Answering Questions Vol3

In this post, I will answer questions No5 and 6.

5. What is the difference between Graffiti and Street Art?

To identify the difference between Graffiti and Street Art, I used 4 different dictionaries.

Firstly, I researched the definition of Graffiti. Webster’s Pocket Dictionary said that it is “a crudely drawn inscription”, and it is the plural form of “graffito”. Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English said that it is “rude, humorous or political writing and pictures on the walls of buildings, trains, etc.” Oxford Dictionaries wrote that it is “Writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place.” Only Oxford Dictionaries wrote clearly it is “illicit” which means illegal, but the other two dictionaries also mentioned they are crude or rude. Also, I can guess that they are done on the walls of buildings, trains or other surface in a public place.

              Secondly, I researched the meaning of street art. Urban Dictionary said it is “any art developed in public spaces - that is, "in the streets" — though the term usually refers to art of an illicit nature (as opposed to, for instance, government or community art initiatives). The term can include traditional graffiti artwork, though it is often used to distinguish modern public-space artwork from traditional graffiti and the overtones of gang territoriality and vandalism associated with it.” From this definition, I can surmise that street art can be illicit, but it is not always vandalism or cruel.

              In my post “Answering Questions Vol1”, I mentioned that Art should basically be creative, impressive, imaginative or beautiful. From this definition, I think that it can be said that some graffiti arts, for example the art works by KAZZROCK or TOMI-E, who I introduced in the last post, can be included in street arts. Also, art works in Shimokitazawa Ichibangai are street arts because they are legal. However, there are many other graffiti on the street that is only writing their names or words on walls. They don’t meet any of the definition of art. Thus, they cannot be said street art.

               

6. What kind of legal actions are taken if you do it without permission in Japan?

              They will be usually charged for Property Damage (Article261 of the Criminal Law) or the Minor Offenses Act, Clause 33, Article 1. Property Damage is crimes those destruct or injure other people’s things except for documents, buildings, and warships and other vessels. Minor Offenses are for example, putting posters on somebody’s house or structures without any reasons. If you are charged for Property Damage, you will be sentenced for three years, or fined under three hundred thousand yen. For Minor Offenses Act you will be detained or have to pay a fine.

Bibliography

The new international Webster's pocket dictionary of the English language (2012 ed.). (2002). Naples, FL: Trident Press International.

Longman dictionary of contemporary English (5th ed.). (2009). Harlow: Pearson.

Definition of graffiti in English: Retrieved July 06, 2016, from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/graffiti

Street art. (2013, December 11). Retrieved July 06, 2016, from http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=street art

壁にスプレーで描かれた絵って、かっこいいけど、ただの落書きとはどう違うの!? (2016, January 06). Retrieved July 06, 2016, from http://news.mynavi.jp/news/2016/01/06/382/

汚れを落として描く「グラフィティ」 日本でやったら違法？. (2013). Retrieved July 06, 2016, from http://www.huffingtonpost.jp/2013/12/29/eminem-reverse-graffiti-illegal-_n_4514014.html

Kamata, K. (2015). Daily Roppou: 2016. Tokyo: Sanseido.