There has been some debate lately over the perceived increase of graffiti in Santa Monica. City Hall-sponsored murals, which line walls throughout town, have been the latest targets.
Some people consider graffiti as art, while many believe it’s nothing more than vandalism. Its roots derive not from gang activity, but from the hip hop culture when individuals created it to express themselves.
So this week, Q-Line wants to know, “Why can’t graffiti be considered an art form, regardless of its illegality? Why isn’t it socially accepted?”
Call (310) 285-8106 with your responses by Friday at 5 p.m. We’ll print them in the weekend edition. Please limit your comments to a minute or less. It might help to think about the wording of your of response.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 5, 2004. Read the original PDF.