Tagging and Graffiti - Victoria University of Wellington
Tagging and Graffiti - Victoria University of Wellington
Tagging and Graffiti - Victoria University of Wellington
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<strong>Tagging</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Graffiti</strong>: attitudes <strong>and</strong> experiences <strong>of</strong> New Zeal<strong>and</strong>ers<br />
Findings<br />
The survey results <strong>and</strong> data from the focus groups is presented below in relation to three<br />
broad themes: general attitudes toward graffiti, the commissioning <strong>of</strong> graffiti <strong>and</strong> tagging,<br />
<strong>and</strong> desistance from graffiti <strong>and</strong> tagging.<br />
General attitudes toward graffiti<br />
The on-line questionnaire asked some introductory questions about the status <strong>and</strong> nature <strong>of</strong><br />
graffiti. Table 2 shows the results <strong>of</strong> these questions <strong>and</strong> indicates a broad distribution <strong>of</strong><br />
views in relation to the status <strong>of</strong> graffiti as v<strong>and</strong>alism that should not be tolerated, with<br />
almost equal proportions <strong>of</strong> respondents in each category <strong>of</strong> responses. The survey showed a<br />
high-level <strong>of</strong> agreement that graffiti should be tolerated in some circumstances: 39.0 per cent<br />
‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ with the statement in the question. Both responses suggest that<br />
no distinct public perspective was articulated about the nature <strong>of</strong> graffiti in general terms.<br />
Table 2: Attitudes toward graffiti <strong>and</strong> tagging (number <strong>and</strong> percentages)<br />
<strong>Graffiti</strong> is<br />
v<strong>and</strong>alism <strong>and</strong><br />
should never be<br />
tolerated<br />
<strong>Graffiti</strong> is an urban<br />
art-form that<br />
should be valued<br />
in some<br />
circumstances<br />
Strongly<br />
agree<br />
Agree<br />
Neither<br />
agree nor<br />
disagree<br />
Disagree<br />
Strongly<br />
disagree<br />
Total<br />
% n % n % n % n % n % n<br />
17.3 124 21.7 155 21.8 156 21.7 155 17.5 125 100 715<br />
41.8 312 40.1 299 9.4 70 5.2 39 3.5 26 100 746<br />
That respondent attitudes toward graffiti <strong>and</strong> tagging were nuanced is further evident from<br />
the results presented in Table 3, which shows that only a small minority (12.2 per cent) felt<br />
that graffiti was a ‘bad thing’ in all cases. By far the majority <strong>of</strong> respondents argued that the<br />
circumstances determined whether graffiti is a negative thing. Male respondents were more<br />
likely than female to respond that graffiti was never a bad thing <strong>and</strong> slightly more likely to<br />
say it was always a bad thing, <strong>and</strong> considerable differences were found between those less<br />
than 30 <strong>and</strong> older respondents: while 11.4 per cent <strong>of</strong> 22-23 year olds, for example,<br />
answered that graffiti is always a bad thing, this proportion was much higher among those<br />
who were 30+ (19.0 per cent) <strong>and</strong> the 40+ age cohort (38.7 per cent). Those who reported<br />
that they had written graffiti were most likely to report that it is never a ‘bad thing’ (23.4 per<br />
cent).<br />
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