Graffitti Insight

It is not so hard to understand why graffitti writers do what they do. Everything that each of us enjoy in life, for some rhyme or reason it makes us feel some type of way. For some people it may be for empowerment, self expression when you think no one is listening, etc... As stated in a portion of the "Style Wars" clip, what we enjoy doing can also give you a sense of identity or belonging. What ever it is that you enjoy, it makes you feel good or better atleast temporarily.

Youth play a major roll in graffitti writing, is it hard to belleive? Youth have the most unrespected voice. America seems to feel like youth dont know anything about life and what can they (youth) possibly teach adults whom have lived through more experiences (general). America does not give youth an opinion. I completely understand why doing graffitti would be a way of being noticed and acknowledged for their existance. It's like saying "we're here" and "what we think and feel matters".

When graffitti artist write, I look at it as a form of art when it is in the format of a burner, a piece or wild style, etc. To me that is a form of art. However, my view is a little different when it is a toy or a tag. While I understand that due to NY city laws it was the easiest way to continue doing graffitti. I do not view those two forms of graffitti as art. I view toys or tags as vandalism. In my view, there is no message or picture or creativity in tags or toys. In my view tags and toys are to be written on bathroom walls in the girls or boys bathroom.

Every morning I ride by the NATS Stadium in SW Washington DC. There is an area where new condos and high rises where just built in the past year. I cant remember the name of the street but there is a gate with boards attached to it which allows for graffitti artist to write (picture of location above). My questions is, why if someone pays you to express yourself is it then acceptable but if you do it just for the love of it and by free will it is not viewed as creative? Could that be why people dont respect HH rap music anymore? Is it because when it was done by free will and in the form of expression and delivered a tru message but not at a high paying rate that it was respectable; and now that you can make a living from it some rappers, possibly such as soulja boy and lilwayne are chasing the money from the rap game, is it no longer an art form?