Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to the article “Protecting Our Public Spaces” in issue 14, published this spring. In it, the author claims that “all graffiti is vandalism, pure and simple, and offers no benefit to our public spaces.” I would like to point out that many people believe that graffiti is an art form that can benefit our public spaces just as much as sculpture, fountains, or other, more accepted art forms.
People who object to graffiti usually do so more because of where it is, not what it is. They argue, as your author does, that posting graffiti in public places constitutes an illegal act of property damage. But the location of such graffiti should not prevent the images themselves from being considered genuine art.
I would argue that graffiti is the ultimate public art form. Spray paint is a medium unlike any other. Through graffiti, the entire world has become a canvas. No one has to pay admission or travel to a museum to see this kind of art. The artists usually do not receive payment for their efforts. These works of
art dotting the urban landscape are available, free of charge, to everyone who passes by.
To be clear, I do not consider random words or names sprayed on stop signs to be art. Plenty of graffiti is just vandalism, pure and simple. However, there is also graffiti that is breathtaking in its intricate detail, its realism, or its creativity. It takes great talent to create such involved designs with spray paint. Are these creators not artists just because they use a can of spray paint instead of a paintbrush, or because they cover the side of a building rather than a canvas?
To declare that all graffiti is vandalism, and nothing more, is an overly simplistic statement that I find out of place in such a thoughtful publication as your magazine. Furthermore, graffiti is not going anywhere, so we might as well find a way to live with it and enjoy its benefits. One option could be to make a percentage of public space, such as walls or benches in parks, open to graffiti artists. By doing this, the public might feel like part owners of these works of art, rather than just the victims of a crime.
Regards,
Derrick Milton
Questions
1) In his letter, Derrick Milton argues that graffiti
A. is the only art form that is free
B. provides more public benefits than sculpture or fountains do
C. is best viewed on public walls rather than canvas
D. should be judged on its artistic qualities rather than its location
2) Based on information in the passage, it can be understood that the author of the article “Protecting Our Public Spaces” apparently believes that graffiti
A. is a not an art form
B. can only sometimes be considered a work of art
C. should be restricted to places where it is allowed
D. is too simple to be considered art
3) According to Derrick Milton, random words sprayed on stop signs are not
A. vandalism
B. art
C. illegal
D. creative
4) Based on its use in paragraph 4, which of the following accurately describes something that is intricate?
A. Everyone was amazed to see the hot air balloon finally swell with air and lift
off over the trees.
B. On the enormous billboard, a painted can of soda stood nearly 12 feet high.
C. The photograph was so sharply focused that you could see the individual
eyelashes on the subjects’ faces.
D. The maze had many different paths that curled around each other in a
complicated pattern.
5) Which sentence from the passage best illustrates the author’s feelings about graffiti art?
A. “I would like to point out that many people believe that graffiti is an art form
that can benefit our public spaces just as much as sculpture, fountains, or
other, more accepted art forms.”
B. “People who object to graffiti usually do so more because of where it is, not
what it is.”
C. “Spray paint is a medium unlike any other.”
D. “To declare that all graffiti is vandalism, and nothing more, is an overly
simplistic statement that I find out of place in such a thoughtful publication
as your magazine.”
6) In paragraph 4, Derrick Milton states, “Plenty of graffiti is just vandalism, pure and simple.” He most likely makes this statement in order to
A. agree with the author of “Protect Our Public Spaces”
B. clarify the limits of his position
C. support his overall argument
D. summarise the counterargument to his own position
7) Derrick Milton concludes his letter by
A. criticizing the magazine
B. offering a solution
C. restating his position
D. identifying the benefits of graffiti