|
|
|
|
Graffiti - Mexican Gang Graffiti
It doesn't matter where you live in the world, chances are
you've seen graffiti somewhere around your local community.
It seems to spring up in every culture, although it tends to
be more prevalent in big cities.
But is it vandalism? Or is it art? That's a difficult
question to answer, mainly because there are so many
different types and styles of graffiti. The most basic form
of graffiti is "tagging" - which is usually a simple
graphic, usually letters, perhaps a play on the creator's
initials or nicknames. Often small and monochrome, it's
probably one of the most annoying and frustrating types of
graffiti, because it is small enough to deface almost any
surface, and is almost universally condemned as having no
artistic merit.
Graffiti, however, isn't restricted to tagging. On larger
surfaces, many graffiti artists employ multiple colors and
intricate designs to create their pictures. This is the type
of graffiti that starts to cross the line into being
artistic. It's this type of graffiti art that is now being
showcased in a number of art galleries, both in the USA and
around the world.
The other problem with graffiti as art is that the issue is
clouded by the location of the art. If some of these
stunning designs were created on a canvas, or a wall
specially set aside for the purpose, then it would be easier
to recognize them as art. Unfortunately most graffiti is
placed on private property, without the owner's consent, and
so is less likely to be viewed as a welcome addition.
Around the world, communities and governments have become
more vigilant in their attempts to reduce the amount of
graffiti. In many places there are community groups or
government funded teams who guarantee to clean up graffiti
in 24 hours after it's reported. Trains in New York were
given new coatings that allowed paint to just be "dissolved"
off their surfaces.
In my own local area, the sale of spray paint to persons
under 18 is illegal, and all spray paints are kept in locked
display cupboards. Another area has a team of painters who
regularly go around and repaint any fences that have been
covered in graffiti. One homeowner I know has had his fence
repainted 7 times so far! Over time, however, the amount of
graffiti reappearing is reducing, which is a victory for the
opponents of graffiti.
Still, simply removing the problem may in fact be a loss to
the artistic community in general. If graffiti is considered
in its most highly refined form, then are we in fact
stopping artistic development in its tracks by making it
impossible for budding graffiti artists to practice their
craft?
When you illegally deface someone else's property, no matter
how beautiful the art you create, you have still committed a
crime. Maybe what we need to do is find ways that graffiti
artists can learn and practice their craft, without needing
to deface hundreds of properties in the process. Some
communities now provide blank spaces and invite local
graffiti artists to paint them. Others have graffiti walls,
where anyone can paint whatever they want.
Maybe there needs to be a shift in the thinking of graffiti
artists, so they can discover the value of painting on
paper, rather than walls. Would the great painters of the
past still be as famous today if they had painted on walls,
rather than on canvas? The problem is complex, so finding a
solution that makes everyone happy is unlikely to be simple.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Some Other Useful Web Resources
|
1. A national conversation between Afro-Americans and Hispanics
... that he was appalled at the thought that Mexican workers seeking to fill reconstruction jobs ... ... black males are inherent drive-by-shooters, gang bangers, drug dealers, are lazy, have foul ...
http://www.afro-american- ...org/pages/2/index.htm |
2. ThinkQuest : Library : Conflict Resolution
... out what role apparel, hand signals, and graffiti play in gang identification and communication. Ways ... ... ThinkQuest Internet Challenge The Impact of The Mexican Culture on America. The purpose of this ...
http://www.thinkquest.org ..._show.html?cat_id=107 |
3. Criminal Justice Resources Resources: Gangs
... late 18th century and early 19th century with Mexican bandits and roving marauders in what would ... ... importance of being familiar with gang tattoos, colors and graffiti. These symbols are designed to ...
http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/crimjust/gangs.htm |
4. book stores childrens books
... childrens undergarments authentic childrens mexican clothing childrens nfl clothing childrens ... ... hard to find signs of gang activity on the Crow Indian Reservation. The graffiti is big and blatant ...
http://www.children-stuff ...--childrens-books.php |
5. Things to do in Los Angeles - City Secrets - Los Angeles Travel Information
... store owners and keeps graffiti from defacing buildings. And ... strong spiritual symbol among Mexican Catholics living in ... business out of harm's way. Gang bangers and grandmothers cross ...
http://www.thingstodo-los ...sp?FIELD=City_Secrets |
6. The Color of Money
... parties. The fourth element, graffiti, or graf (also known as ... we now heavily suspect were gang and police operatives speak ... renaissance that followed the Mexican Revolution, is a marvel of ...
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060227/tate |
7. GTA San Andreas : Gangs
... by street warnings, wall graffiti, or simply violence. In Los ... s - Involved in drug dealing, gang banging, prostitution, arms ... and thought to have ties with Mexican (Drugs), and Russian (Weapons ...
http://www.gtasanandreas.net/gangs/ |
8. Urban wear, mexican clothing, puerto rican clothing, hip hop clothing, socce...
... 99 Item #1986 Click to enlarge Size Small Medium Large Extra Large Style T-shirt Sleeveless aa Click to enlarge Urban Graffiti T-shirt Unlimited Get ahead of the gang with this classic, reversed out ...
http://www.guapowear.com/tshirts_men.html |
9. Downtown LA Lofts - Buy, Sell, Rent or Tour
... Homeboy Industries helps former and at-risk gang members with job training, counseling and job ... ... by Sumner Hunt, and in the 1940s housed a Mexican consulate. It is just north of Grand Central ...
http://loftlivingla.com/index.php |
10. Modbee.com | The Modesto Bee
... challenging him to claim a gang, Lionel told them he didn't ... and tag school walls with graffiti, Lionel chose not to. P.E ... s that boy that goes with that Mexican girl." At lunch, Lionel ...
http://www.modbee.com/lif ...52517p-13082558c.html |
11. Frank Matheis
... The Street---Aretha Franklin Graffiti --Michael Powers Louisiana ... Dave Stuckey & The Rhythm Gang Skokiaan--Joe Goldmark Illegal ... The Only Rescue--John Bunzow Mexican Girl-Jackie Greene It's The ...
http://www.frankspicks.com/ |
12. flame tattoo ohio parlor tattoo celtic moon tattoo
... Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish.Tattoo Art > Graffiti / Lettering - Tattoo Artists.org Photo ... ... girl pinup tattoo design religious tattoo gang mexican tattoo scorpion tattoo flame tatfoo flame ...
http://tattoo.silkasite.com/flame-tattoo/ |
13. Bob the Angry Flower
... subdued, had dinner (yummy Mexican pork medallions) with Ruben ... guards around Joss and the gang or they'd be mobbed; I know ... managed to sneak into the Graffiti party, the big private party ...
http://www.angryflower.com/index22.html |
14. Flaming Alcoholic.com! - Lowrider Art Drawings - mini cooper technical drawi...
... Art. Lowrider Drawings. Mexican Gang Tattoos ... www.twofivesix.co ... lowrider, lowriders and mexican drawings, lowrider drawings ... top lowrider, lowrider car, graffiti drawings of lowriders, mini ...
http://lowrider-art-drawings.flamingalcoholic.com/ |
15. Golden eagle! Tied spread eagle and tied spread eagle with american bald eagle!!
... I Visions download bloodhound gang foxtrot to get the beatles ... Dub Rmx) mp3 old and eagle on mexican flag The Long Run download ... music 10 Physical Graffiti music In The City music the ...
http://www.winebytheclass.com/Eagles.html |
16. Anton Gill, excerpt about The White Rose
... had been picked up by a gang of SA and spat upon to order ... s eponymous novel, in which a Mexican farmer fights a tyrannical ... the need to write anti-Nazi graffiti on walls. 'You'd need to use ...
http://www.writing.upenn. .../gill-white-rose.html |
17. Anatomy of a Zapatista Rebellion
... the streets of San CristÛbal, a gang member in Neza, a rocker on ... readers and a Zapatista in the Mexican southeast. In other words ... Enough!34 WORK CITED 1 Graffiti on a wall in San CristÛbal ...
http://www.projectsouth.org/resources/zap2.html |
18. newtimesbpb.com | News | Not Normel
... in garish hues. As in the graffiti bomber who drove cops and ... Finally, last June, the PBSO gang unit began staking out what it ... Tied Up at the Office °Ask a Mexican! Osama! Osama! Letters ...
http://www.newtimesbrowar ...-15/news/feature.html |
|
|
|
