Comments on: Murals & Graffiti in Los Angeles http://visualresistance.org/wordpress/2005/10/13/murals-graffiti-in-los-angeles/ redraw democracy Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:06:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1.3 by: eliot http://visualresistance.org/wordpress/2005/10/13/murals-graffiti-in-los-angeles/#comment-1522 Sat, 15 Oct 2005 14:44:51 +0000 http://visualresistance.org/wordpress/2005/10/13/murals-graffiti-in-los-angeles/#comment-1522 the main "academic" force arguing that graffiti creates crime is the "broken windows" theory. the idea is that petty crimes like graff, jumping turnstiles, and breaking windows, create a sense of chaos &#38; disorder that leads to larger crimes. the theory was cooked up at the right-wing hudson institute, and from what i've read of their position papers and all that, they rely very heavily on conjecture, stereotypes and "common sense" that's anything but. i think in the end, the academic/intellectual theories that get created at these think tanks are just there to provide excuses for things the powerful already wanted to do. <a href="http://www.blog.ni9e.com/archives/2005/10/graffiti_reward.html" rel="nofollow">fi5e</a> found a quote on the nypd's anti-graffiti website that illustrates this point: <em>"Graffiti-adorned trains and tunnels, buildings, blocks and cars, communicated a message of chaos to New Yorkers and tourists alike. Whether or not the statistics supported these assumptions was irrelevant, because the mere impression of disorder was enough."</em> the main “academic” force arguing that graffiti creates crime is the “broken windows” theory. the idea is that petty crimes like graff, jumping turnstiles, and breaking windows, create a sense of chaos & disorder that leads to larger crimes.

the theory was cooked up at the right-wing hudson institute, and from what i’ve read of their position papers and all that, they rely very heavily on conjecture, stereotypes and “common sense” that’s anything but.

i think in the end, the academic/intellectual theories that get created at these think tanks are just there to provide excuses for things the powerful already wanted to do. fi5e found a quote on the nypd’s anti-graffiti website that illustrates this point:

“Graffiti-adorned trains and tunnels, buildings, blocks and cars, communicated a message of chaos to New Yorkers and tourists alike. Whether or not the statistics supported these assumptions was irrelevant, because the mere impression of disorder was enough.”

]]> by: k.see http://visualresistance.org/wordpress/2005/10/13/murals-graffiti-in-los-angeles/#comment-1513 Fri, 14 Oct 2005 17:57:28 +0000 http://visualresistance.org/wordpress/2005/10/13/murals-graffiti-in-los-angeles/#comment-1513 Sounds like a campaign of censorship. And its the larger power structures imposing their idea of what is appropriate for public viewing or not. Im totally frustrated by this, because it takes so much power away from community members, especially the storeowners. And they are the legal "property-owners!" So there is something deeper than a private property/vandalism issue here. Its the control of aestethics and what is appropriate or not. Here in NYC the dity wants to prevent graffiti in public spaces but will allow unsightly advertising drape itself down 8+ story buildings. So im wondering if anyone knows if there are studies done on the "effects" of graffiti on the neighborhoods "atmosphere." -is that clear? i guess i wonder if the attitude that graffiti "creates" crime is supported by some academic or police paper? Sounds like a campaign of censorship. And its the larger power structures imposing their idea of what is appropriate for public viewing or not. Im totally frustrated by this, because it takes so much power away from community members, especially the storeowners. And they are the legal “property-owners!” So there is something deeper than a private property/vandalism issue here. Its the control of aestethics and what is appropriate or not. Here in NYC the dity wants to prevent graffiti in public spaces but will allow unsightly advertising drape itself down 8+ story buildings.
So im wondering if anyone knows if there are studies done on the “effects” of graffiti on the neighborhoods “atmosphere.”
-is that clear?
i guess i wonder if the attitude that graffiti “creates” crime is supported by some academic or police paper?

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