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.

-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)

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

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.

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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.