Grafitti - Art or Vandalism?

I think it depends on where it is. If its on an abonaned builing its art. If its on something new or whatever its vandalism!

I think that it depends. It is like you said, if a mural is done then I think that it is art. But if it is just straight up tagging and cursing and all the other "gang"/teenie bopper stuff, then that is vandalism.

i think its more vandalism than art. Graffiti people seem rats. Or they have an good painting on mind to paint on the wall, or they should be quiet. its so studip that tags and nick names only on black.

I believe that any visual form of self-expression is art. Now, that doesn't include people spray-painting the name of their gang on the side of a building. That's not art, that's BS machismo. I think that technically it's only a punishable offense if it's done on private property. Otherwise, I happen to really enjoy looking at graffiti. I feel like it represents a part of life that a lot of people don't want to look at.

Depends on where and what it is. Is it tasteful? Is it in a place that effects the environment poorly?

art. just depends where it is placed. a cry for help represented in art.

It all depends on the kind of art the grafitti artists does and where he puts it. I remember one time when someone went to the school where I worked over a weekend and spray-painted huge, black grafitti all over the outside brick walls. It looked horrible, and it cost the school a bundle of money that could have been better used elsewhere to get it removed. I have also seen pictures of grafitti that I have thought are beautiful and which actually made the place it was painted look better than it had previously. Bottom line here: grafitti can be constructive or destructive.

It all depends on the kind of art the grafitti artists does and where he puts it. I remember one time when someone went to the school where I worked over a weekend and spray-painted huge, black grafitti all over the outside brick walls. It looked horrible, and it cost the school a bundle of money that could have been better used elsewhere to get it removed. I have also seen pictures of grafitti that I have thought are beautiful and which actually made the place it was painted look better than it had previously. Bottom line here: grafitti can be constructive or destructive.

depends where it is... but i like as an art..

It is both. It is an art, but if painted on public areas, it is vandalism.

I think if it's done anywhere without permission, regardless of whether it's anew building or not, then it's vandalism. Persoanlly I don't like the look of graffiti art, even when it's been done as a mural

I believe that any visual form of self-expression is art. Now, that doesn't include people spray-painting the name of their gang on the side of a building. That's not art, that's BS machismo. I think that technically it's only a punishable offense if it's done on private property. Otherwise, I happen to really enjoy looking at graffiti. I feel like it represents a part of life that a lot of people don't want to look at.

Grafitti is art and I think ppl should stop doing it as a act of vandalism and seeing it as vandalism. Do you see the Mona Lisa as Vadalism? What if it were painted outside of a building?

Both, it depends on the location of the graffiti. I think if it is on an abandoned building or such that it is art and if it is on a new structure of frequented public property then it is vandalism.

when they're placed on public walls and they're unauthorized, i think they're vandalism already. those that are written and drawn on public comfort rooms are specially annoying and disrespectful and if there's a stronger word for vandalism, this would belong to it.

some is vandalism but other are art... :)

it depends what kind of graffiti...

I believe that graffiti as art is quite decorative and pleasant to the eye. However, graffiti that is vulgar with abusive language is disgusting. In Lisbon, the City Hall has a wall where they allow people to come in and paint up a storm in a panel all their own. However, a preview of what the artist intends to do is necessary before he is allowed to start. I'm not sure how much time each completed wall stays but at some point the graffiti is removed or plastered over and they start again. I have also seen graffiti painting on buildings that have one completely blank wall and these are very tasteful. I would say that I am 80& for and 20& against....if that is possible.

Well either way that you put it Grafitti is Grafitti and shouldn';t be allowed. However this does not mean that the person doing the Grafitti can't switch his Grafitti profession to being an Artist so that we can all enjoy their work legally!