What do you think of graffiti?

[Phlegmak]

What is the distinguishing factor? The permission, medium, style, quality or what?

Professionalism. Big fancy murals take time to do and requires either the artist or a group of artists to stand on platforms to do. Somebody would notice if some guys are doing such a thing illegally. Illegal graffiti is almost never as fancy as those murals.

EDIT: As far as permission goes, if there's permission, then it's a mural. If there is no permission, it's graffiti.

Also, regarding ugly gray walls: ugly gray walls are nice. Gray isn't too nice, but plains walls are. Do you live in a home where the walls are covered with crazy stupid crap colors? No, you most likely live in a home with plain ordinary blandly colored walls. Crazy stupid crap graffiti colors are an attack upon the senses and hinders relaxation. So obviously, plainness can be (and is) aesthetically pleasing. Sometimes you like crazy bullcrap colors, sometimes you like plainness. I feel pretty certain that most people would prefer most surfaces to have plain colors rather than explosions of colors all over. And by the way, most graffiti is tremendously ugly to me.

 

[Oruc]

Charlie Brooker on Banksy

I never got it either mate, graffiti is graffiti, its just breaking the law as far as I'm concerned

 

[aelf]

Charlie Brooker on Banksy http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/sep/22/arts.visualarts

I don't really like the whole non-conformist subculture thing, but I don't like that article either. There are some pretty good comments about it:

"guffhead..You absolute thundering backside...bumdrizzle..fat-arsed, berk-pleasing rubbishness"
Sloppy, horrible article that seems to mistake wit and insight with stringing together "rude" words, and insulting anyone who disagrees with the stated opinion.
How about learning your "art" properly Mr Journalist - constructing amusing, informative, thought-provoking articles, and not just relying on sub-schoolyard insults to mask the lack of any real content.

This is such a disapointing article Charlie. It smacks of a desire to look controversial for the sake of stiring things up in time for a copy deadline. I can't think why else you would be moved to endorse Paris Hilton's album despite not having heard it. It seems designed to stir up cultural anxiety amidst the It's-grim-up-north-london set that they may not be on the cutting edge of what's hot and what's not: haven't you heard, dissing Paris is so last week - Charlie Brooker said so.

The point about Banky's work is that by and large it's appeared at random on walls out on the streets (or uninvited in other people's exhibitions). It's meaning is secondary to the delight of seeing something witty and original and that shockingly isn't trying to sell you anything. His imagery is often unsubtle but that works well in a space where you aren't meant to stand and scratch your goatee. And if you ever manage anything half as subversive as painting idyllic scenes as holes in the Israeli-West Bank wall I'll be truly impressed.

Now he's moved indoors and maybe there's an inevitable pretentious increment. I don't know because I haven't seen it. I've seen the Elephant in the Room on the telly and I thought that was great idea. I'd rather see his work in a gallery or on a wall or on TV or anywhere imaginable than anything created by the Chapman brothers. Pseudo-subversive bumdrizzle thy name is Jake and Dinos.

I enjoy the bile and sharp edge to your writing Charlie because more often than not there seems to be some good reason to it. The only reason here seemed to be getting paid.

I'm ambivalent about graffiti, but I'm leaning towards "If the public likes it, then it's fine", though I think that location matters. I've seen graffiti on historical monuments and cathedrals, and I don't think those are appropriate at all.

 

[Dachs]

Sometimes I draw Kilroy in inappropriate places.

 

[Bigfoot3814]

Sometimes I draw Kilroy in inappropriate places.

Me too.

 

[Irish Caesar]

If the owner okays it, file it under the same category as Christmas lights: what you do to your property is your business.

If the owner doesn't okay it, I can't say I approve.

It does add some character, though, and a city train ride without seeing any would be a bit strange, I think.

Jet Set Radio taught me to love graffiti.

Always wanted to play that game.

I was never very good at that game.

What if the building is vacant? Is graffiti okay then?

Does someone own it?

 

[Shaihulud]

It is mostly ugly vulgarities, the perpetrators should be punished by having their bums whacked with a bundle of cane soaked in brine until it bleeds, then their forehead should be tattooed with their latest grafitti so that all may know their crime.

 

[West 36]

Some is good, some is bad. The crap in bathrooms tends to stink, but can be entertaining. Spray paint can lead to some good stuff, I like Banksy, but a lot sucks as well.
Why must I always be so predictable and boringly indecisive.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Why must I always be so predicable and boringly indecisive.

That is the rare species of talk known as the "nuanced opinion".

 

[Abaddon]

Meanwhile, I love it and continue to collect images I spot..

 

[mechaerik]

Around here, there's graffiti and vandalism everywhere. But notice how I separated them. I personally believe that graffiti =/= vandalism. Sometimes it can truly be artistic. Usually though, theres vandalism, where people scrawl a name and three letters on walls, crossing other names and letter combinations out, making that wall (or street corner, or tree, or whatever) look really ugly.

Only semi-related, but awesome:

Link to video.

 

[Abaddon]

That video is amazing! EVERYONE MUST WATCH IT!!!!