Since the invention of spray paint people have been tattooing the walls of New York with everything from murals to gang tags. Shortly after this epidemic of graffiti the New York government started to do away with the things defacing their pristine walls by whiting them out. Unfortunately, they did not just white out the gang tags. The colorful paintings of New York’s citizens were washed out by paint itself--a very ironic way to go. Some may argue that these graffiti works were what gave New York character; they would even say it gave meaning and knowledge to its citizens. Therefore, New York government officials should protect and allow graffiti that is not gang affiliated because it depicts the historical significance of New York and gives the artists a chance to voice their opinions. Government officials of New York should protect non-gang affiliated graffiti that it is done outside if its designated spots because the citizens of New York see those works of art as their own personal history book.
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The citizens look upon the painted the buildings of their city and get a glimpse off all the trials and tribulations they have gone through together. The Harlem Renaissance and The Civil Rights Movement are tattooed across the wall reminding the world of when the African Americans finally could not stand being suppressed and over came their oppressors. Graffiti depicting 9/11 reminds people of the time one nation under God came together to mourn with and help 3,000 families who had lost loved ones. From the beginning to the present graffiti shows the importance and history behind New York. The artist personally chooses to paint what they view to be important. He or she deems that it needs to be immortalized it for all generations to see and remember why it was put there in the first place, much like art work a museum. There are museums dedicated to preserving art and to preserving the stories these pieces tell. From paintings portraying historical times to sculptures of famous figures to photographs of everyday happenings people have always looked to art as a form of documenting their past. The graffiti is unique to New York in that they only can be related and applied to the New York life. Therefore, graffiti should be preserved as well because it is the stories and past that the citizens of New York are trying to tell. New York government officials need to realize that graffiti artists use their masterpieces to convey things that cannot be vocalized; therefore, they should allow the artists the right to express themselves through graffiti. Often artists draw, paint, or sculpt to portray their opinions on things that are happening around them, when their words will not be heard. Graffiti artists are very well known to paint witty cartoons about government actions, police brutality, war, and other controversial topics that arise many conflicts and debates. But some times they are serious and are looking to cause a stir in citizens. Art is known to draw raw emotions from its onlookers, and that is exactly what these artists aim to do with their graffiti. They use their art as a means to incite change in people and the life around them. For people with the inability to communicate with the outside world, art has a whole
The citizens look upon the painted the buildings of their city and get a glimpse off all the trials and tribulations they have gone through together. The Harlem Renaissance and The Civil Rights Movement are tattooed across the wall reminding the world of when the African Americans finally could not stand being suppressed and over came their oppressors. Graffiti depicting 9/11 reminds people of the time one nation under God came together to mourn with and help 3,000 families who had lost loved ones. From the beginning to the present graffiti shows the importance and history behind New York. The artist personally chooses to paint what they view to be important. He or she deems that it needs to be immortalized it for all generations to see and remember why it was put there in the first place, much like art work a museum. There are museums dedicated to preserving art and to preserving the stories these pieces tell. From paintings portraying historical times to sculptures of famous figures to photographs of everyday happenings people have always looked to art as a form of documenting their past. The graffiti is unique to New York in that they only can be related and applied to the New York life. Therefore, graffiti should be preserved as well because it is the stories and past that the citizens of New York are trying to tell. New York government officials need to realize that graffiti artists use their masterpieces to convey things that cannot be vocalized; therefore, they should allow the artists the right to express themselves through graffiti. Often artists draw, paint, or sculpt to portray their opinions on things that are happening around them, when their words will not be heard. Graffiti artists are very well known to paint witty cartoons about government actions, police brutality, war, and other controversial topics that arise many conflicts and debates. But some times they are serious and are looking to cause a stir in citizens. Art is known to draw raw emotions from its onlookers, and that is exactly what these artists aim to do with their graffiti. They use their art as a means to incite change in people and the life around them. For people with the inability to communicate with the outside world, art has a whole