An article in the Wednesday January 26, 2011 issue of The Daily Collegain really struck me as interesting while I was reading. The article was written by Collegain staff writer Vera Greene and was titled Graffiti defaces concrete walls of Forum Building. The article describes the vandalism that was done to a well-known academic building at Penn State. The building was tagged with graffiti that stated the somewhat incorrectly spelled and punctuated “If love were a (smiley face) vegegtable id grow it”.
The article came across slightly comical at times with its assertive unwavering stance that the graffiti was nothing but a criminal act committed by rambunctious hooligans. The article states “ Police don’t believe the markings to be gang-related”. I disagree. I believe this is the mark of the hopeless romantic gang and what makes them so dangerous is sheer numbers and the fact that they are located all over the world. Also, members of the elusive hopeless romantic gang have no distinguishing marks so identifying them on sight alone is almost impossible. However all kidding aside, the stance on which they are presenting seems to be a bit extreme.
I am aware that graffiti is against the law, but I also believe in self-expression. This cute witticism proclaims the graffiter’s opinion about love, but is not accepted because of the crude manner in which it was proclaimed.
I saw the graffiti outside the Forum Building and also found it funny, but degrading to our University. In some cities they designate specific walls for graffiti art. I think its an awesome and eye opening art form and can beautify a city if done with taste. I think there should be more designated graffiti areas so ideas can flow, just not when its messing up our University that people work so hard to keep clean.
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