NOVA-3dc Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 This was an email I sent to an anti-graff website. I know it probably won't change their minds... and it'll probably get me haters from here, with some of the shit I say... but I had to say something. Dear sir or ma'am, Your website portrays both graffiti art and artists in an extremely negative way. You have called us artists thieves, vandals, and every other terrible thing you can think of, without focusing on what is actually true. You seem to have the biased assumption that all writers tag on houses, cars, and other personal property, or that graffiti promotes hatred and violence and other negative things, but you're entirely wrong! A true graffiti artist can stick to these rules; 1) don't write on homes, places of worship, cars, apartments, or small stores; 2) buy your equipment; 3) don't use offensive or terroristic words or symbols ; 4) don't let your crew become a gang. Also, I would like to make note of your "five good reasons to steer your children from graffiti: 1) Danger. Yes, climbing to a heaven spot is dangerous. Yes, wandering around train yards at night is dangerous. But everything can be potentially life threatening in this world! Cross the street too quickly, you get hit by a car; lean out a window, you could fall; flick a light switch, you could cause a short circuit; fill up your gas tank, you can start a fire. At least writers (most of us) aren't doing what others do at that time of night; dealing crack, getting in gang fights, setting fire to houses.... 2) Criminal records. Yes, doing graffiti can get you a criminal record. But that's only because our art is being undermined as petty vandalism. And as for those who "rack" paint, they deserve to be sent to jail. I, as well as many other conscious writers, denounce the act of stealing. Any writer can go get a job and buy all the paint they need. 3) Antisocial values. Not all writers are like the idiots you find on some generic graff forum. All you're doing in this case is judging all of us wrongly because of a few idiots who make graff look bad. Besides, a lot of writers have all four of those characteristics you mentioned: - respect is shown by the way a true writer refrains from tagging a house or car, and instead opts for a place no-one has to look at (an alley, a skatepark, a rooftop); - honesty can be conveyed in the emotion of a mural, as it can take a lot of guts to do art that shows what you are truly feeling, and don't try to say that we're dishonest because we won't admit to doing graff... the can't say that we do graff, because then we'll get pigeonholed the way we do on your website. - caring is shown in the same way as respect. Caring and respect are essentially the same; if you care for someone, you will respect them. - responsibility is shown in this way: most graffiti artists, when caught, will simply admit to what they've done, or make little effort to escape (unless they think they're invincible... but that's a whole different type of graffer) 4) Financial loss Wrong again. Who the hell would spend that much money on attornies when you could just take the blame and move on? And as for the retribution fees... that wouldn't happen if graffiti would just be made legal. So blame the courts for that, not the kids. 5) Addiction What better to be addicted to?! Are you saying that switching from cocaine to art is a bad thing? That is a true display of artistic passion, when you give up on such an addictive drug because you're having so much fun with your art form. As for the other half-literates who say they have "real low" self-esteem... that's probably either because 1) people like yourself make them feel terrible about themselves, or 2) because they already had some kind of emotional, familial or social trauma. Getting caught up in gang activity is not the norm for a true artist. And the same goes for the suicidal tagger... some of the most seemingly happy people in the world have commited suicide. You can't blame graffiti for suicide, don't be so narrowminded. Another note must be made on your "sentiments of graffiti victims". The woman who is 30 is obviously a nitwit. When you see graffiti, don't assume "gang violence". Assume "art"! The 9-year old hockey player's father is obviously retarded. You can't drive your car because there's paint on the side? Drive your kid to the goddamn game, and then clean it later. Besides, that's not a graffiti artists work, as I mentioned earlier. The people in their 40's who created art studios are true victims. Real taggers don't hit the fronts of buildings, they hit the backs and the alleys, where it doesn't matter or affect the image of the buidling. Again, with the elderly couple, the act was not graffiti art. With the high-school student, you did not specify where the graffiti was. It could have been in an alley, where it belongs (and is not destroying the community), or it could be on someone's minivan. Specific details are necessary. As for the volunteer, I don't quite understand what he is talking about. Graffiti does display an aesthetic and an emotion; that's all it is about! The aesthetic beauty lies in both the style the word is written in, as well as the sound of the word. The full impact can be felt when you look at a well-styled tag or other piece of graffiti, and then utter the sound. "Akos". "ItsMe!". "Nova." The emotion is left up to the viewer, in most cases. If anger is the emotion it brings upon you, perhaps you are just an angry person. With most people, when they pass by graffiti, they pay no mind. If you were to say anything to those people as they pass you by, they would probably, once again, pay no mind, as that is their nature. And, with a content individual, a glance at a tag followed by an utter can leave one feeling mysteriously more content. Graffiti usually emphasizes what you normally feel inside. As a writer, I am offended by the content of your website. Let it be known that graffiti is not the action of antisocials, anarchists or hate-bringers. Graffiti is the art of the streets. It creates beauty on normally ugly urban settings. As was said by another graffiti artist: "Blank walls equal blank minds" - NOVA of the 3-DOT CREW... 902 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOVA-3dc Posted September 14, 2006 Author Share Posted September 14, 2006 You may have to check the site in order to fully understand what I'm saying... but it's pretty straightforward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papa_dukes Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest R@ndomH3ro Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 well written, but I think it will fall on deaf ears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ginger Bread Man Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 im diggin some ideas however the use of our cultures' slang may throw the reader off and make it jibberish quickly. point in case "Yes, climbing to a heaven spot is dangerous." you are aiming at an ignorant audience. one who already has a super negative perspective about graffiti. using the term heaven spot means nothing to this person. therefore it is ineffective. perhaps you could have explained what u meant by a heaven spot or entirely omitted the word and instead used climbing onto a highway/freeway/expressway sign... just my pennies on the subject Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Some1 Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 I am interested to see if they write back... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pace1 Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 I dont think they will, I think they will be scared of it. They will know hes right. It looks like a good article to put on the 'Vandal' letters page. I think you should of mentioned legal writers though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeking Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 dude, you're totally going to make a difference! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunm Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 they're going to take one look at your email, read maybe two or three lines and go... "HA!" ::insert sound of paper being crumpled up and pitched over shoulder here:: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SayOne Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 im diggin some ideas however the use of our cultures' slang may throw the reader off and make it jibberish quickly. point in case "Yes, climbing to a heaven spot is dangerous." you are aiming at an ignorant audience. one who already has a super negative perspective about graffiti. using the term heaven spot means nothing to this person. therefore it is ineffective. perhaps you could have explained what u meant by a heaven spot or entirely omitted the word and instead used climbing onto a highway/freeway/expressway sign... just my pennies on the subject agreed, i doubt incredibly conservative white folks will understand what that means, "Climing to Heaven? He must be hepped up on goofballs." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Z Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 Yes, doing graffiti can get you a criminal record. But that's only because our art is being undermined as petty vandalism. And as for those who "rack" paint, they deserve to be sent to jail. I, as well as many other conscious writers, denounce the act of stealing. Any writer can go get a job and buy all the paint they need. I dont quite agree with this part of the letter.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iloveboxcars Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 dude, you're totally going to make a difference! Dude I was totally going to respond the same way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunm Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 "Let it be known that graffiti is not the action of antisocials, anarchists or hate-bringers. Graffiti is the art of the streets." Dude, are you aware that 99% of the people that are into graffiti fall into these three categories? Quit trying to elevate graffiti into this noble element capable of changing the world. We're writing on people's stuff that doesn't belong to us. Some of us are just better than others. Try explaining that to joe lunch box who'd van got tagged on that it's not vandalism and rather it's "A cry of expression birthed from the flower of the urban ghetto prophet." You'll likely get your face beaten in. Graffiti is dirty, fun, destructive, satisfying as a cold beer and gets me laid sometimes....that's all it means to the Lens. "The aesthetic beauty lies in both the style the word is written in, as well as the sound of the word. The full impact can be felt when you look at a well-styled tag or other piece of graffiti, and then utter blah blah blah blah blah....." geezis.......shut up hippie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeakSauce Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 doood!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRUCE LEROY Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 what city do you paint in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCosbyFamily Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 Attemping to justify graffiti is a waste of time. EDIT: LENS is right too by the way. 99% of graffiti artists fall into that category. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isor357 Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 no justification wanted here. I get drunk stumble around shit neighborhoods write on abandoned buildings, viaducts, signs, trash cans. More often than not i end up seeing my shit and not remembering doing it. Blackout sessions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iloveboxcars Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 i drove down a street the other day i swore i had never been on and i had tags all over the place. im in the same boat isor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeking Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 lens almost sounded intelligent there. ha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrafWizard Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 The way i see it, theres two types of graffiti artitsts: The kind that do it for the thril, the graffiti fame, the destruction, and as lens said... to get laid. And then theres the kind who are doing it to send a message to our bonehead governments and societies, i.e. banksy; the stunts he pulls, and the left wingedness of his mindset that he shows through his "vandalism". Either way, people who arent either into graffiti or just people who hate it, catagorize us as just "Vandals, Theifs, and Threats-To-Society". But we know different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iloveboxcars Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 i am a vandal and a thief. im not sure about a threat to society. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Clothesoff Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 theres really people who do graffiti? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrafWizard Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 theres really people who do graffiti? Nope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isor357 Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 im a serial vandal. I paint walls for selfish reasons. I get bored. I like seeing my tags up. I get drunk. I dont know. I dont have writer friends I chose this lifestyle and hobby with no outside influences Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ketel2 Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 I dont quite agree with this part of the letter.... i dont agree with the last few sentences of that part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pissdrunkwhat?! Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 theyre fuckin right wing crazies with no understanding to any point of view that differs from theirs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~SMUTBADLUCK~ Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 they're going to take one look at your email, read maybe two or three lines and go... "HA!" ::insert sound of paper being crumpled up and pitched over shoulder here:: . EXACTLY . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuge1nbs Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 well written, but I think it will fall on deaf ears. ditto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flavicon Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 " Real taggers don't hit the fronts of buildings, they hit the backs and the alleys, where it doesn't matter or affect the image of the buidling." oh really? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flavicon Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 "you did not specify where the graffiti was. It could have been in an alley, where it belongs " :haha: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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