Video of the Day: Tagging the System

Thanks to YouTube, more people can see tagging in action. The Post looks at the YouTubing of graffiti vandals/artists at work in the subways.

The vandals declined to be interviewed, but said that the trend began with graffiti writers who took to photographing their work because of the MTA's practice of painting over cars as soon as they're tagged.

Though this wasn't what the MTA had in mind when they tried unsuccessfully last year to ban photography in the subways, transit officials said these films are worse than smut.

"Vandalism is a disgusting act, and documenting it only compounds it," said NYC Transit spokesman Charles Seaton.

And the mandatory quote from City Councilman Peter Vallone: "They will not be able to hide behind the anonymity of their tags forever, especially when we have them on tape. We'll find out who they are, and when we do, they will pay for defacing the city's trains." So he's pro-YouTubing graf?

Yesterday, there was a NY Times City section article about "The Man Who Hates Graffiti" - Vallone. He is compared to Rudy ("He is to graffiti vandals what Mayor Giuliani was to squeegee men."), has his photo taken in front of a Kiko tag and had his scuffle with Bucky Turco is mentioned. And the clip above is titled "GIZ SLASH KECH MTA FTR KREW" (from 1994) and here's a link to DESA GIZ MTA KREW.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on November 13, 2006 1:43 PM

Comments [rss]

Anonymous

Advertising is just a legal form of graffiti.

Miquel

"Yep- this aint art. IT SUCKS as art."

Maybe you need to broaden your horizons. See the magnificence in a stroke that is not painted painstakingly until perfect in a well-lit studio environment surrounded by pretentious, scholarly artists, but one-time-only, in passing, at 4AM, by a high school dropout, wherever s/he treads. Tell me that's not romantic. Tell me that's not beautiful. Tell me it's not art.

But if not art, how about Archaeology? Look at where it pops up (restrooms, construction baricades, paths to and from school, work) look at where it clusters (gentrifying neighborhoods, trendy shopping districts, 11 Spring) take meaning from it's form, medium (symbols, letters, stickers, classic images often redesigned, spraypaint, marker, pen). Modern Heiroglyphics. Communication. Exprssion.

See, me, I think corporate logos and shiny new buildings are the real graffiti. In the future, take more than 5 seconds to really look at it, before scurrying into that hole like the little yuppie rat that you are...spin that wheel!

Max

Prison for graffiti is ridiculous when you get probation for violent crimes. Remember this is just property. It can be repainted or cleaned.

like

I like most graffiti. However, the acid etching and the like it ugly, not artistic and ridiculously idiotic. I wish they would just ban that.

Toby

They featured this video on WABC's Eyewitness News tonight.

Hopefully the NYPD has seen it and will use it for busting these morons.

tag this

I think this is the one mentioned in the story...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fepq3mMK-w&NR

Bob A Booey

There should be a zero tolerance anti-graffiti law. You get caught doing it on public or someone else’s property, you go to jail. Escalating prison terms for subsequent arrests. Ramp up undercover police enforcement and solve the problem. Simple as that.

I wonder if enthusiastically Gothamist supports hackers who love to vandalize websites as much as they champion the Graffiti “artist” losers. Hmm…

Graffitti blows

Yep- this aint art. IT SUCKS as art. I mean, yeah it would be great to see zero graffitti painted anywhere, but at least if we saw some amazing murals or works of art, one could make a case for it as art- a la Banksy, although it would still be wrong (buy a canvas!!). But 90% of it is just ugly.

Bill

Personally you can rant all you want; argue that Bush is the devil and that he smells of sulphur, but I can't stand graffti. First of all, most of it is crap. Then there's the whole problem of trying to understand what the moron was trying to write. Finally, it ain't your fucking property!! I don't want to see that crap. If I did, I would go to the delinquent graffiti museum.