| When the Walls Talk: Graffiti and its effects on society | | | Fernando Gomez Cabral | ITT-Technical Institute Corona, CAMrs. DixonEN1320 Composition I |

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Graffiti as an art form is a controversial subject in the art world. Is it vandalism, or is it art? Graffiti itself has come a long way from just being scrawls in a bathroom or random tags on a wall. It has been embraced worldwide by the hip hop culture as a legitimate form of artistic expression. An outlet with endless possibilities and absolutely no borders, constantly breaking barriers as it finds its way onto collector’s walls and into galleries as well as being the subject of museum exhibits. Although there are many people who say otherwise, it is so widely accepted that corporate media has utilized it as a successful way to push their products, cashing in off of the works of many prolific graffiti writers. Only making it that much harder to eradicate or buff out its beautiful images. Graffiti art originated in the late 1960’s, and it has been rapidly evolving ever since. Although it was not readily accepted as being art like that found in galleries or museums. Most of the opposition to graffiti art is due to its location and bold, unexpected and unconventional presentation, but its presentation and often illegal location does not necessarily disqualify it as art. On the contrary it draws attention and catches the eye. In most occasions, making a plain building or bad neighborhood look beautiful. There are many locations throughout Los Angeles and San Francisco for example that many flock to just to get a view of these works of art with their own eyes, or to simply photograph it. A huge impact graffiti has on society, is on the writers themselves. “Graffiti is if nothing else, an opportunity to build a myth around a name, separating yourself from both the crowds and your fellow