Graffiti Culture Is it a Form of Artistic Expression or Criminal Activity

Graffiti Culture Is it a Form of Artistic Expression or Criminal Activity Introduction Various studies have over the years attempted to delineate the reasons and motivating factors behind the exposition of a wide range of popular cultures, and a good number of them have directed their efforts towards studying the graffiti culture.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Graffiti Culture: Is it a Form of Artistic Expression or Criminal Activity? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Though consensus is yet to be achieved on the major driving factors of this form of subculture, a number of seminal studies demonstrate that graffiti has been used by sociologists, anthropologists and other researchers to understand a wide range of issues, including adolescent personality, group behavior, sexual orientation and attitudes, gang territoriality, female suppression, social processes, racial undertones, and communication cues (Alonso 2). In the recent past, however, many states across the United States h ave criminalized this type of written expression, with some legislating punitive measures intended to curb the perceived decline of urban civility and destruction of private and public property. This ethnographic study will attempt to evaluate if graffiti culture is a form of artistic and cultural expression or if it is perpetrated with criminal or gangland intent. An analysis of graffiti culture is important as the findings of this study will expand the existing pool of knowledge especially in understanding the real motivating factors behind graffiti writers. Additionally, the findings of this study will serve as a barometer in understanding the behavior, attitudes, value propositions, and social-cultural processes of this segment of society. More importantly, the findings will inform policy initiatives and directions aimed at legislating for or against the use of graffiti as a form of expression. Background In contextual terms â€Å"†¦the word graffiti means little scratchin gs (sic) and it comes from the Italian graffiare, which means to scratch† (Alonso 2). Graffiti writers have been largely studied by researchers with the intention of demonstrating how this segment of society expresses attachment to particular beliefs, attitudes, social processes, and value propositions through conformance with or rebellion against existing mores and rule of law (Sliwa Cairns 73). Some studies form the opinion that graffiti provide a unique insight into society, in large part due to the fact that the scribbled messages are made without fear of social restrictions that might otherwise inhibit free expression of political, social, cultural or controversial thoughts (Alonso 2).Advertising Looking for research paper on art? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Scholars postulates that â€Å"†¦the graffiti culture, like any other culture, present itself in different forms, dependent on the social a nd cultural component of the local community, the distribution of cultural knowledge, the age of the culture and particularly, the presence or lack of an established hierarchy possessing experienced writers† (Serkan Gulsen 1). In equal measure, graffiti serves diverse types of functions. The Los Angeles gang graffiti, for instance, serves as a significant medium to understanding this segment of society as the graffiti not only delineates space, but also put a focus on the existing territory (Alonso 2). Other forms of graffiti, according to this particular author, serves as a tool of communication as they are perceived to constantly challenge the hegemonic discourses of the dominant group in addition to assisting in comprehending the social and cultural meaning of these ‘disadvantaged’ groups. A study undertaken to evaluate the commitment of graffiti writers argues that graffers are freely able to express themselves through their artwork as â€Å"†¦it is con ceivable to live exhibiting neither explicit compliance with, nor opposition to, norms of behavior accepted by society, or any grouping within it† (Sliwa Cairns 75). These researchers are of the opinion that many empirical analysis done by normative social scientists fail to recognize the commitment of graffers and instead depict them in simplistic terms as individuals who lack commitment to generally accepted mores of society. Contrary to this popularly held view, most graffers are motivated by the urge to share their own perceptions of the world rather than rely on meta-narratives that only seek to present a singular, unchallenged and exclusive version of reality (Sliwa Cairns 75). In other quarters, graffiti is perceived as one of the few successful attempts made by the voiceless masses to enforce their presence on urban culture (Kriegel 432). According to the author, â€Å"†¦graffiti proves that behind the rage of urban poverty there remains an endurance of aspirat ion† (Kriegel 435). Consequently, it can be argued that the importance of graffiti lies in the voice it provides to the expression of suppressed anger and contempt of the existing social or political order. However, one author is quick to point that graffiti not only implies the destruction of city life, but it also â€Å"†¦denies the possibility of an urban community by insisting that individual style is a more natural right than the communitarian demands of city life† (Kriegel 433). More importantly, this particular author notes any form of graffiti – political or otherwise – intrudes on the privacy of the wider public by voicing a specific protest that may not be in tandem with the views and expectations held by the general public.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Graffiti Culture: Is it a Form of Artistic Expression or Criminal Activity? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Gr affiti is seen and defined in some quarters as a criminal activity which is lumped with other undesirable behaviors such as drug dependence and mindless violence and together labeled as ‘bad symptoms’ of civilization (Sliwa Cairns 75). The authors further argue that the very fact that graffiti is carried out anonymously and away from public scrutiny underlines its criminal nature. What’s more, spray-painting public property with undue disregard of the views, attitudes and values of the wider public, or without express permission from the authorities, is by itself criminal (Sliwa Cairns 74). These observations led one analyst to conclude that if graffiti truly constitutes an art form, then it is ultimately an art that is inspired by an urge to destroy the root concept of what apparently created it (Kriegel, 436). It is therefore imperative to know if graffiti is truly a form of artistic expression or purely a criminal activity. As already mentioned, such knowled ge can be used to inform policy initiatives and directions aimed at legislating rules for or against the use of graffiti as a form of expression. Based on the above review of related literature, this ethnographic study will be guided by the following research questions: What are the main motivators of graffiti culture? What are the social and economic benefits and costs associated with graffiti? Do you believe that the exposition of graffiti is a clear sign of social decline and anti-social behavior? What constitutes the reasons as to why graffiti should or should not be criminalized? Research This ethnographic study relied on participant observation and interviews to collect primary data needed to answer the key research questions. In most ethnographic studies â€Å"†¦people’s actions and accounts are studied in everyday contexts, rather than under conditions created by the researcher† (Hammersley Atkinson 3). As such, the researcher utilized participant obser vation to gather data by participating in the daily life experiences of graffiti writers. This approach entailed everyday interactions and conversations aimed at discovering in-depth insights into the graffiti writers’ interpretations of the experiences and situations they are involved in. participant observation should be aimed at generating an in-depth description of social interactions and experiences within natural settings (Smith para. 5). Through participating as a member of the graffiti group while observing it, the researcher noted that most graffiti writers were motivated by the current social and political order, and they engaged in graffiti to express their own opinions of the current occurrences. A particular graffiti that caught the attention of the researcher depicted the recent shooting of Osama bin Laden with the inscription that â€Å"KILL OSAMA-REMAIN THE ONLY SUPERPOWER.† The researcher also observed that graffiti writers were not only motivated by t heir aesthetic appeal, but also by a perceived social aspect of sharing an event, experience or activity with ‘friends.’ It was also observed that continued involvement in graffiti writing was associated with pride, pleasure, enjoyment of spray-painting, and recognition achieved from writing.Advertising Looking for research paper on art? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The researcher noted that these particular motivators were not associated with any quantifiable benefits apart from the intrinsic outcomes described above. In addition, the researcher noted that boredom and rebellion to the existing order (especially state and local authority laws and bylaws) formed a central component in motivating graffiti writers to spray-paint public and private property. Lastly, the researcher observed that some graffiti writers engaged in the practice for competition. The informants for this ethnographic study consisted of three graffiti writers and two local government officials. The informants were subjected to a brief interview process that sought to achieve an in-depth knowledge and understanding about some of the perspectives that were not apparent from the initial participant observations. The interviews were largely unstructured. From the responses of the graffiti writers, the researcher noted that graffiti was to a large extent driven by emotional, soc ial or political expression as opposed to other variables mentioned in previous studies, such as drugs, immorality and social decadence. It was also noted from the graffiti writers interviewed that they were to some extent driven by the pursuit of ‘illegal fame’ and recognition. The writers, however, denied that graffiti was connected to drugs and criminal activities though they acknowledged that some graffiti was associated with gangland behaviors and territoriality interests. Lastly, graffiti writers contended that graffiti should not be criminalized as doing so amounted to contravening the freedom of expression. The researcher interviewed the local authority officials to gain a deeper understanding of the social and economic benefits and costs of graffiti, and criminalization of graffiti. The two officials were in agreement that the graffiti culture had led to unsightly, damaging and costly ramifications for private property owners as well as for public buildings. Th e officials were in agreement that graffiti does not have economic and social benefits to society in general and the writers in particular. However, graffiti vandalism, as they preferred to call it, occasioned unwarranted costs to businesses, individuals, and organs of state or local government in removing the graffiti; increased insurance premiums for public and private property; increased government taxes; and impacted negatively on the value of private property. These reasons, according to the local government officials, are more than enough to warrant the criminalization of graffiti culture. Socially, the officials felt that graffiti culture continually undermines community perceptions of safety, not mentioning that it exhibits discernible symptoms of social decline and anti-social behavior. Lastly, the officials were in agreement that graffiti culture warrants criminal reprimand as it is often associated with other undesirable behaviors such as drug-taking, theft, loitering, ga ngland activities, and private and public property destruction. Analysis and Conclusions The data collected during participant observation and interviews satisfactorily answers the key study questions. The main motivators of graffiti culture, according to the gathered data include: need to artistically express the current social and political order from the graffiti writer’s own opinion; aesthetic appeal; need to share an event or experience with friends; pride; pleasure; enjoyment; recognition; competition; boredom and; rebellion. This information expands on the existing knowledge as to what actually propels the graffiti culture (Sliwa Cairns 75). From the graffiti writers’ perspective, it has been revealed that graffiti provides intrinsic emotional and social rewards in terms of freely expressing one’s thoughts, recognition, and pleasure. One previous study had perceived graffiti culture as one of the few successful attempts made by the voiceless masses to en force their presence on urban culture (Kriegel 432). It is however interesting to note that graffiti culture carries no perceived benefits outside the scope of the writers as can be demonstrated by the interview responses from the local authority officials. As such, it can be safely concluded that graffiti culture impinges on the rights and privacy of others who may be not necessarily share the views or opinions of the graffiti writers. This view has been well espoused in the review of literature (Kriegel 433). Again, the findings demonstrate that graffiti is not a sign of social and moral decadence from the mouth of the players, but other interested parties think otherwise. Indeed, the culture has been accused of causing wanton destruction of property, not mentioning that it has been positively correlated to other disruptive behaviors, such as drug use and abuse, theft, loitering, and gangland activities. This finding has been collaborated in previous studies (Kriegel 435). The fin dings have overwhelmingly depicted graffiti culture as a form of artistic expression mainly intended to avail a forum where current political, cultural, and social issues can be discussed from the graffiti writer’s lens rather than relying on dominant discourses of information. This finding has been well corroborated in previous studies (Sliwa Cairns 75; Serkan Gulsen 1). However, there is overbearing evidence from the findings that graffiti culture needs to be checked and legislated so as not to impinge on the rights and freedoms of other people. Going by the findings, graffiti culture should not be criminalized; rather, it should be legislated upon through the use of a legal framework that ensures that excesses of the artwork are checked and punitive measures applied for those who fail to obey the rules, just as it is done in other areas of law. Blanket criminalization of graffiti culture is unnecessary. The government should also consider coming up with designated areas where writers can legitimately express themselves without causing damage to public or private property. Alonso, A. Urban Graffiti on the City Landscape. 1998. Web. Hammersley, M., Atkinson, P. Ethnography: Principles in Practice. Taylor Francis e-Library. 2007. Kriegel, L. Graffiti: Tunnel Notes of a New Yorker. American Scholar 62.3 (1993): 431-436. Retrieved from MasterFILE Premier Database. Serkan, G., Gulsen, Y. Understanding Graffiti in the Built Environment: The Case in Ankara, Turkiye. 2006. Web. Smith, M.K. Participant Observation and Informal Education. 1997. Web. Sliwa, M., Cairns, G. Exploring Narratives and Antenarratives of Graffiti Artists: Beyond Dichotomies of Commitment and Detachment. Culture Organization 13.1 (2007): 73-82. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier Database.

Tactical mistake - Emphasis

Tactical mistake Tactical mistake Weve all done it: accidentally substituted a similar-sounding but actually entirely different word for the one we meant to write. And while no-one wants to be the person who does it (it could seriously undermine your credibility), for humours sake, were probably all secretly glad it happens occasionally. Take one of the features of a 9 LED Eurohike aluminium torch (offered at an unmissable price with a recent purchase at Millets). Listed between heavy duty aluminium construction and 3 x AAA batteries included we find tactical on/off switch. Now that sounds fancy, doesnt it? But really, whenever any of us make that strategic reach for the on/off switch, with the cunning plan of being able to see where we are going, arent we all tacticians in our own right? Or could this simple, moulded, soft-rubber switch actually be better described as tactile? But then, this is a dangerous game to start.

Harassment at Work Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Harassment at Work - Case Study Example The plaintiff, Alisha alleged that her employer discriminated against her on the basis of her sex, by failing to restore her to her position, after she took a leave owing to complications with her pregnancy. This case shares some of the circumstances that are similar to the Collins case. Betty Cattino sued her former employers Genesis Healthcare for discriminating against her because of her sex and for the violation of Equal Pay Act. This particular case also has close affiliations with the Collins case. After conducting the research on the case under consideration by the sneaky method, one comes to the conclusion that Shepardizing is a much more organized and time efficient method of conducting legal research. This becomes peculiarly evident from the extreme variation in the results derived from the two suggested methods of research. Shepardizing saves a lot of inconvenience and hassle involved in conducting legal research. Especially the CLAR method of Shepardizing provided by Lexis cuts short the botheration and confusion involved in looking for the text of the document that cited a particular case by using keywords. Above all the hypertext features available in the online Shepard Citations enable a researcher to navigate conveniently from the Shepard's reference to the text of any specific document that cited a particular case. Almost all the sources located during the research referred to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits all forms of discrimination at work on the basis of an employee's color, race, sex, religion or national origin. In the case of Collins, she is specifically being discriminated against on the basis of her sex and the ensuing responsibilities as a mother and a partner. Thus she can undoubtedly sue her employers for the violation of Title VII. Some sources also refer to the Civil Rights Act of 1991, which allows for claiming damages in case of being subjected to any intentional discrimination at work. Evidently in the Collins fact pattern, the ABC Advertising is conclusively discriminating against Collins on the grounds of her dressing sense, sociability and parental responsibilities. Hence this legal provision can be

Chemical Engineering at the University of Wyoming Essay

Chemical Engineering at the University of Wyoming - Essay Example Other key requirements for licensure are: (2) Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam (which you will take your senior year at UW); (3) Practice engineering after graduation for four years under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer; and (4) Pass the Principles and Practice exam. To maintain ABET accreditation of our B.S. in chemical engineering, we must assess how students perform against 11 outcomes (called the Criterion 3 (a)-(k) outcomes). The outcomes can be found in the General Catalog and also at http://www.uwyo.edu/chemical/undergraduate/department_programs/chemical/program%20objectives.html Bart, a registered professional engineer (PE), works for the oil and gas exploration division of a major oil and gas producer (Company A). Bart’s sister, Lisa, also a registered PE, works for an oil and gas research and development (R&D) company called Well-Aware, LLC whose major client is a company (Company B) that competes directly with Company A. During a family get-together, Lisa excitedly tells her brother Bart all about the new design for a deepwater well sealing system she has been working on with her research group at Well-Aware, LLC. The design could save a lot of money in construction without sacrificing safety. Having studied well design for many years Lisa is exceptional in her ability to understand the intricacies of each design component of a well and how they are interrelated. However, since she is not as familiar with problems that can occur in the field, she asks Bart a few questions relating to the feasibility of the new system. The two saw no harm in this si nce Company A and Company B were in talks to potentially share each other's new well design technologies. Bart, having had extensive field experience, mentioned a few instances where field implementing the design could be improved. According to the scenario, there are a number of unethical and illegal actions that may occur. These actions may occur because Bart and Lisa shared confidential information regarding their respective companies. The following illegal and unethical actions may occur.

Energy Production Essay -- Environment, Natural Gas

In today’s society, it’s nearly impossible to open a newspaper, fire up a computer, or hold a conversation that isn’t someway related to energy. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution over a century and a half ago, nothing has been more pivotal to mankind’s rise to power as the apex species of planet earth. Had our ancestors not discovered the potential of using million year old plant and animal remains to create combustible power, the world would look very different. There is no denying that energy production is one of, if not, the most important developments in human history. After a hundred and fifty years of recklessly burning oil and coal, we find ourselves having to deal with the literal mess unforeseen by our industrious forefathers. No longer can the repercussions of our unsustainable addiction to fossil fuels be ignored nor can we defer the task of finding a solution to the next generation of humans. â€Å"Energy use and its cost are rising worldwide, most countries remain dependent on oil imports, and little progress has been made toward curbing climate change† (Deutch 2011). This inconvenient truth has left governments, environmentalists, and consumers scrambling to develop a way to provide massive amounts of energy at an affordable cost while significantly reducing our harmful carbon emissions. In a perfect world alternative, clean energy should have been pursued intensively when true magnitude of oil instability was first revealed in the 1970’s but better late than never. There are dozens, if not hundreds of oil and coal alternatives that are being considered, however, while many options look promising in theory the overwhelming majority of them such as: wind, solar, and biofuel just aren’t economically feas... ...to guide the design of the study. The initial research results from the study are expected until the end of 2012 with a goal for a report in 2014. ANH International. "About Us | ANH International." Welcome to Alliance for Natural Health International | ANH International. 03 Mar. 2011. Web. 03 Mar. 2011. . ANH-USA 1. "A Huge Fracking Mess." Welcome to the Alliance for Natural Health - USA. 23 Feb. 2011. Web. 03 Mar. 2011. . ANH-USA 2. "Campaigns." Welcome to the Alliance for Natural Health - USA. 03 Mar. 2011. Web. 03 Mar. 2011. . ANH-USA 3. "Overview." Welcome to the Alliance for Natural Health - USA. 03 Mar. 2011. Web. 03 Mar. 2011. .

Determination of the Fundamental Electronic Charge

ELECTROLOYSIS OF WATER: DETERMINATION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL ELECTRONIC CHARGE PURPOSE: The fundamental electronic charge of water will be determined. A system of collecting the formation of H2 and O2 using two inverted glass collections tubes and a 1-L beaker filled with water will be setup. An electrolyte (H2SO4) will be added to water to make it an electrical conductor. A small amount of electricity will be applied to the water (roughly 400 mA) to oxidize the oxygen and reduce the hydrogen at the same time. The molecular hydrogen and oxygen gases produced will be trapped in the separated, inverted tubes so that their volumes can be measured.In comparing the volume of gases produced, applying Dalton’s Law and the Ideal Gas Equation along with the application of the stoichiometric ratio between the electron and the gases, the fundamental electronic charge will be determined. THEORY H+ ions will join together at the cathode (the negative electrode) to produce H Atoms, and the H at oms will join to form molecules of H2 gas. At the positive electrode (the anode), H20 molecules will decompose to replace the H+ ions lost and release O2 gas. The reactions appear below. H+(aq) + 2e- —> H2(g) Reduction (at the cathode) 2H20(l) —> 4H+(aq) + O2(g) + 4e-Oxidation (at the anode) The volume of H2 and O2 will be directly proportional to the time and current applied to the system. This will provide the number of electrons consumed on a stoichiometric ratio as follows: 1 H2(g) to 2 e-Reduction (at the cathode)(1) 1 O2(g) to 4 e-Oxidation (at the anode)(2) The moles of electrons can be expressed as a rearrangement of the Ideal Gas Equation: Ne = PV/RT(3) Where P = pressure in atm, V = volume in L, R = Gas Constant of 0. 08206 atm mol-1 K-1 and T = temperature in KelvinThe actual electronic charge of water will be calculated as follows: e- = it/NeNx the stoichiometric ratio (1) or (2) above Where i = current in amps, t = time in seconds, Ne = moles of electrons passing through the circuit from equation (3) and N = Avogadro’s number. The actual electronic charge will be compared to the theoretical charge of 1. 603Ãâ€"10-19 Coulombs. 1. Convert height of the solution into mm Hg to get the hydrostatic pressure (pressure due to the liquid left in the gas collection tube): height of solution x density of solution density of mercury 2. tmospheric pressure in the room – hydrostatic pressure = Ptotal (total pressure exerted by the gas trapped in the gas collection tubes) 3. a)Ptotal (total pressure) = PH2 + PH20or Ptotal = PO2 + PH20 b) PH2 = Ptotal – PH20 c)PH2 / 760 = Patm (Pressure) 4. Ne = PV/RT 5. e- = it/NeNx the stoichiometric ratio | | Run 1| Run1| | Run 2| Run 2| | | – (cathode)| + (anode)| | – (cathode)| + (anode)| | | Tube 2| Tube 1| | Tube 2| Tube 1| | | H2| O2| | H2| O2| Run Time in seconds|   | 987. 13| 987. 13| | 1102. 82| 1102. 82| Average Current|   | 0. 303| 0. 303| | 0. 277| A| Height of S olution| Hsol mm| 400. | 325. 0 | | 81. 5 | 314. 2 | Volume of gas produced| Vgas (mL)| 40. 10 | 19. 72 | | 40. 10 | 19. 80 |   | Vgas (L)| 0. 04010 | 0. 01972 | | 0. 04010 | 0. 01980 | Temperature of solution| C| 24. 0 | 24. 0 | | 25. 6 | 25. 6 |   | Kelvin| 297. 15 | 297. 15 | | 298. 75 | 298. 75 | Vapour pressure of water | mm Hg| 22. 377 | 22. 377 | | 24. 617 | 24. 617 | Atmospheric pressure| Patm mm Hg| 770. 50 | 770. 50 | | 770. 50 | 770. 50 |   | Patm| 0. 94567 | 0. 95293 | | 0. 97354 | 0. 95103 | hhg hydrostatic pressure (mm Hg)|   | 29. 41 | 23. 90 | | 5. 99 | 23. 0 | Ptotal (mm Hg) in the tube|   | 741. 09 | 746. 60 | | 764. 51 | 747. 40 | PH2 (mm Hg)|   | 718. 71 |   | | 739. 89 |   | PO2 (mm Hg)|   |   | 724. 23 | |   | 722. 78 | | | | | | | | moles gas n (rearranged Ideal Gas Equation) Ne = PV/RT| 0. 001555 | 0. 0007707 | | 0. 001592 | 0. 0007681 | e- = it/NeN|   | 3. 194E-19| 6. 445E-19| | 3. 185E-19| 6. 604E-19| stoichiometric ratio| Final| 1. 597E-19| 1. 611E-19| | 1. 593E-19| 1. 651E-19| | theoretical| 1. 603E-19| 1. 603E-19| | 1. 603E-19| 1. 603E-19| | Difference| -6. 193E-22| 8. 166E-22| | -1. 028E-21| 4. 801E-21| | % Error| -0. 4%| 0. 5%| | -0. 6%| 3. 0%|

The Road Of Democracy For America - 1334 Words

The road to democracy for America was a long one. This road starts before America was its own country it was under the rule of the British Empire. Under the Monarch the colonist’s individual rights were completely compromised in return for order and stability. Colonists felt as the King was wrongfully infringing upon their rights and declared independence from the British. Down the road during the Revolutionary war America functioned through the Articles of Confederation, a system where the power was given to the states. This worked well for America during the war, however; afterwards the flaws of the Articles became evident. States were not unified as one and therefore maintaining order was impossible. Forced with the conflict of developing a sound government, the Founding Fathers of America do this by finding a balance between the individual rights of the people and the power of the government to maintain order with the concepts of unalienable rights, checks and balances, an d popular sovereignty. The first step to democracy and equilibrium between order and individual rights is the unalienable rights of the people. The major problem the majority of colonists had with the British Monarch was the lack of protection of the people s rights. One of their rights that the colonists felt that was infringed upon was the right to criticize the monarch and to speak against it. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson addresses a particular grievance regarding this limitShow MoreRelatedDemocracy Plays A Major Role Americans Everyday Life981 Words   |  4 PagesDemocracy plays a major role Americans’ everyday life. 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