It's everywhere you look (and everywhere you don't). There's so much of it around that it almost becomes invisible. Just part of the scene. Graffiti is becoming a real problem. It's ugly (although some would argue this), it's costing tax payers millions in clean up bills and it's just plain old wrong. Treating other's property with care is an important lesson, learnt in childhood but is this writing, this 'self expression', teaching our children the exact opposite?
My girls, GB5 and GB4 have reached the age where they know what's right and what's wrong. They also notice things. They notice everything.
I can't count how many times we've had this conversation;
Mum, why did they write on that house?
Some people do that because they think it might be fun but it's the wrong thing to do. It's very important that we treat other people's things very carefully and don't ruin them. The people living there must feel pretty sad that someone has written on their house...
I can see their little minds ticking over long after our conversation and I know that everytime we pass a graffitied wall, sidewalk, building - they see it. What is this teaching them? Should the government be dealing with vandalism more harshly, on account of the message it sends younger generations? I thought it was great when a judge recently sent a young woman to jail for gracing Sydney buildings with her artwork. The majority of the public didn't seem to agree though. There was an outcry. People thought the punishment too harsh, not fitting the crime.
My thought is this; if we don't deal with the problem now, how much worse will it get, as younger generations grow up thinking it the norm?
Image thanks to http://image.guardian.co.uk
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Some graffiti I personally love. Maybe its because i'm in an "arty" area, and it isnt just scrawl, but a full-on colour explosion, a picture, or when it IS a name, it is done so cleverly that you have to at least admire the skill in producing it (who has ever tried to use a pray can? that stuff goes everywhere! how do they get such control?)
ReplyDeleteIts still illegal though, but we tend to tolerate it because 95% of it is actually good, and is thoughtfully placed - as in public buildings not private homes/businesses, fences, signs etc. The artists here also take pride in their work, and any graffitti on their work they fix quite fast. Within the culture thats also really rude to tag someone elses work, so doesnt happen too often. I guess we accept it as something we cant stop, and at least it is better than here than elsewhere.
As for the outcry re gaol, I think that is all about proportion more than anything, and rightly so. If violent offenders can walk free, how can a nusience offender do time?
Hey Epskee - thanks for your comment :o) You're so right about the talent of some of these artists. Their images are almost 3D! I definitely enjoy graffiti when it's done in the right place. That's when it can be truly appreciated.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to jail time - I think our justice system is a long way up the creek - don't you think? The fact that violent crims and paedophiles walk free is terrible... The judges should just ask us what to do - We'll fix em!