Graffitti as Art

Graffitti as art can be seen in certain areas in New York, particularly in the Lower East Side. Most graffitti defaces public property and is unsightly.

Many times graffitti art may be created as a reaction to a violent death. In certain playgrounds in the Lower East Side, there are depictions of a person and the words "R.I.P." appear nearby. Perhaps doing graffitti is a young person's reaction to the untimely death of a young person in the neighborhood.

Maybe neighborhood centers and social groups should reach out to young people who live in areas where gang activity and violence are prevalent. There are more healthy, productive ways to express grief. For example, programs could be established where former graffitti artists draw on canvases which will be displayed in schools and clubs. Also, some graffitti artists could beautify the neighborhood by planting flowers and shrubs in memory of a deceased loved one.

While graffitti as art may have its merits in certain cases, most people consider it to be vandalism.