Covid Graffiti
The relationship between Covid 19 and the massive increase graffiti during this time has been shocking to say the least. Although the immediate crisis of Covid may be over, the aftermath certainly is not. Illegal graffiti is one these areas that still feels the impact. Unfortunately, since 2020 unprecedented numbers of graffiti has become the new normal in most cities. Seemingly insignificant compared to a health pandemic, the toll on communities as a result of Covid era graffiti is far from inconsequential and far from over.
How it all Happened
The rise of graffiti in the Covid era took place almost immediately. In fact, graffiti numbers soared from the start of the pandemic and has continued with no signs of slowing down. From the onset of the Covid crisis, the messaging had an unprecedented impact communities world wide. Undeniably, the increase in social, economic and emotional tension was immeasurable. As concerns for health took centre stage, the world was inundated with messages of fear and uncertainty. As businesses closed, people quarantined, mandates and social distancing became priority, anxiety levels climbed feverously. This was particularly true with young people. As graffiti is generally a barometer of the social climate of communities, the increase in graffiti was predictable. Perhaps not to this degree though.
Bored from isolation, anxious and immersed in a circumstance out of their control, many graffiti vandals took to the streets. And in a big way. The pressures of Covid prompted not only those previously involved in graffiti to increase their activity, but ushered in many newcomers. Tragically, graffiti in the Covid era proliferated rapidly. To anyone monitoring graffiti, the trend was obvious and unsettling. Cities witnessed massive increases immediately as streets exploded with graffiti. However obvious, most cities did not or could not do much about it. As mentioned in previous articles, the presence of graffiti invites new graffiti and new graffiti writers. Unfortunately, this was just the start.
The Pandemic of Vandalism
As graffiti during Covid erupted in most cities throughout the world, the response was non-existent. Clearly, this was great news for the graffiti writers. With law enforcement focusing their work in other Covid related directions, there was little to no risk or consequence in doing graffiti. To the detriment of many communities, it took the graffiti community no time to recognize this. Fully aware of the lack of repercussions, there was every reason to do graffiti. However, this was not the only element that worked in favor of the graffiti subculture.
As the anxieties of Covid increased and cities scrambled to respond to ever-changing mandates, graffiti went virtually unaddressed. In contradiction to all that we know about graffiti, in most cases graffiti management became a low priority or even non existent. Tags, throw-ups and pieces remained in communities for months going on years. Existing even to this day. With frenzied embrace, the graffiti community acknowledged this as open season to paint and vandalize freely. Through this time, many old school graffiti writers lavished in the accolades of the subculture while many up and coming taggers attempted to spray their way to infamy.
Despite the Covid pandemic subsiding, graffiti has continued to grow at an unprecedented rate. With the inertia of 3 years without enforcement, or removals, graffiti is now decimating large and small cities throughout the world. Alarmingly, for those communities that had a small graffiti problem before, they have a massive problem now. Seemingly insurmountable, legacy graffiti remains to inspire waves of established and new writers to build their reputations through the graffiti subculture. Post Covid, many cities are just now assessing the landscape and coming to the understanding of the extent of the problem.
What Can be Done?
As communities finally begin to focus on other things besides Covid, it is becoming evident that graffiti is a major issue. As a stark revelation, a seemingly mountainous challenge awaits many cities just beginning to understand the severity of damage from the wave of graffiti during and post Covid. However daunting, this does not mean that the overcoming the abundance of post Covid graffiti is impossible. Simply, it means that cities, municipalities, and communities have to up their game. Unquestionably, easier said than done. Or is it?
Undeniably, there is an uphill battle for most communities. But it is time to double down. Graffiti during and post Covid needs to be taken on with the utmost seriousness. The longer communities take to respond, the more graffiti will proliferate. Further, the longer communities take to respond the harder it is going to be to recover from the social and economic repercussions of this graffiti. With absolute urgency, communities need to get their governments to step up. Subsequently, governments need to get their senior people, city council, and elected officials to step up. Law enforcement needs to step up. The legal system needs to step up. A message need to be sent to the community and to the vandals that graffiti will not be tolerated. It is a must.
The steps to follow are few but crucial. Of vital importance, a graffiti management plan needs to be in place. If your community does not have one, get one. Borrow one from another municipality. Steal one. Just do it. Conversely, if a city has a graffiti management plan, ensure people are assigned to it, actively working it, and enforcing it. With vigor, enforce graffiti bylaws. I will provide a link to a video shortly that outlines constructing a graffiti management plan and supporting bylaws. Complementing a graffiti management plan, the use of technology is a tremendous asset. Tracking graffiti, recording data, analyzing trends and measuring statistics are all of utmost importance. Finally, get people involved. Host volunteer painting days. Organize community clean ups. Get citizens reporting graffiti. Get everyone removing graffiti from all surfaces.
About Graffiti
Click + to Open Tabs
Why Graffiti?
The impact that graffiti has on communities is well known and well proven. Most people truly familiar with graffiti will agree that it has an overwhelming detrimental effect on communities. Those that advocate graffiti state that it is a form of expression. This may be true. But is it a healthy expression?
Unlike the cave drawings of our ancestors, the motivating factor in 95% of graffiti is recognition and self-promotion. Unquestionably, a vast majority of graffiti taggers write graffiti to be recognized and increase their social stature in the graffiti subculture. To achieve this, graffiti writers typically tag as often as possible in the most visible locations.
The Impact
Typically, this overwhelming drive for recognition translates to quantity over quality and any ambition for artistic expression is lost. Inevitably, the outcome is surfaces covered in scribbles, dripping paint and tagging over other tags in competition for visibility.
Contrary to the notion of positive expression that some would claim graffiti brings, communities become covered with layers of paint and markers with little creativity or artistic merit.
Art or Graffiti?
-Graffiti and its relationship with communities often sparks debate in its place of definition between art or vandalism.
Commonly, classifying graffiti as art or vandalism becomes a discussion based on subjective opinion founded on perceptions of graffiti. Fortunately, in determining graffiti as either art or vandalism, there are a number of ways to look at graffiti that may help to define it. Essentially, the question comes down to establishing graffiti as art that is beneficial to society or vandalism which is detrimental to society.
Perspectives on Graffiti
Often times, the perspective of graffiti in the eyes of the public is through the lens of mainstream media. Most often, through television, advertising or online media, graffiti is showcased in the form of murals, pieces (masterpieces) and productions. Through this lens, there is seldom debate of the artistic quality that is produced by these highly skilled artists. And rightly so. However, this graffiti is typically created by artists who have planned out their work, taking hours or even days to complete, with permission from the property owner or even as paid commissions. Typically, under these conditions, the results can be outstanding that presents a positive element that enhances and uplifts the visual appearance of communities.
The Reality
Unfortunately, this portrayal of graffiti is not entirely accurate. Contrary to media messaging, a vast majority of graffiti that is found on city streets is not artistic. Instead of the highly artistic pieces, the majority of street graffiti is marker pens and spray painted tags scrawled on any surface. In contrast to the artistic works, communities experience walls, windows, sidewalks, dumpsters, bus stops, shelters, news boxes, trains, buses, mirrors, etc., covered in tags created as quickly as possible without artistic intent.
Although, some taggers aspire to produce highly artistic graffiti pieces, the majority of street writers are either not capable of painting at this level or are not interested. Aside from the few exceptions, most graffiti writers are not concerned with the artistry of graffiti, preferring to get their tags up as quickly, and in as many places as possible. In reality, the only priority of most engaged in graffiti is to gain notoriety and recognition in the graffiti subculture. Unfortunately, this often means gaining accolades by defacing as many properties as possible at a great financial and social cost to society (See Graffiti Basics).
Aside from the detriment impact that graffiti has on society, graffiti also poses a great deal of danger, risk and consequence to those that are immersed in the graffiti subculture and those that participate in graffiti. (See Cost of Graffiti)
The Impact of Graffiti
Graffiti costs. It costs taxpayers, businesses, governments, schools and transportation systems in every major city millions of dollars. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Although the cost in removal of graffiti is massive, the cost in not removing graffiti is crushing. More than just paint on a wall, graffiti if not addressed invites more graffiti. Simply, graffiti presents a visual sign of a non-responsive community. Like a beacon, this offers a welcoming to other vandals who recognize an opportunity to have their graffiti visible for long periods of time. Furthermore, this invitation goes out not only to vandals. Communities projecting visual distress in the form of graffiti and vandalism invite other crime such as drug dealing, theft, prostitution and more serious crime.
As a result, out of fear residents in the community withdraw. People go into self-protection mode and abandon caring for the community and their neighbors. Typically, under these conditions positive contributing community members and businesses transition out of the neglected community, to be replaced by others with little or no concern for community. More serious crime entrenches. Property values fall. More graffiti appears. The cycle continues.
Not just paint on a wall.
For more info read about the Broken Window Theory
Risk vs. Reward of Graffiti
Success in graffiti prevention hinges on tilting the risk and reward relationship in favor of the community. Therefore, by increasing the risk to the vandal while reducing the reward the likelihood of graffiti is significantly lowered. Fortunately, there are several ways of manipulating this risk & reward equation to provide a deterrent level to reduce and even eliminate graffiti. Undoubtably, each property or community has different factors and opportunities that can be leveraged to insulate and protect from graffiti. More to come on this topic. Please contact us for a community appraisal in constructing a community prevention strategy.
Dangers of Graffiti
bebesi
Graffiti has great impact on society. No question. Although there is harm to communities by of graffiti vandals, the damage does not stop there. Tragically, the act of graffiti claims the lives of many young people every year and leaves many more injured and disabled.
Undoubtedly, graffiti is high risk behavior and this part of the allure. Shockingly, many young people put themselves at tremendous risk in the quest for achieving accolades in the graffiti subculture. As graffiti writers strive to be seen and to increase their reputation they take risks. In fact, much so that it is common for graffiti vandals to fall into traffic from highway overpasses, hit by trains or electrocuted on high voltage tracks.
Additionally, besides the physical dangers, possibly the greatest danger for young people involved in graffiti is the lifestyle. As a result of immersion in the graffiti subculture many young people engage in the use of hard narcotics and alcohol abuse. Coupled with substance abuse, those in the world of illegal graffiti engage often in antisocial behavior such as theft, violence, breaking and entering including the use of weapons.
Commonly, after some time of exposure, in the graffiti subculture youth find themselves facing addiction, mental illness, abuse and trauma. Most got into graffiti for the adrenalin rush and to gain some recognition, but find themselves hurt, killed or battling addiction for the rest of their lives.
