The Value of Graffiti: Art, Rights, and Recognition"

Multiple Choice

The night before Halloween, people in some towns ___ private property by throwing eggs and

toilet paper at homes and businesses.

• A. Deface

• B. Evolve

• C. Landmark

Multiple Choice

Shedane was able to remove the markings on her table with just some light scrubbing because

they were only ___.

• A. Landmark

• B. Abstract

• C. Superficial

Multiple Choice

Constantin Brancusi’s famous ___ sculpture “Bird in Space” depicts, not a literal bird, but the

idea and emotion of flying.

• A. Vandalized

• B. Abstract

• C. Inevitable

Multiple Choice

Brown vs. Board of Education is considered a ___ case in American education and

anti-discrimination law which many judges look to for guidance.

• A. Contemporary

• B. Landmark

• C. Superficial

Multiple Choice

Jackie ___ from a cheerful youngster to a moody teen.

• A. Defaced

• B. Contemporary

• C. Evolved

Multiple Choice

When Sam’s temperature spiked, the doctor ___ him unfit to go to school.

• A. Deemed

• B. Evolved

• C. Abstracted

Multiple Choice

People ___ the storefront by breaking the windows and spraypainting the door.

• A. Inevitable

• B. Deemed

• C. Vandalized

Multiple Choice

Beyonce is an artist of worldwide ___ thanks to her record-setting album sales and massive

concert tours.

• A. Stature

• B. Landmark

• C. Contemporary

Multiple Choice

Even though Nicole treasured her time in elementary school, she knew it was___ that she

would need to go to middle school.

• A. Superficial

• B. Inevitable

• C. Contemporary

Multiple Choice

The decor in the airport is being updated to reflect a more ___ style.

• A. Contemporary

• B. Vandalized

• C. Landmark

Open Ended

What is unique about 5Pointz, and how has this led to conflict?

Open Ended

Paragraphs 1-4

A. Stop, Jot and Share: What does the phrase “world’s

largest open-air aerosol museum” suggest about

how the community interacted with the graffiti at

5Pointz?

Open Ended

What does your answer to Question A

suggest about how courts decide if an artwork has

the “recognized stature” to be protected under

V.A.R.A.?

Open Ended

Paragraphs 5-9

A. Write: How might the decision in this case affect

graffiti artists in the future?

Open Ended

Stop, Jot and Share: Whose property rights were in

conflict in this case? Do you think the court’s

decision was fair? Explain your answer.

● Graffiti artists vs. property owners and

Lesson Assessment

Directions: Answer the multiple choice questions for “Graffiti Artists Awarded $6.7 Million for Destroyed 5Pointz Murals.” 5 minutes

Multiple Choice

Which word best states the meaning of “obliterate” as used in paragraph 2?

• A. update

• B. destroy

• C. damage

• D. preserve

Multiple Choice

Which piece of evidence best illustrates why the 5Pointz trial is considered a “landmark trial”?

• A. “A federal judge in Brooklyn awarded a judgment of $6.7 million on Monday to 21 graffiti artists whose

  works were destroyed in 2013 at the 5Pointz complex in Long Island City, Queens.” (Paragraph 1)

• B. “Judge Block upheld the jury’s decision, and his ruling awarded the artists the maximum damages

  possible, saying that 45 of the dozens of ruined murals had enough artistic stature to merit being

  protected.” (Paragraph 4)

• C. “Judge Block’s ruling — and the size of the judgment he awarded — was a decisive victory for the [art

  world].” (Paragraph 5)

• D. “But the 5Pointz case, he said, was the first time that graffiti and graffiti artists were protected under

  V.A.R.A.” (Paragraph 6)

Multiple Choice

What message does the 5Pointz trial send about graffiti and graffiti artists?

• A. “A federal judge in A. Graffiti should be preserved even if a community does not want it there.

• B. Graffiti artists should have the same rights to their work as any other type of artist.

• C. Graffiti artists need to gain permission before using someone’s property as a canvas.

• D. Graffiti artists need to find a way to legally create their work so it does not get destroyed.

Multiple Choice

How does paragraph 6 add to the development of ideas in the article?

• A. It illustrates the way people disagree about the value of graffiti.

• B. It illustrates the strength of property owners and real estate developers.

• C. It illustrates how people’s attitude toward graffiti as art has been slowly changing.

• D. It illustrates how graffiti becomes less popular when it becomes legal in a community.

Open Ended

How and where do you think modern graffiti originated?

Open Ended

Would you describe Cornbread’s graffiti as art?

Why or why not?

Open Ended

Paragraphs 1-13

A. Find Evidence: According to the definition of

public art in the text “What is Public Art?”, “what is

needed [to be considered public art] is a

commitment to invention, boldness, cooperation

— not compromise.” Highlight four details that

support the claim that what McCray created was

public art.

Open Ended

Write: Why might a person argue that McCray’s

graffiti is not public art?

Open Ended

Paragraphs 19-22

Write: How does this section support the argument

that McCray’s graffiti and the graffiti of the people

he inspired is art instead of vandalism?

Open Ended

Paragraphs 23-29

A. Write: Do you think “Cornbread’s” graffiti rises

to the level of “recognized stature” under V.A.R.A?

Explain.

Open Ended

Jot, Pair and Share: The authors of “What is Public Art?”

assert that, “as our society and its modes of

expression evolve, so will our definitions of public

art.” How do McCray's legacy and his own ideas

support this assertion?

Open Ended

Write: Does the author of this article seem to

view McCray’s graffiti as art or vandalism? Explain.

Lesson Assessment

Directions: Answer the multiple choice questions for “Godfather of Graffiti.” 5 minutes

Multiple Choice

Which word best states the meaning of “burgeoning” as used in paragraph 23?

• A. growing

• B. learning

• C. diminishing

• D. empowering

Multiple Choice

What common message do paragraphs 16 and 28 convey about people’s motives for creating graffiti?

• A. People create graffiti to find a way to fit in and find safety.

• B. People create graffiti to demonstrate pride in their community.

• C. People create graffiti out of a desire to be known and be seen by the world.

• D. People create graffiti to disrupt other people’s ideas about what art should be.

Multiple Choice

In paragraph 19, why does the author include a description of the “movement [that was] brewing”?

• A. to emphasize graffiti’s connection to hip-hop

• B. to emphasize graffiti’s appearance in large cities

• C. to emphasize McCray’s impact on younger generations

• D. to emphasize the idea that graffiti started in New York City

Multiple Choice

Which statement best explains the connection between the idea of protecting McCray's graffiti and the idea that

New York “became known as the birthplace of hip-hop culture”?

• A. Protecting McCray’s graffiti will help ensure that true history is not lost.

• B. Protecting McCray’s graffiti will encourage more generations to appreciate graffiti as art.

• C. Protecting McCray’s graffiti will reverse the negative attitudes people have about graffiti.

• D. Protecting McCray’s graffiti will motivate more young people to find new ways to express themselves.