This document compares and contrasts graffiti and murals. It defines graffiti as informal inscriptions or paintings, often with political or social messages, created without permission on street furniture or walls. Graffiti originated in the 1960s in New York and is one element of hip hop culture. It uses tags, bright colors, and stylized lettering. Murals are large sanctioned images painted on walls that tell stories through backgrounds, details, and characters. Unlike graffiti, murals have an educational purpose and contain narratives through monumental, compositional images.