Answering Questions ③

I would like to answer to question 5 & 6 this week!


5) Are there any laws for graffiti?

I found out that there are laws for graffiti in some countries.

In America for example, there are graffiti laws within different states.

In California, it is stated that…

“Every person who maliciously commits any of the following acts with respect to any real or personal property not his or her own, in cases other than those specified by state law, is guilty of vandalism: (1) Defaces with graffiti or other inscribed material (2) Damages  (3) Destroys.” It clearly mentions “graffiti” and in the law it also defined graffiti as any word, figure, mark, or design, that is written, marked, etched, scratched, drawn, or painted on property. If the damage of destruction cost more than $400, the person had to pay a fine not more that $10000 or put in to jail for not more than a year.

In NY, it is stated that…

“Defacement of property, possession, sale and display of aerosol spray paint cans, [and] broad tipped markers and etching acid prohibited in certain instances.” And there were more specific laws. I was really surprised by it since New York is where graffiti has started, and I thought it would be more generous with graffiti. Not only does it ban people to draw on public and personal property, it also requires property owners to remove it (Call the city). It turned out to be much strict than I thought it would be.

But as a country, there are no laws specific to graffiti. However, an individual's right to free speech and expression is protected in The First Amendment to the US Constitution, which I think graffiti could be included in. It depends whether you consider graffiti as “ART” or “Vandalism”. I personally take it as a form of talent and a way of expression (if it wasn’t causing any trouble to people). I don’t want cities to be too strict with graffiti.

6) What is the definition of  "Graffiti"?


I searched throgh different dictionary to find an answer. It is a little similar to Azusa's post.

In Obunsha’s COMPREHENSIVE English-Japanese Dictionary, it defines graffito (graffiti) as “scratch, writing, drawing in public spaces”. I looked up few other dictionaries but most of them said the same thing. However Longman Dictionary of Cotemporary English LONGMAN was a little different and said “rude, humorous or political writing and pictures on the walls of buildings, trains etc.”

It is hard to say which is right, but one thing I found out is that there is no word that has exactly the same meaning as graffiti in Japanese. If you translate it to Japanese it would be “落書き(rakugaki)” which means scribble and does not necessarily mean drawings on walls. If you say “落書き(rakugaki)” to Japanese people I think only a few people would think of graffiti. Also, I personally felt that dictionary made in Japan tend to explain graffiti as in more negative way. So although the definition in English would be the one I have mentioned first, I thought that it is different within different countries.





＜Bibliography＞

California Penal Code - PEN § 594 | FindLaw." Findlaw. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 July 2016. http://codes.findlaw.com/ca/penal-code/pen-sect-594.html

Anti-Graffiti City and State Legislation." Anti-Graffiti City and State Legislation. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 July 2016. http://www.nyc.gov/html/nograffiti/html/legislation.html

Takahashi, Genji, and Yoshio Ogawa, eds. Obunsha’s COMPREHENSIVE English-Japanese Dictionary. 8th ed. Shinjyuku: Oubunsha, 1975. Print.

Longman Dictionary of Cotemporary English LONGMAN. Vol. 4. Shinjyuku: Kiriharashoten, 2005. Print.