Graffiti Documentary

The Claw's Signature 

I chose claw because she has a unique mark, like a signature, and she uses graffiti to sum up who she was as a unique individual. Also I enjoy when women put themselves out there like she did, and though Toomer was a better artist, her message appealed to me. I also do this through my art, however my tag is just the signature at the bottom of my paintings. Her graffiti gave her a connection to her surroundings through art, and she specifically stated that it taught her work ethic, respect, and life skills. I disagree with the fact that this is her life, and that she has gotten in trouble with the law. That lowers her credibility slightly, however I still believe her message is important.

She differs from the other artists because she wants her name to be out there, it’s not necessarily for a tag or just for destruction, and she believes that the stamp is right and that it needs to be everywhere, but it’s not for the same reasons as the others. Her emotions are wrapped into her graffiti, she easily persuades us into loving the tag and seeing it as a good thing. While there are other artists who can persuade us to see the art, she makes it more than graffiti. It is a symbol that she uses everyday and it describes who she is. Though the reasoning behind all graffiti is valid, it is not necessarily right to destroy public property without the owner’s consent, so to that extent I believe that Joe is right. However I understand the need to put your name out there, as an artist I know the value of making art, I know the value of a signature. The credibility of all the people in this movie is relevant, though not every way is right, it is their way of doing it. While the credibility of Earsnot personally does not appeal to me, there is at least some reasoning behind it.

As an artist I feel I can view graffiti as an illegal form of expression, as my paintings are an expression of me. Though it isn’t legal, it’s still how the artist expresses themselves, and that is always a positive way to look at it. Ethos, logos, and pathos describe not only the graffiti, but every artist themselves.