Have you visited Athens or Thessaloniki recently? If so, you can not have missed all the unpleasant 'markings' that dot the architectural landscape. Graffiti in Greece dates back to as early as 1810 when Lord Byron carved his name into the Temple of Poseiden at Cape Sounio. While his 'tagging' of this historical monument has a sort of romantic tie to the past, today's 'tagging' (or as we say vandalizing) of property, both public and private, in Athens has gotten out of control.
While in the past these pranksters, young teens, political activists, anarachists, or plain vandals as you may want to call them; targeted private and public property; there has been a recent shift of targeting ancient ruins - a complete act of disrespect and disgrace if you ask us. While many claim that it is a way of marketing 'their' territory, or a form of public art; these sprayed messages that greet us when walking through the streets of Greece's cities are neither eye appealing or art work. (There are actually several parts in the city of Athens where officials encourage people to paint/spray art on walls, in what they hoped would be a way to curb in the illegal vandalizing happening in other parts of the city.)
After years of inconsistent policy, the problem has gotten to the point where even the most ancient buildings in Athens are becoming target. What has to be done to alter this mindset? Jail? Fines? Public service? All of the above?
kathimerini
Around the web:
Roaming Arcadia: Nick Nolte filming in the Peloponnese. via afp
posted on Wednesday, October 8
Bel Ludovic... ...I think it's important to distinguish between graffiti as street art, of which Athens has an abundance of very good examples that make a positive contribution to the streetscape, and graffiti as vandalism - namely, tagging.
Tagging has been allowed to proliferate all over the city but it's particularly bad in prime tourist areas such as Monastiraki and Plaka. Even the steps in Syntagma get covered in it. I don't know any other capital city where this would be tolerated.
More alarming that this is the utter lack of any discourse about the problem. Athens municipality and individual Greeks alike seem not to even consider it a problem, perhaps because they regard it as 'freedom of expression' - a value so cherished in Greece.
But their indifference is threatening Athens's new-found status as a fledgling city-break destination; tourists won't return to a city where supposedly showcase streets and squares manifest the same signs of urban decay that in their home cities are reserved for rough, down-at-heel inner city suburbs.
makiaz... ...FINES for selling spray paint to anyone under 18, unless for work reasons.
JAIL for graffiti on a monument
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