30 Dec 2002 | huphtur said...

too long of a read that 'broken windows' article. give us a summary. heh

30 Dec 2002 | JF said...

From the article:

Social psychologists and police officers tend to agree that if a window in a building is broken and is left unrepaired, all the rest of the windows will soon be broken. This is as true in nice neighborhoods as in rundown ones. Window-breaking does not necessarily occur on a large scale because some areas are inhabited by determined window-breakers whereas others are populated by window-lovers; rather, one unrepaired broken window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more windows costs nothing.

Philip Zimbardo, a Stanford psychologist, reported in 1969 on some experiments testing the broken-window theory. He arranged to have an automobile without license plates parked with its hood up on a street in the Bronx and a comparable automobile on a street in Palo Alto, California. The car in the Bronx was attacked by "vandals" within ten minutes of its "abandonment." The first to arrive were a family--father, mother, and young son--who removed the radiator and battery. Within twenty-four hours, virtually everything of value had been removed. Then random destruction began--windows were smashed, parts torn off, upholstery ripped. Children began to use the car as a playground. Most of the adult "vandals" were well-dressed, apparently clean-cut whites. The car in Palo Alto sat untouched for more than a week. Then Zimbardo smashed part of it with a sledgehammer. Soon, passersby were joining in. Within a few hours, the car had been turned upside down and utterly destroyed. Again, the "vandals" appeared to be primarily respectable whites.

31 Dec 2002 | paul said...

i love good graffiti. vancouver has some pretty decent artists too. i had a bunch of photos of some of the better stuff, but i've unfortunately deleted em from my site.

31 Dec 2002 | huphtur said...

maybe its always been there, and you just started noticing it, which could have 'opened' your eyes?

but yeah, here in LA, i have noticed an increase as well. personally i dont mind.

31 Dec 2002 | alisha said...

theres a few areas here that get repeatedly attacked so they turned a few of them into "grafitti-free" areas where people can come and have at it. Seems to work well.

31 Dec 2002 | Charlie Park said...

I imagine that graffitti, like AIDS, faced tough opposition years ago, and, over time, people basically forgot to keep fighting it. One or two small successes, and city councilmembers figure "I've done my part. I'll let the people after me deal with the rest of it." Only, the people who follow them don't see graffitti as an issue that needs their attention, so they let it slip. Then, over time, it becomes a problem again.

Personally, I'm torn. I love the art and personal expression that grafitti offers, but I recognize that not everyone sees it as beautiful, and a lot of people would rather have unmarked bridge spans and retaining walls.

I like Alisha's point (if I'm not misunderstanding it), about areas where graffitti is allowed ... but I wonder if it would ultimately deal with the graffitti issue. A subculture founded in rebellion probably won't kowtow to the Man so easily. That is, if I were a graf artist, I think I would see bombing those graffitti zones as selling out. My guess is that areas where graffitti is accepted only gets people who wouldn't normally graffitti something to try it out in that safe zone.

31 Dec 2002 | JF said...

For those who like grafitti, let me know if you change your opinion when a building or home you own is defaced by spray paint.

31 Dec 2002 | huphtur said...

cant wait for that to happen!

31 Dec 2002 | paul said...

my building *is* covered in grafitti, so are the buildings around it... that didn't change my mind.

31 Dec 2002 | JF said...

Paul, do you OWN the building or just work in it?

31 Dec 2002 | Scott M. said...

It's funny that you mention it, JF, but I have noticed a bit more around where i live recently (Lincoln Square). There's one corner of my apartment building on the alley they keep spraying. Fortunately my mgmt co. takes care of it the same day. There's also a big fence across the street they like to get as well, but the people who live there re-paint pretty quickly.

I'm not sure what grafitti y'all are talking about, but the kind we get around where I live is quickly scrawled black paint that's unintelligible. I've been told a lot of it is gang's marking territory (or maybe that was in Evanston). Whatever it is, it's not artistic in any way and has no redeeming value.

And I completely agree with the broken window theory. If I see any I'll today I'll take some photos...

31 Dec 2002 | Darrel said...

Grafitti is just plain rude.

As an art form, it can be quite nice, but as a practice, it's just petty vandalism.

31 Dec 2002 | tomas said...

I like grafitti, but I'm lucky enough to live in San Francisco where I get to see as many artistic pieces as unintelligible scrawls. There are some photos of stuff I like on my site linked above.

If I owned a building that was constantly being tagged, I'd probably commission a piece for the spot by a grafitti artist I liked--that usually dissuades the casual taggers. Dozens of corner stores in S.F. have successfully used this strategy.

31 Dec 2002 | CK said...

Instead of bitching about the graffitti, why not do your neighborhood a favor, and clean it up?

31 Dec 2002 | JF said...

Instead of bitching about the graffitti, why not do your neighborhood a favor, and clean it up?

We're lucky in Chicago -- all you have to do is call Mayor Daley's free Grafitti Busters and they come and clean it up.

31 Dec 2002 | ek said...

Though they're not really free in that I'm guessing they're funded through tax dollars. I think it's great that such a service exists, but if people didn't tag up in the first place that money could go to more useful endeavors. Oh well, I guess it does create some jobs though.

31 Dec 2002 | bruno said...

shit, my van is totally fucking covered in graffiti and I still LOVE IT. keeps the rent down for us working class folks. else all of brooklyn, queens, bronx, silverlake and echo park would be gentrified by now!

back to empty trash in this office building.

31 Dec 2002 | bruno said...

well i guess SIlverlake LA is all gentrified by now anyway.

02 Jan 2003 | alisha said...

am I allowed to interupt this graffiti area with one of the most beautiful, thoughtful websites Ive seen in a long time?
www.tofteproject.info
Its a sustainabile design project with beautiful but meaningful + appropriate navigational use.
DMR would like this one - (wasnt it DMR who designed that beautiful flash website about florida swampland that we all liked so much?)

02 Jan 2003 | Don Schenck said...

Thank you Jason! Graffiti is vandalism, pure and simple. Let them paint the automobiles and homes of those who think it is "art".

Art? Art is what I purchase at Yorkfest, original art by local artists on canvas or paper that I can get framed and hang in my home.

02 Jan 2003 | JF said...

Thank you Jason! Graffiti is vandalism, pure and simple.

Thank you Don!

02 Jan 2003 | williams said...

Grafitti on a wall - depending on the subject and execution, not so bad. Grafitti on my car or house, ass beating. Tagging? Dumb. Murals? Ok - depending on execution.

02 Jan 2003 | jay said...

LA folks, good thing Chief Bratton is going to clean up all the grafitti for us, eh? I believe in the broken window theory, but I think LA's problems run much deeper than grafitti.

Silverlake gentrified? By LA standards, maybe. The hills are nice, but Sunset's still pretty gritty and south of there? I got mugged while looking for an apartment. I think the guy felt bad when I told him that's what I was doing. Not the best way to represent his 'hood.

Los Feliz, Silverlake, and Echo Park are being transformed as the trendiness attached to their arts and music scenes travels eastward. Many artists and musicians and the galleries and clubs where they show and perform are limited to low income areas. They're community people, so they gravitate together until SoHo becomes a scene, everyone wants to live and show there, and the people who built it (and those who lived there before art came to town) are priced out and have to move to the Village or LES or Williamsburg. Still, I often hear warnings about going to see shows at the Silverlake Lounge (from those who have clearly never tried to find The Smell). I think Silverlake has awhile before Prada moves in.

02 Jan 2003 | andrew said...

I wouldn't call it graffiti in my neighborhood. Just crude tagging. What's really annoying is the tagger uses my initials! He's hit my property twice. Bastard! There are some cool murals along the blue line in Chicago, tho'.

03 Jan 2003 | freejoe76 said...

haven't noticed more graffiti round the hood, but definitely a lot more gang activity has been going on here (humboldt park)in the past few months ... weird, 'specially considering it's so cold out.

09 Jan 2003 | ek said...

Wow, that site is really nice alisha -- thanks for the link!

One nice detail I noticed is that when you close any particular "topic" the audio doesn't just cut out, but fades out. Very nice aural tie in with the visual zoom out of the topic.

04 Feb 2003 | j said...

unless the bystanders participate thell never understand
graff. is better then a plain wall, just youre molded a certain way to see it as you do a plain wall just shows society as robots working towords the economy! walls with graff. are alive they speack out , thanks to kids risking freedom and staying up working controlling the visual while everybody sleeps the grafitti takes sacrafice on the wrighters part.

04 Feb 2003 | j said...

and continuing tags are part of it you cant do big peices everywhere and if youre down with (legal) murals and dont risk it for youre art youre really not down youre not even doing real graff. also im sick of these dumb bastards thinking that graff. writerz are gangbangers and thugs, there just normal kids hidden in the crowd by day , kings by night!

04 Feb 2003 | j said...

and as to the value you of tags cant read it tobad what is and isnt art is a state of mind ive beent to art galleries and seen the stupidest shit sell for thousands meanwhile grafitti artists do it for free

06 Feb 2003 | Mesya said...

Grafitti is art, maybe what some moron scrawled on your place wasn't but. graf is an artform that takes just as much skill, talent and ten times more balls than any other in history. Most of the places that you see this art on, (not the crap its confused with) are over advertisements. roof tops along tracks, on barren unattractive walls in allys, and on leagal walls. It can be political, it can be for the competiton. to see who is better, who can get up more, it can be for no reason at all, it is gurilla expression. If nothing else you need to respect the grafitti artist. If cought, they face a fellony, same as if you knocked over a liquor store. You need to at least respect anyone who is willing to scale a water tower, or climb onto the roofs along the L just to leave their art for all to see.
www.artcrimes.com

24 Feb 2003 | The Punisher said...

My car got tagged. Tagged with bare hands, running through the grime to spell out indecipherable words and slogans.

That didn't bother me too much, I knew I had to wash my car soon. What pissed me off, was seeing the FOOTPRINTS! Three sets of footprints, running across the hood, roof, and trunk. The same footprints were on the ground also. A section of my hood is dented now.

My first thought was "Murder". I will track down, and murder those who dared to violate my ride. Common sense said, "Give 'em Hell instead". I remembered that a group of 16 year olds was hanging out in front of my building the night before. I had recognized one of them. I talked to his older brother, and showed him the damage. I heard him yelling at his little brother that afternoon...
...AND SO IT BEGINS.
That night, his brother explained that his little brother and his pals have a little gang. Nothing serious, they just like to ride their bikes and skateboards, and KNOCK PEOPLE'S MIRRORS OFF AND TAG CARS!!
2 days later, one of lil' brother's pals was hanging out at his house. I explained that I had taken photos of the damage, and that I had not called the police. I also explained that nothing else was to happen to my car, because next time they all hang out I'm getting a group photo. I explained how nothing else will happen to my car, because if it does, I show the pictures to the cops.
2 days ago, I got the group photo. 3 really nice photos. By the time the camera clicked twice, the guy I had spoken with suddenly got quiet. In fact, they all looked nervous.

Amazingly, no cars have been tagged or vandalized since then. I weighed the cost of me going to jail, vs messing with their heads. It turned out that psychological terror is the way to go.

06 May 2003 | jae said...

your a tosser and it sounds to me like you like taking pics of kids t@ts just freaky .

18 May 2003 | Isa said...

I live near San Francisco, and everytime I go up to the city, I love seeing the tags on the fences around me. Actually, I'm going to switch rooms in my house in 2 or 3 months, and I am looking for a professional grafitti artist to come and tag my name on the wall in my room. Naturally, I'm having a lot of trouble trying to find someone. If any of you knows someone who I could talk to and see a sample of their work, that would be great. E-mail me if you know someone, my e-mail is [email protected]. Thanks.

05 Jun 2003 | waldo said...

I've been a writer(grafitti jerk) in chicago for over a decade.Daley does one hell of a job pissing myself and my counterparts off. Ohhhh ya know what fuck all of you yuppie scum. You're all lucky my white as isn't a fucking arsonist..You preppie bitches would smell like burnt toast...

21 Jun 2003 | STEVEN BLASTNER. M.D said...

GRAFITTI IS A ACT OF ART, SOMETIMES IT CAN BE A CRIME ,BUT MOSTLY ITS A GREAT THING.

21 Jun 2003 | STEVEN BLASTNER. M.D said...

GRAFITTI IS A ACT OF ART, SOMETIMES IT CAN BE A CRIME ,BUT MOSTLY ITS A GREAT THING.

21 Jun 2003 | STEVEN BLASTNER. M.D said...

GRAFITTI IS ART NOT A CRIME! IT SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY RUINING THE GRAFITTI WRITERS LIVES BY PUTTING THEM IN JAIL OR GIVING THEM A RECORD>

21 Jun 2003 | STEVEN BLASTNER. M.D said...

GRAFITTI IS ART NOT A CRIME! IT SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY RUINING THE GRAFITTI WRITERS LIVES BY PUTTING THEM IN JAIL OR GIVING THEM A RECORD>

21 Jun 2003 | STEVEN BLASTNER. M.D said...

GRAFITTI IS ART NOT A CRIME! IT SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY RUINING THE GRAFITTI WRITERS LIVES BY PUTTING THEM IN JAIL OR GIVING THEM A RECORD>

24 Jul 2003 | taggin in the city said...

grafitti often is confused with vandilism.Grafitti is art vandilism is smashin windows at the high school .grafitti isnt sum shit in the museum its the art of the people its free for everyone to see and in there own way own it. Grafitti will never stop im just doing my part

02 Aug 2003 | Razor One said...

Charlie Park is an idiot

"I imagine that graffitti, like AIDS, faced tough opposition years ago, and, over time, people basically forgot to keep fighting it"

comparing graffiti to Aids is among the stupidous things I have ever heard. Graffiti, in one form or another, has existed since the Neolithic. Graffiti is thousands of years old. The modern graffiti movement began in the late 70's and is already found in every city on earth. Not just the vandalism aspect, but the entire culture has carried over with it. Graffiti writers can go anywhere and find the same social dynamic with the locals, crews are the same around the world. Graffiti is inevitable and impossible to remove forever. People who wish to do so are hypocrites as well, seeing how no one has prolems with advertising. Funny how people with enough money can buy the privledge of cramming their ideologies and products down are throat but when people do the exact same thing without permission it's illegal.

Well I hate to burst some bubbles here but no one owns the world. In fact, since all things come from the earth, no one owns anything. People can only own that which they can control, regardless though whatever you have is stolen. For one person to have another must go without. Poor people exist because rich people exist. You cannot have one without the other. The is a finite amount of resources on earth. The problem of graffiti stems from larger issues and cracking down on it won't solve anything. Treat the affliction, not the sympton.

06 Aug 2003 | lacey said...

graffiti is art.... nothing more nothing less... it's beautiful... and very worth any space it takes up... people hate it because other people hate it because other people hate it because they are jealous... a hideous chain of wasted hate

08 Aug 2003 | Art said...

Grafitti is art only to an extent.. I live in a neighborhood where grafitti is almost as common as people on the streets, everyone having their own style and colors.. I dont mind grafitti when its colorful and well done, while also being something to look at without having to worry about a new crew coming up.. The thing i hate about grafitti is that most of the taggers half-witted douches who try to tag up a garage, and does a piss poor job at it, leaving ugly black scratches behind.... Grafitti can be a very well done work of art..

I have done my share of tagging in the past , but there really isnt that much of a need for graffiti that everyone needs to buy a can and mark up anything standing up verticle...

The only real problem with grafitti is that it can lead to many other things, good and bad... Todays taggers are either tomorrows gangs or artists..

The debate can go either way.. Its really just how its looked at on the cover..

09 Nov 2003 | ninja said...

i am study grafitti 4 my a level art project and i think that it is art and not vandalism.there are many different forms of grafitti and most of them are great. if u compare grafitti 2 muralists then they are very similar!!!!!!

20 Nov 2003 | universal health care said...

no more than usual