Many people say that any form of self expression should be considered art, but then what stands in the way of someone taking a duck face selfie and labeling it as a self-portrait? What about submitting a porcelain urinal with a signature on it to the exhibition of the Society of Independent Artists in 1917? (I'm looking at you, Marcel Duchamp.)
The official definition of graffiti is "writing or drawings scribbled, scratched or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place." Here are some examples:
Really?
The above graffiti does absolutely nothing for the human mind. It does not beckon you to think, ask questions or try to understand anything (except maybe what the words are actually supposed to read).
On the other hand, the following examples of street graffiti make you feel something and, in my opinion, can therefore be considered art. They were all created by Banksy, an unverified identity graffiti artist who started in London. He covers a variety of topics with his graffiti work. It is unknown whether or not Banksy is a single person or if he is many different people simply using the same tag name.
Banksy on Social Media
There is no doubt that social media plays a commandeering role in today's society. We constantly have our faces in our phones, missing the world around us, just so that we can make sure the Instagram post we recently shared got some "likes." If not, we're going to delete it in a half hour. Banksy's "Nobody Likes Me" shows a child screaming out for social media attention, and if that isn't something that chills your skin, I don't know what will. Children should be focused on playing in the yard, not gaining acceptance from a social media post.
Banksy on Violence
With all that's going on in the world right now, our most pressing concerns as a society is violence, terrorism, hatred and simple human indecency. Banksy's famous "Flower Thrower" offers the idea that instead of throwing destructive things around (bombs, racial slurs, common insensitivity, etc.), we could be creating a better world by offering peace and kindness.
Just some food for thought.
Banksy on the Environment
I don't know about you, but after seeing this piece, I had goosebumps. It relays a strong message of environmental protection as well as what kind of world our children and future generations will grow in. Perhaps this parking lot was once a gorgeous park where many came to enjoy a sunny day. Now the grass is covered in concrete and asphalt.
While I'm not necessarily against the growth of industry (it has effectively made our lives much easier), I have always been the first to say that we need to be aware of what our expansion is doing to our planet and what the unintended consequences may be.
In conclusion, the discussion of what can and cannot be considered art is infinitely ongoing. When it comes to graffiti, though, I believe that anything that encourages the population to reconsider actions, second guess ill made decisions and ponder the meaning of worldwide appreciation deserves to be considered art.
Join the conversation! Share this article to spread Banksy's work, and ask your friends and family how they feel.
