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 />
Art. It is just expressing yourself.<br />
If you are pr<strong>of</strong>essional it is art.<br />
To other people it is v<strong>and</strong>alism but to us it is art.<br />
V<strong>and</strong>alism is when it is on someone’s property.<br />
If it is graffiti then it is art, if it is tagging then it is v<strong>and</strong>alism.<br />
Participants were asked to respond to a series <strong>of</strong> statements relating to potentially<br />
problematic aspects <strong>of</strong> graffiti <strong>and</strong> a similar list <strong>of</strong> positive attributes. Table 4 ranks these<br />
items according to the percentage <strong>of</strong> respondents who ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ with the<br />
list <strong>of</strong> problems <strong>and</strong> benefits. These results reinforce the complex <strong>and</strong> contradictory<br />
perceptions <strong>of</strong> graffiti <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> the impact that it has on individuals <strong>and</strong> society. While a clear<br />
majority agreed to some extent that graffiti is an art form there was also a strong agreement<br />
that graffiti damages property <strong>and</strong> some agreement that it impacts on perceptions <strong>of</strong><br />
neighbourhoods.<br />
Table 4: Positive <strong>and</strong> negative attributes <strong>of</strong> graffiti (number <strong>and</strong> percentages)<br />
Positive attributes<br />
Strongly agree/<br />
Agree Negative attributes<br />
Strongly agree/<br />
Agree<br />
% n % n<br />
<strong>Graffiti</strong> is a form <strong>of</strong> art 84.7 648 <strong>Graffiti</strong> damages 80.9 621<br />
people’s property<br />
<strong>Graffiti</strong> is a way for people 84.0 639 <strong>Graffiti</strong> affects how 62.1 465<br />
to express themselves<br />
people feel about the<br />
area they live<br />
<strong>Graffiti</strong> requires creative 75.2 569 <strong>Graffiti</strong> is illegal 51.5 378<br />
skills<br />
<strong>Graffiti</strong> is a way for people 52.0 390 <strong>Graffiti</strong> looks messy 45.5 345<br />
to gain status <strong>and</strong><br />
respect<br />
<strong>Graffiti</strong> is associated 40.3 303<br />
with other dangerous<br />
activities<br />
<strong>Graffiti</strong> makes places<br />
feel unsafe<br />
38.3 289<br />
Contributions to the focus group discussions tended to reinforce these findings. In particular,<br />
distinctions were frequently drawn between graffiti that is legitimate <strong>and</strong> that which is<br />
categorised as v<strong>and</strong>alism. One focus group participant reflected the ambiguity <strong>of</strong><br />
distinguishing graffiti art from v<strong>and</strong>alism, noting that graffiti is “v<strong>and</strong>alism. Well, I reckon it’s<br />
art, but in the law it is v<strong>and</strong>alism”. When asked whether graffiti is art or v<strong>and</strong>alism typical<br />
responses included:<br />
Some <strong>of</strong> it’s art; some <strong>of</strong> it’s v<strong>and</strong>alism. (Focus group participant)<br />
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