This document outlines an upcoming class debate about whether graffiti is a form of art or vandalism. Students will be assigned to groups representing different stakeholders and asked to argue either side of the debate. They will prepare arguments from their assigned perspective and present their position in the class debate. Following the debate, students will individually summarize the views and opinions expressed from their contribution and that of their group in the context of the overall discussion. The document provides sample questions and readings to help students develop their arguments on the complex issues surrounding the debate.

1. GEOG 2300 Space, Place and Identity 22
May 2013
Graffiti Debate: Is Graffiti, or Street Art, art or vandalism?
Debate Date: 29 May 2014
Individual Write-ups Due: 3 June 2014 (15% 3-4 pages double
spaced)
Graffiti/ Street Art is considered to be pollution, an eyesore and
criminal by many civic authorities, businesses and homeowners.
We can witness the recent decisions by Mayor Ford in Toronto
to eradicate graffiti in Toronto as a clear example of this way of
thinking. Many, like Ford, believe that it is related to or a
prelude to more significant crimes. In particular, “tagging” is
believed to be associated with gang activity and territoriality.
Much money is now spent on cleaning up graffiti.
But, for those involved in graffiti “art” and those who support
its presence in the urban environment, it is seen to be a form of
urban expression. What had once been viewed as subversive is
now part of the “mainstream” - hung in galleries, part of mural
art, used in advertising campaigns, etc..
Class Debate:
In preparation for the class debate, you will be assigned to a
group and will prepare arguments for or against the presence of
graffiti/ street art and whether it is art or vandalism. In groups,
you will have to develop your argument from the perspective of:
1) City council
2) The Police Department,
3) Local Business Owner’s Association
4) Graffiti Artists
5) Youth Workers
6) Local Resident’s Association

2. 7) Gallery Owners and the Art Community
Each group will be asked to argue the case of whether graffiti
is:
a) vandalism and a crime or
b) A type of artistic expression and part of urban culture.
You might consider the following questions that are often asked
when considering graffiti:
Is graffiti art or vandalism?
What makes it art?
What makes it vandalism?
Where might we consider graffiti to be appropriate - “in place”
- or inappropriate - out of place?
Who makes the decisions on the latter?
How may the gulf between those who approve and those who
disapprove be bridged?
As you seek answers, be aware of the fact that the case may not
be clear within each group – you may disagree and you may
have to offer different perspectives. We will run this like a
debate – each group will have time to present its position. We
will then open the floor to debate! And be prepared to fight you
position.
NOTES:
Each group must think of all the different angles of this debate.
In making your decisions, you must consider: the geographic
LOCATION; in place/ out of place; public vs. private space;
culture and sub-culture; cultural expression; tagging vs. street
art; gangs and youth; etc. I suggest that you might divide the
topic up into different aspects of the debate.

3. You must use academic papers to help develop an impression of
the complexity of the issues. You should also look for relevant
newspaper articles, reports, case-studies to support your
arguments. There will be time in class next week to work on
this.
Individual Contribution:
Following the debate, each of you will submit a 3-4 page
individual summary of your own findings, views and opinions
of the debate. NOTE: You must be able to put your own
contribution and that of your group in the context of the whole
debate.
Have fun!
Readings:
James Tierney, “Graffiti and Urban Space,” Dialogue (2005)
3:2, pp 16-28 (http://www.polsis.uq.edu.au/dialogue/3-2-2.pdf)
Ella Chmielewska (2007), “Framing [Con]text: Graffiti and
Place”
Space and Culture, 10, pp.145-169
Extra Readings:
Koon-Hwee Kan Source (2001), “Adolescents and Graffiti,” Art
Education, Vol. 54, No. 1, pp. 18-23
Http://www.jstor.org/stable/3193889
Ken Johnson, “When Aerosol Outlaws Became Insiders: Graffiti
Art at the Brooklyn Museum,” NY Times June 30, 2006.
“It's vandalism, not art, says council as it bans Banksy,” Times
Online, 24 October 2008.

4. Alice Fisher, “How the Tate got streetwise,” The Observer,
Sunday 11 May 2008
Arifa Akbar and Paul Vallely, “Graffiti: Street art – or crime?”
The Independent, Wednesday, 16 July 2008