Ready to debate: Is all graffiti equal?

Political graffiti on Froude near Santa Monica.

Here are two examples of graffiti sprayed or written on local Ocean Beach walls.

One has a political message, and the other does not.

B.S. graffiti near Voltaire and Mendocino.Not too long ago, we posted an image of some anti-gay hate-speech graffiti (which has since been painted over or removed). Last summer someone using a stencil spray painted the 'bum' sticker image on the sidewalk in front of a local head shop (which has also been painted over or removed).

Are all these images and examples of graffiti “equal”?  That is, do some have any value, or do some have less value than others.  Or all they all equal and need to be removed?

One is an example of political graffiti, the other is either what I call B.S. graffiti – there’s also that hate-graffiti, and there’s also gang graffiti.  Not to mention, importantly, there is such a thing as “art graffiti” – graffiti that is artistic.

Political graffiti has a long tradition in Ocean Beach.  Political expressions or sayings, I believe, are on a higher level than B.S, gang, and especially hate graffiti.  And art graffiti deserves special recognition.

However, where the graffiti is painted, sprayed, or written is also very important. It’s not cool to place any type of graffiti on private property (unless of course the owner is okay with it).  And then, does it matter if the graffiti is on public property, like a sidewalk?

This website and some of its members have been instrumental in drawing attention to the usually gross BS and gang graffiti along the Cliffs, and in helping to paint it out and remove it, over the last couple of years.

So, let the debate begin….

Don’t forget these lines from “The Sound of Silence” by Art Garfunkle and Paul Simon:

“The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls, and whispered in the sound of silence.”

Tagged as: graffiti