WTF Is Up With Graffiti?

509 worn, stone, spiral stairs. That is what we climbed up on that chilly spring day in 2005. Cologne, Germany was an unplanned stop between Amsterdam and Munich.We had read about the cathedral in a guide book and it seemed intriguing; a cathedral that took over 600 years to build, one of the largest in the world, it was something we had to see.

I would find it hard to believe that anyone could stand before the Cologne Cathedral and not be affected by it. The shear size of it is beyond description. I am not a religious person, but it's beauty is undeniable. We climbed the 509 stairs of the south tower with high expectations. When we reached the top of the tower, I was shocked; the view of the city and the winding Rhine river were not the only things that took my breath away.

The walls of that 600 year old cathedral tower were rife with graffiti. Almost every inch was scrawled on and carved into; the juxtaposition was almost inconceivable.

I don't need a picture to remember that image. It struck me then, that nothing is safe from graffiti, not even a 600 year old cathedral.



WTF is up with graffiti?

My own city is covered in graffiti; telephone poles, mailboxes, buildings, street signs, electrical boxes, fences, trees and playgrounds are constant targets. The city has tried to combat it by painting artwork on things like telephone poles. It's an attempt to tap into some age-old graffiti etiquette that says it is wrong to tag over someones art. I don't think it is working. The other day, down the road, I saw tagging over some sunflowers someone had painted on a telephone pole.

Those tagged upon sunflowers made me really sad and frustrated and angry and confused. I cannot even begin to fathom the amount of time and money that is wasted trying to combat graffiti.

I just don't get it?

WTF is the point of it?

I hate graffiti.

BTW - 1) I'm not talking about graffiti art which I know can be a very beautiful and expressive art form. 2) I know the time stamp of the pic says 2004 but, it was 2005. WTF was up with my camera?