How threatening is the graffiti or tagging that is done in the suburbs?
i don’t think it’s easy to answer whether graffiti is art or plain vandalism. I guess for me I give ‘tagging’ the label of vandalism. The multi-coloured and complex artistic efforts of graffiti, I perceive as art. I think that if it wasn’t for the fact that the majority is placed on private property without the owners permission then it may be more recognized as art. We have a new youth building where I live and the walls are purposefully covered in non-offensive graffiti which actually looks amazing. It is the offensive wording and the lack of respect that some people have when they spray the graffiti on private property, that is annoying. Maybe these people should invest their skills in art courses etc. rather than inappropriately colouring the streets, or spraying offensive words around. I guess if you are in a ‘street culture’ the tagging/graffiti has more meaning and possibly threatening for other reasons.
