The decline of graffiti in the cities (Baltimore, class, property)

[kanhawk]

First, is my title correct? Has there been a decline from say, 30 to 40 years ago?
Secondly, if there has, why? Has inner city youth had a change of culture and just backed off somewhat on tagging or are they doing it as much as ever and the cities are just getting better at cleaning it up?

[LookinForMayberry]

Originally Posted by kanhawk

First, is my title correct? Has there been a decline from say, 30 to 40 years ago?
Secondly, if there has, why? Has inner city youth had a change of culture and just backed off somewhat on tagging or are they doing it as much as ever and the cities are just getting better at cleaning it up?

I don't know if it has declined in volume, but it certainly has declined in quality. Used to be the "artists" were creative and had something to express. Now they just destroy the appearance with unintelligible, ugly scribbles.

(Not that I've ever been a fan, but the old time graffitti was more artfully accomplished.)

[Chicano3000X]

I admire certain aspects of it. It's like, if there is an abandoned building, I'd say go for it.


I don't like tags, tags are just random scribbles by people who think it's cool.

However, I've seen dedicated work that I would feel bad to see taken down. However it is still vandalism, and even though I am fine with it being put on old buildings, I know that it is only temporary until they decide to revitalize. So i say take a pic and enjoy it while it lasts.


I feel that graffiti is part of the life of a city. It's been around for centuries and it's like cave paintings. When we are gone, some of these will tell a story.


Here are the unwritten rules though.

No private property.

Nothing on new property.

I think the work of many artists are amazing, but I understand when it comes to small buisiness and personal property. Random taggers arent street artists. And I also think it's good to ask permission to do a mural, My neighborhood has a few murals, one was sadly taken down and painted over.

The other 2 are a mural of the city, and an Aztec Calender.

This one was taken down:

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Graffiti got separated into two camps - street art and tagging. There are still some who combine both, but for the most part it's polarized.

[nei]

Originally Posted by HandsUpThumbsDown

Graffiti got separated into two camps - street art and tagging. There are still some who combine both, but for the most part it's polarized.

Seems these street artists types incorporate some tagging-style graffiti (the last 3, the first 2 are completely tagging, and I don't how to classify the 3rd one) into street art. They made their tagging more artistic looking though.

//www.city-data.com/forum/23699148-post6.html

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Originally Posted by nei

Seems these street artists types incorporate some tagging-style graffiti (the last 3, the first 2 are completely tagging, and I don't how to classify the 3rd one) into street art. They made their tagging more artistic looking though.

//www.city-data.com/forum/23699148-post6.html

Yes that's what I meant by those whose work has elements of both. I see a lot more "signed" pieces in NYC than I do here in Baltimore; anonymity seems to be a real part of what's going on here right now.