class and I personally see that graffiti is a wonderful art that could change the world and make it better by expressing the artits ideas anywhere and anytime, however, as much as I love graffiti, I recommend special places for them to express that idea. I am totally against how they draw over a wall of owners' properties or inside hotels and things like that
Aronson, Marc. Art Attack. New York: Clarion, 1998.
This book takes an interesting approach to look at graffiti. The author says that the graffiti artist makes the wall into art by signing his or her name on it. It is a traditional way to express their art to the public, rather than featuring it in an art gallery. The author also considers the name signed on the wall to be art, not necessarily the wall itself. This book also talks about acts of rebellion in London where slogans and protests in the form of graffiti appeared on walls in order for people to express themselves personally and artistically.
Barron, Stephanie, and Lynn Zelevansky. Jasper Johns to Jeff Koons: Four Decades of Art from the Broad Collections. New York: Abrams, 2001.
This book features a great explanation of how graffiti became a large part of the New York City art scene by the 1980s. It represents graffiti as art rather than as an act of vandalism, alluding to its colorful and strong visual aspects. The art was successful on walls, subway cars, and sides of buildings, but it was not as successful on canvas. It also talks about the new art movement in the 1980s, based on graffiti art.
Freeland, Cynthia. But is it art? New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.
This book is an excellent source because it clearly addresses the argument about whether graffiti is really ‘art’ or not. The author addresses the fact that some graffiti art has actually become marketable, but many graffiti artists reject this idea completely. Artist Barry McGee creates both street art and art that is displayed in galleries, however, most graffiti artists will not agree with this idea.
Hughes, Robert. American Visions. New York: Knopf, 1997.
This source addresses the early forms of graffiti art. It talks about how early cave paint- inks can be seen as early forms of graffiti, with individuals expressing themselves freely on any medium that is available to them. It explains how graffiti emerged in the early 1980s and mentions how artists Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring were important in association with the emerging popularity of graffiti art.
Rhodes, Colin. Primitivism and Modern Art. London: Thames and Hudson, 1994.
This source identifies graffiti as primitive, yet street art does influence future works of art that can be seen on canvas, instead of on the public property. It analyses some of the psychology behind the creation of graffiti, stating that it can be a harmful release of fears and desires, but is also sometimes considered to be drawn by the emotionally unstable.
Journals:
Aranda-Alvarado, Rocío. “Taking Old School Further.” American Art 18 (September 1, 2004): 1073-9300.
This article gives a thorough history and cultural insight behind graffiti. Graffiti can be seen as more of a method of urban communication rather than being seen and considered to be art. For example, members of groups place their names publicly to identify or “tag” their territories. This written/non-verbal form of communication tells others who have been to that location, and to whom the area belongs, and it is also a designation of power and ownership.
Best, Curwen. “Reading Graffiti in the Caribbean Context.” Journal of Popular Culture 36 (Spring 2003): 828-853.
Graffiti is prevalent in the Caribbean area. It is usually created by lower-class individuals who need a way to express themselves artistically. A focus is given to the non-verbal
communication conveyed through the graffiti that only a select group of people truly un- understand.
Colin, Colin Berry. “Black Magic.” Print 55 (May 1, 2001): 41-46.
This is an excellent article that explains a lot about the culture and ideas behind graffiti. Some people idolize graffiti artists, while others see it as an act of vandalism. Little has changed concerning society’s reaction to graffiti art over the years. This article addresses the idea of “Black books,” where graffiti-like art can be legal and a way to put graffiti art on paper.
Jarvis, James. “Fresh From the Streets.” Creative Review 22 (September 2002): 68-70. This article celebrates graffiti art, saying that since it is not artwork on canvas, it is something special and unique. The author describes it as “self-contained,” with only a select group of people who understand and create the art that you see on the streets. Graffiti is seen as a growth and expansion of the art world.
Kriegel, Leonard. “Graffiti-Tunnel Notes of a New Yorker.” American Scholar 62 (June 1, 1993): 431-437.
This article discusses the presence of graffiti in New York over several decades. It addresses graffiti as a statement rather than as art. The author thinks that graffiti is an annoying “destruction of urban life.” The article is full of arguments, addressing the fact that people call graffiti art, yet in this author’s opinion, it is not art but rather an act of vandalism.
Plesch, Véronique. “Memory on the Wall: Graffiti on Religious Wall Paintings.” Journal of Medieval & Early Modern Studies 32 (Winter 2002): 167-198.
This article sees graffiti as vandalism and thinks that the streets were not made to
be a public statement. It focuses on the presence of graffiti in places that have religious ties. The author complains about how many times, graffiti goes unnoticed and ignored, even though it might be present over another work of art.
Powers, Lynn. “Whatever Happened to the Graffiti Art Movement?” Journal of Popular Culture 29 (March 1, 1996): 137-143.
This article addresses the fact that graffiti art may have only been popular because
the graffiti art was created by “poor minority criminals,” making people fascinated by it. However, this fascination seemed to die after a while, ending the graffiti art movement. The author says that the movement was successful in the New York City area, bringing people into the lives of artistic expression amongst the poverty and crime.
Internet Sites:
The Anti-Graffiti FAQ. February 2005. Available [Online]: <http://www.dougweb.com/faq.html> [1 October 2005]
This website contains everything one would need to know about how graffiti is illegal, a nuisance, and most importantly NOT art. The distinction is made between graffiti and commissioned street art, like murals for example. The author of the site also brings up an important point that many graffiti artists and advocates do not want it legalized, be- cause that is part of the thrill that people get from it.
Graffiti. February 2004. Available [Online]: <http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/DEMARTINE/Graffiti.html> [3 October 2005]
This website is very useful because it defines a lot of slang and vocabulary associated with the art of graffiti. A timeline of graffiti is also present on the site, clearly showing the
progression of graffiti from the 1960's to the present. An essay/discussion addresses the fact that graffiti can be BOTH art and vandalism.
Graffiti Art: An Essay Concerning The Recognition of Some Forms of Graffiti As Art. Fall 1997. Available [Online]: <http://www.nograffiti.com/files/files5/graffiti_art.htm> [1 Octo- ber 2005]
This website/essay glorifies graffiti as art and argues against the fact that many people consider it vandalism. The history of graffiti is presented in great detail and many misconceptions about graffiti and the people who create it are also argued. The author be- believes that graffiti art is just as important as any other work of art presented in a gallery, the only difference is the location and medium used to create it.
Graffiti as Art in New York City. 7 April 2002. Available [Online]: <http://www.littleviews.com/home/newyork/graffiti.cfm?KW=&date_range=> [2 October 2005]
This website celebrates the fact that graffiti is in fact art. The author agrees that graffiti can be seen as vandalism and defacing personal and public property, but also thinks that city walls can look too bland when they are free of colorful and interesting graffiti art. Mural art is quite similar to graffiti art, except that it is legal because people are hired to do a form of street art.
Graffiti-Art or Vandalism? 10 March 2005. Available [Online]: <http://olcweb.dit.ac.za/ditonline/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1103> [4 October 2005]
This article has strong reasons as to why graffiti is in fact vandalism rather than art. The author thinks that there is a difference between illegal graffiti and legal art that is similar to graffiti. Graffiti, in this author’s opinion, is just a bunch of juveniles with spray paint cans in their hands, vandalizing the streets.
Graffiti: Vandalism Posing as Art? September 2005. Available [Online]: <http://www.users.bigpond.com/rdoolan/graffiti.html> [2 October 2005]
This website brings up the point that even though graffiti can look like art, it is still the de-construction of public or personal property. It takes preventative measures how to get rid of graffiti. The website alludes to the way New York City cleans up some of its graffiti problems and how graffiti is an old problem dating back to ancient Egypt.
The Purpose of Graffiti. November 2004. Available [Online]: <http://hs.riverdale.k12.or.us/~dthompso/exhibition/student_pages/2001/amx/exhibitionfi naldraft.htm> [4 October 2005]
This website/essay addresses what graffiti actually means. It is a form of communication, but an elite form of communication that only a certain group of people truly under- stand. It also argues that just because it is vandalism, that does not mean that it cannot be art as well. The author believes eliminating graffiti would be a way of silencing this select group of people and not letting them express themselves.
So You Wanna Write on Walls. June 1996. Available [Online]: <http://www.bombhiphop.com/newbomb/bombpages/articles/graffiti/So%20You %20Wanna%20Write%20On%20Walls.htm> [5 October 2005]
This website is very helpful, yet unusual. It instructs graffiti artists about the unwritten rules associated with creating the images. People need to know the history, not get too egotistical, work hard, and not to snitch. This website features some strong language as well.
