Graffiti is a form of visual art that involves writing or drawings on public surfaces, typically without permission. It can be seen as a way for individuals to express their creativity, opinions, or messages in public spaces.
However, because graffiti is often done without permission, there is a need for unwritten rules to ensure that the practice remains safe, and respectful, and maintains the integrity of the graffiti culture.
The unwritten rules of graffiti serve as guidelines for artists to follow, so they can engage in the practice without offending others or breaking laws. These rules help to preserve the graffiti culture and keep it alive, while also promoting safety, respect, and order.
Don’t Snitch on Other Graffiti Artists
One of the most important unwritten rules of graffiti is not to snitch on other graffiti artists. This rule is important because it is a fundamental aspect of graffiti culture and its community.
Graffiti artists depend on each other to keep their activities hidden from the authorities and maintain the integrity of their works. By not snitching, graffiti artists are able to trust each other and maintain a sense of unity and camaraderie.
The consequences of breaking this rule can be severe and may result in a loss of respect and trust from other graffiti artists. If an artist betrays the trust of their peers by snitching, they may find it difficult to collaborate with other artists or be welcomed into the community in the future.
The consequences of breaking this rule can also result in legal trouble for both the artist who snitched and the artist who was snitched on. In short, breaking this rule is seen as a major offense in the graffiti community and can result in significant harm to one’s reputation and future prospects as a graffiti artist.
Respect for Religious Buildings, War Memorials, and Cars
Graffiti artists are expected to respect religious buildings, war memorials, and cars and not use them as surfaces for their art. These places hold special significance and are considered off-limits because they are often viewed as sacred or hold deep cultural and historical meaning.
Defacing these places with graffiti is seen as disrespectful and can cause harm to the community and individuals who hold these places dear.
Graffiti artists can still express themselves in other ways without defacing religious buildings, war memorials, and cars. There are many alternative surfaces for graffiti art, such as abandoned buildings, legal walls, or canvases.
By choosing to express themselves on alternative surfaces, graffiti artists can maintain the integrity of the places that hold special meaning and avoid offending others. Additionally, many cities offer legal graffiti walls where artists can showcase their work without fear of retribution.
These alternatives provide ample opportunities for artists to express themselves while also respecting the cultural and historical significance of religious buildings, war memorials, and cars.
Hierarchy of Graffiti Artists
In the world of graffiti, there is a hierarchy of artists based on their level of experience and expertise. This hierarchy is determined by factors such as the number of years an artist has been active, the quality and style of their work, and their reputation in the community.
The hierarchy ranges from beginner artists who are just starting out, to more experienced artists who have established themselves and are recognized for their skills and contributions to the graffiti culture.
It is important for graffiti artists to respect the hierarchy and understand their place within it. This respect helps to maintain order and fosters a sense of community among artists.
More experienced artists are often seen as mentors and role models for newer artists, and their opinions and guidance are valued and respected. By respecting the hierarchy, artists can learn from each other and grow as artists, while also fostering a sense of unity and community within the graffiti culture.
The consequences of breaking this rule can result in a loss of respect and trust from other artists. If an artist disregards the hierarchy and acts disrespectfully towards more experienced artists, they may be seen as arrogant or entitled. This can lead to negative consequences, such as difficulty in finding collaborators or being accepted into the graffiti community.
Additionally, breaking this rule can cause division and conflict within the community, which can harm the overall graffiti culture. In short, respecting the hierarchy of graffiti artists is crucial for maintaining a positive and supportive community for artists to grow and express themselves.
Order of Painting
Within the graffiti culture, there is a preferred order for painting, which is as follows throw-ups over tags, pieces over throw-ups, and burners over pieces. A throw-up is a quick and simple graffiti piece, often done in one color and featuring a graffiti artist’s tag.
A tag is a simple and basic graffiti mark, usually just the artist’s name or initials. A piece is a more complex and elaborate graffiti work, often featuring multiple colors and intricate designs. A burner is a large and detailed graffiti piece that takes a significant amount of time and effort to create.
The reasoning behind this order is to maintain a sense of progression and evolution within the graffiti culture. The idea is that an artist should work their way up from simple tags to more complex pieces, ultimately leading to burners.
By following this progression, artists are able to hone their skills and gain recognition for their work, while also respecting the hierarchy within the community.
The consequences of breaking this rule can result in a loss of respect from other artists. If an artist disregards the preferred order and jumps straight to creating burners without working their way up, they may be seen as inexperienced or lacking in skills. This can lead to negative consequences, such as difficulty in finding collaborators or being accepted into the graffiti community.
Additionally, breaking this rule can cause confusion and disorder within the community, which can harm the overall graffiti culture. In short, following the preferred order of painting is important for maintaining a sense of progression and hierarchy within the graffiti community.
Don’t Paint Over a Dead Writer’s Work or a Tribute Piece
In the world of graffiti, works by dead writers and tribute pieces hold a special significance and are considered sacred. These works serve as a memorial and honor the legacy of the deceased artist, as well as a tribute to their impact on the graffiti community. They are often considered to be part of graffiti history and are respected and protected by other artists.
Paying tribute to other graffiti artists is an important part of the graffiti culture and helps to build a sense of community and solidarity among artists. Tribute pieces serve as a way for artists to show respect and appreciation for the work of others, while also preserving their legacy and impact on the community.
The consequences of breaking this rule can result in a loss of respect and trust from other artists. If an artist disregards the sacred nature of these works and paints over them, they may be seen as disrespectful and lacking in understanding of the graffiti culture.
This can lead to negative consequences, such as difficulty in finding collaborators or being accepted into the graffiti community. Additionally, breaking this rule can cause offense and harm to the memories of the deceased artists and their families, as well as cause division and conflict within the community.
In short, respecting the sacred nature of works by dead writers and tribute pieces is important for preserving the history and culture of graffiti, and fostering a positive and supportive community for artists.
Don’t Ask to Be Put in a Graffiti Crew
Within the graffiti community, it is an unwritten rule that artists should not ask to be put in a crew. A graffiti crew is a group of artists who work together to create graffiti, often sharing resources and supporting each other in their creative endeavors.
Being part of a crew is seen as a privilege and an accomplishment, and is earned through skill, dedication, and reputation.
The significance of earning one’s way into a crew lies in the fact that it reflects the artist’s skill, reputation, and commitment to the graffiti culture. Artists who have earned their way into a crew are seen as respected and accomplished, and their work is often recognized and appreciated by others in the community.
Joining a crew through earning one’s way is also a way for artists to build their reputation and gain recognition for their work.
The consequences of breaking this rule can result in a loss of respect and trust from other artists. If an artist disregards this unwritten rule and asks to be put in a crew, they may be seen as inexperienced or lacking in skills. This can lead to negative consequences, such as difficulty in finding collaborators or being accepted into the graffiti community.
Additionally, breaking this rule can cause confusion and disorder within the community, which can harm the overall graffiti culture. In short, earning one’s way into a crew through skill and dedication is an important aspect of the graffiti culture, and asking to be put in a crew is considered a breach of the unwritten rules.
Unwritten Rules of Graffiti Key Points
| Rule | Explanation | Consequences of Breaking the Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Don’t snitch on other graffiti artists | Maintaining trust and confidentiality is essential within the graffiti community | Loss of respect and trust from other artists |
| Respect for religious buildings, war memorials, and cars | Showing respect for cultural and historical landmarks | Loss of respect from the wider community |
| Hierarchy of graffiti artists | Recognizing the different levels of experience and skill among artists | Loss of respect and trust from other artists |
| Order of painting | Following the preferred order of graffiti art to maintain a sense of structure and hierarchy | Loss of respect from other artists |
| Don’t paint over a dead writer’s work or a tribute piece | Paying tribute to the legacy of the graffiti art form | Loss of respect from the wider graffiti community |
| Don’t ask to be put in a graffiti crew | Earning one’s place in a crew through skill and dedication | Difficulty finding collaborators or being accepted into the graffiti community |
FAQS
Graffiti is a form of street art that involves writing or painting on walls, buildings, and other public surfaces, often without permission. It is considered both a form of self-expression and a criminal act, depending on the context and the location of the graffiti.
There are several different types of graffiti, including hip-hop, folk epigraphy, saturnalia, scratchiti, stencil, and gang graffiti. Each type has its own unique style, purpose, and audience.
The unwritten rules of graffiti include respecting religious buildings, war memorials, and cars as off-limits for graffiti, maintaining a hierarchy of artists, following the preferred order of painting, protecting the works of dead writers and tribute pieces, and earning one’s way into a crew.
Graffiti is often illegal, as it involves writing or painting on public or private property without permission. However, some cities have designated graffiti walls or areas where artists can legally express themselves through graffiti.
The consequences of breaking the unwritten rules of graffiti can include loss of respect and trust from other artists, difficulty finding collaborators or being accepted into the graffiti community, and negative consequences for the overall graffiti culture. Additionally, breaking the law by graffitiing in unauthorized locations can result in fines or imprisonment.
Becoming a graffiti artist often requires a combination of talent, skill, dedication, and a strong understanding of graffiti culture and its unwritten rules. Artists may start by practicing on legal graffiti walls or canvas, building their skills and reputation, and eventually earning their way into a crew or finding other collaborators.
Respecting the unwritten rules of graffiti is essential for preserving the history, culture, and community of the art form. By following these rules, artists show respect for their peers and the legacy of graffiti and help to foster a positive and supportive environment for creativity and expression.
Editor’s Note
The unwritten rules of graffiti are
- Don’t snitch on other graffiti artists.
- Don’t write on religious buildings, war memorials, or cars.
- Respect the hierarchy of graffiti artists, with more experienced artists given more respect.
- Paint in a specific order, with throw-ups over tags, pieces over throw-ups, and burners over pieces.
- Don’t paint over a dead writer’s work or a tribute piece.
- Don’t ask to be put in a graffiti crew.
Conclusion
Graffiti has its own set of unwritten rules that help to preserve the history, culture, and community of the art form.
These rules include respecting religious buildings, war memorials, and cars as off-limits for graffiti, maintaining a hierarchy of artists, following the preferred order of painting, protecting the works of dead writers and tribute pieces, and earning one’s way into a crew.
Final thoughts on the importance of respecting these unwritten rules highlight the significance of preserving the graffiti culture and community. By following these rules, artists show respect for their peers and the legacy of the art form and help to foster a positive and supportive environment for creativity and expression.
Disregarding these rules can lead to negative consequences and harm to the community, as well as a loss of respect and trust from other artists. In short, respecting the unwritten rules of graffiti is essential for maintaining the integrity and richness of the art form and its community.
Leave a Reply