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 />
Future graffiti participation<br />
Those who had reported that they wrote graffiti were more likely to report that they would<br />
participate in future graffiti activity.<br />
Reasons for graffiti participation<br />
All respondents, including those who write graffiti <strong>and</strong> those who do not, were asked their<br />
opinion on why people write graffiti. Those who participated in graffiti-writing were less likely<br />
to refer to ‘breaking the rules’ as a general motivation for those who write. Similarly,<br />
participants were more likely to stress creativity as a general motivation.<br />
Illegal nature <strong>of</strong> graffiti writing<br />
A majority <strong>of</strong> respondents tended to agree that the illicit nature <strong>of</strong> graffiti made it more<br />
exciting. However, agreement was strongest among those ‘relatively heavily’ involved in<br />
graffiti activity. A large minority <strong>of</strong> respondents, in all three categories, ‘agreed’ that the<br />
illegality <strong>of</strong> graffiti writing made it more exciting.<br />
Desistance from graffiti <strong>and</strong> tagging<br />
Youngest <strong>and</strong> oldest groups more strongly favoured greater effort to stop graffiti. Those who<br />
had not participated were more likely to agree that more should be done than those who<br />
had, <strong>and</strong> those who occasionally participated wanted more effort to stop graffiti than those<br />
who might be considered more involved in writing.<br />
Males were less likely to favour greater effort to stop graffiti than females <strong>and</strong> Māori <strong>and</strong><br />
European respondents were less likely to favour this than other ethnic groups.<br />
Reasons to stop personally doing graffiti<br />
Those who engaged in graffiti were asked a series <strong>of</strong> questions about factors that might lead<br />
them to stop writing in general terms. The most significant reason to stop, across all groups,<br />
was apprehension by police. The quick removal <strong>of</strong> graffiti was rated very lowly as a reason<br />
for graffiti writers to stop. Family disapproval was less likely to be a factor. The most common<br />
response, across most forms, was that none <strong>of</strong> these strategies would lead respondents to<br />
desist from graffiti.<br />
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