Graffiti Dogs

I watched a documentary recently on Banksy, a UK-based...well, wikipedia calls him a graffiti artist, political activist, and film director.

I really enjoyed it. There's something about Banksy that makes him stand out to me. I think he has some real talent.

I came across a piece of his in New Orleans. It caught my eye in some way and a quick Google search confirmed it was his. I'm not a fan. I don't follow him, or even know much about his activities beyond what I saw in the short documentary. But the guy makes a point. He has a purpose.

I can't say the same for any of the graffiti I find in the area where I live. It's only blight. It's ugly, meaningless, and selfish. Purposeless beyond marking, in the crudest way, "I was here." 

When I go on a regular morning walk, I've developed a talent for spotting new instances of graffiti. It's not art. Maybe what Banksy does is art. But then, it's not graffiti, I would argue. And tagging, which is the act of putting one's nickname or mark on a surface, sometimes near or over someone else's tag or on something more credibly approaching art. A dog marking its territory. Worse. Graffiti is worse than dog piss.

I learned we have a town website to report it, so I started doing so. I was amazed! Something government-sponsored that actually works! Albeit, it's staffed by citizen volunteers (the city supplies graffiti removal kits). These citizens, as every bit anonymous to me as the graffiti vandals they clean up after, are heroes. It is not at all uncommon for me to report a new instance upon returning home and find it fixed the very next day I make the route.

Now, after reporting perhaps dozens of instances, I'm concluding it's a never ending battle. The vandal strikes. The heroes respond. The vandal strikes again. The heroes respond, this time more quickly.

Now I've chosen a side, and I'm doing my small part. I look forward to seeing if it makes any difference. Will vandals pass this neighborhood over, knowing their mess will be cleaned up before the paint dries?

If not, I will recruit more resistance fighters. I will advocate for sharper eyes among my neighbors. I will promote the city's graffiti abatement program.

Is this how wars are won?