Graffiti: Art or Vandalism

Graffiti: Art or Vandalism?

                Graffiti is an extremely polemic theme. Opinions are divided, and there are some important questions to board. Is very common nowadays to walk, normally in the streets of big cities, and see a lot of different kinds of paintings in walls, monuments and other public places. But, in the end, these paintings are considered art? Or only vandalism?

                To answer this question another doubt comes up: What is art? Most of the people say that graffiti is art when is beautiful, colorful, and make the city prettier, and it is not when is ‘visual pollution’. But, who can consider something art? Art is, by definition, when an artist expresses his feelings. So, following this logic, graffiti as ‘visual pollution’ is also art, because their artists are expressing themselves. Graffiti is a form of protest, a form of discussion OR a form of express beauty.

                Another common argument is ‘graffiti is a form of vandalism when it is not allowed by the owner of the space’. So when a painting is beautiful and colorful and not permitted, it is vandalism? This contradicts the other argument. Okay, so graffiti is considered art when it is beautiful and permitted?

                I think that graffiti doesn’t have to be art or vandalism. It can be both of them. Can be art if his owner wanted to express a feeling, an idea, but can also be vandalism if is not following the law. In conclusion, graffiti is not something good or bad, it depends to the person’s view of good and bad. It is important to have a way to express nowadays, but trying to respect the society.  

~Cih

                                         Art X Vandalism

             In this month, the painting of drawings made by people at the walls of “Minhocão” has divided opinions. Some people think it was a beautiful art and of expression from the black community. Others believe this type of art is against the law and must be prohibited. But what is art and vandalism, and is there a difference between them?

             Most of the time we consider art something colorful ,with perfect lines and forms and vandalism letters made quickly by graffiti artists .In the formal interpretation, vandalism is considered any type of graffiti made without permition in a property, but in daily life interpretation, each person has a different opinion. When decide what is art and what isn´t, we need to know that, for another person, what I believe is ugly may be pretty for her. Because of these diverse opinions, governments end up covering all type of art, since they can´t choose what is it or not.

             On the other hand, the expression of arts on the streets is seen as a way to color the city, made of cement and concrete. One example of these are the colorful walls at “Vila Madalena”, where everyday artists go and create. In a city, most of the population appreciates graffitis made with colors and images, what has been allowing the growth of this type of art. However, letters considered “ugly” are painted by the owners of the property or even by the government, creating a disagreement on what should be covered or not.

             In conclusion, art is a way of people expressing their visions, feelings and thoughts. When we interprete art, we must respect others visions and learn know no one is more intelligent or better them someone by its tastes. Looking at something and saying it is good or not doesn´t make us art experts, but simple watchers appreciating the world we leave in.


By Anna

A Trip To The Moon

A Trip To The Moon

All of the most important astronomers of the entire world were reunited in France, in the Club of Astronomy. They were starting the discussion when professor Barbenfoullis screamed that he had discovered a secret formula and now it was possible to humans to travel to the Moon. Then the discussion started for real. Everybody wanted to scream louder than the other, saying that this was impossible and it was a suicide mission to go to the Moon. But five brave scientists agreed to go on the mission.

Omega, one of the sctientist, was very curious about what they would find in their mission. He was obsessed with life in other planets, but he never proved his theory in the Club of Astronomy, and now he had a chance to be someone in the community of astronomy. He couldn’t wait to the trip! As the time passed, he helped to build the rocket that would fly to the Moon.

He made his baggage with energy and in the day of the great trip, entered in the rocket and saw all those people waving to them, hoping for their best. He saw then getting smaller and smaller, so as the houses and France. Then he saw the Earth, a blue and big ball, waving to them too. Moving to the other side of the rocket, he finally saw the Moon, imagining wha kind of fantastic things he would find.

   

~By Cih

A Trip To The Moon

A Trip To The Moon

              In 1893, the world was changing with the end of slavery and the start of democracy. During that time, lots of people started questioning what happened in the moon that shined every night at their homes. One of those people realized that if he built a box made of metal and send it to the moon by the impulse of a lever, he would be able to send people there. Joining him, scientists, physics and mathematics from all around the world joined and built a big ball made of iron and gold. They decided the day of the release would be Sunday, when the moon would be closer to that side of Earth.

            

               In January 23th, everyone that had been part of the project gathered together to see the big moment. Standing there was presidents and select people chosen by a raffle. Soon, five scientists came and where applauded by the audience. They all got inside the machine and started counting while the anxiety was rising at them. In 10 seconds, the ball was thrown and everyone would send them good luck.

            

             The 5 scientists got to the moon, and decided to exit the ship. As each one started coming out, they would describe things in a different way. One person was seeing a dark sky, with big mountains and a strong air. The other would see a yellow sky, red bushes and a soft breeze. After some time, they realized with their knowledge that the moon would emit characteristics interpreted differently by each person brain. They got extremely happy and wrote down everything each one was feeling. That night, they all slept inside the ball, amazed by what they had learned.

             

             In the next day, they woke up and in two hours prepared the equipment for landing. When they finished, they said goodbye to the moon and launched the machine back to Earth. As they got here, all of them were congratulated by their big discovery. The scientists weren´t able to describe with assurance what they had seen, but they all concluded it wasn´t as beautiful as the moon shining in the sky.

Anna Laura