Classification of Writers
Similar to classifying the different types of graffiti, there are also different categories of writers that have different interests and motivational factors for doing graffiti. Identifying and understanding the different types of writers and their motivations presents potential opportunities to guide graffiti writers away from this costly and potentially dangerous lifestyle while redirecting them towards safer, more beneficial ways of contributing to society. Spicer (2005), summarizes the typical progression of a tagger as they engage, immerse and build networks in the graffiti subculture. Spicer (2005) depicts the categorization of writers based on their level and length of exposure to graffiti, and the community formed around the lifestyle of graffiti. She states that writers progress from the novice and experimental stage, through to developing and committed stages, finally to the accomplished and skillful stages (Spicer, 2005). Combining this assessment with the personal motivation factors that each writer possesses, allows insight to the rationale behind their involvement in graffiti. Similar to classifying the different types of graffiti, identifying the different classifications of writers cannot provide a fully comprehensive overview as often writers fall into multiple categories in varying degrees.
14.1 Motivation for Graffiti
With each different category of graffiti writer, there are different motivational factors that fuel the drive to create graffiti. People who participate in graffiti may not only be attracted to the act of writing, but it is likely that they are also attracted to the subculture and lifestyle surrounding graffiti. Bandaranaike (2001) suggests that the attraction to create graffiti comes from either a need to socially assert themselves, in defiance of social norms, an affinity to high risk activities, or an attraction to the associations and relationships surrounding graffiti.
14.2 Conventional Tagger
The Conventional Tagger (Weisel, 2011) is someone that is not fully entrenched in graffiti or the graffiti subculture. Unlike the other categories of taggers, this writer tags occasionally in convenient and safe spaces with little risk of getting caught. In contrast to other writers who are constantly looking for prime locations and continually seek writing opportunities, the casual writer tags when an opportunity presents itself (Weisel, 2011). They typically tag with pens or markers and do not carry sketchbooks or backpacks full of paint like the other categories of writers who calculate and plan their schedules to “get up”. There is no real driving factor with these writers, but they write spontaneously for fun, or to emulate the more serious taggers they see in on the streets, in movies, books, and online. The nature of these taggers is important to understand in attempting to recognize them, understanding their motivation and working with them accordingly.
14.3 Common Tagger
Most graffiti writers fall into the category of common tagger whose prime objectives are get his or her tag out to as many places as possible. This writer is looking for public recognition through tagging or by “getting up”. They seek acknowledgment, aspiring to have their work seen by as many people as possible in the graffiti subculture and in the mainstream community (Weisel, 2011). These writers are more likely to develop a compulsion to writing because of the need to be noticed, satisfying their deep need for recognition (Spicer, 2005). This writer is likely to use mainly pens and markers and spray cans creating small tags throughout their own neighborhoods. In the early stages of their life in graffiti their tags will be mostly localized in the areas which they travel most frequently (Spicer, 2005). As they become more entrenched in the graffiti culture, tagging becomes the focal point of their regular activities and one of their main aspirations. The longer entrenched in the practice of graffiti they becomes increasingly more daring and frequent, evolving their tag into throw ups, and larger works. As these writers progress in building their street reputations they increasingly become exposed to other writers, building social connections in the sub-culture (Bandaranaike, 2001). These connections results in more serious graffiti work, and most likely more serious criminal activity including substance abuse, theft of painting supplies, and possibly violent crime (Spicer, 2005). The recognition that they find in creating graffiti satisfies their need for acceptance, belonging and recognition and become a major driving factor in their lives especially with acceptance into the graffiti subculture and joining graffiti groups. Early recognition of these writers will typically come from observing their school and home environment where they most likely incessantly practice their tag on books, walls, lockers. Because of the need for acceptance and recognition, the rate and degree of entrenchment to the graffiti subculture and other criminal activities often is dependent on the affiliations, associations and influences of other writers (Spicer, 2005).
14.4 Artistic Tagger
Artistic taggers (Weisel, 2011) look to graffiti as a craft or an art form. Regardless of their skill level they aspire to do artistic works. Most often these writers have grown past doing throw ups or quick tags, and focus their time on more artistically technical pieces or even productions. This category of graffiti writer typically paints in places that provide time and seclusion, often trading locations of high exposure for more isolated locations that provide them the time to paint. The work of these writers can often be seen on trains, in tunnels, abandoned lots, under bridges, and other places that provide a low likelihood of being caught or disturbed. Style writers work independently, or with police watchers, or even as crews with other artists collaborating on the same piece or production. These writers do not typically tag randomly in as high volume as Fame Writers, but are more methodical in the art they create and the locations they choose to paint. Differing from other writers, artistic taggers typically take the time to purchase specific colours and quality of paints and tips (NSW, 2009) while planning out their works using artistic principals like colour theory and composition while making their work elaborate with effects, characters colour blending and storytelling devices (NSW, 2009). It is possible and even likely that Artistic Taggers do throw ups and tags as well, but they are primarily motivated to do more artistically themed pieces. Early recognition of these writers is identifying youth with a background in art, involvement in art classes at school, working on graffiti and non-graffiti art in sketchbooks and association with other artists. Artistic Taggers are unlikely to pursue criminal activity outside of graffiti, and generally do not become entrenched in the graffiti subculture that involves non-graffiti related crime, addiction, and violence.
14.5 Anarchists or Mad Bombers (Spicer, 2007)
Anarchist or Mad Bombers as Spicer (2007) refers to them have little artistic interest and are involved in graffiti primarily for the destructive nature of it. They typically tag, spray bomb, acid etch windows, scribe and carve with knives, or pumper spray in areas where they can inflict the most costly damage. The anarchist has little regard for property, people or the community, and gets satisfaction from being responsible for the damage that they cause. The Anarchist tagger looks for the largest, prominent and most permanent locations to deface with messy tags, profanity, or even just mass amounts of paint thrown on walls. Because of their lack of respect for the community, monuments, murals, and historic sites are often targets of these taggers. The most damaging strategy of these vandals is filling fire extinguishers and spraying high pressure paint in visible locations in some situations up to 40ft or 12m high and hundreds of ft./meters long. Typically, the anarchist tagger is often violent and is involved in serious crimes that are unrelated to graffiti. Early recognition signs of anarchist taggers are delinquency from an early age, engaging in petty crime and exhibiting anti-social or violent behaviour (Martin, 2003)
In categorizing graffiti writers the lines are often difficult to define, with traits blending across categories. Much of this is dependent on the affiliations and social connections that writers are exposed to. As a result of their frequent interaction with the graffiti community many of the writers are susceptible to be influenced by other members of the community and find themselves drawn deeply into criminal elements and dangerous life patterns.