CommonLit 360: Unit 6: Graffiti -- Art or Crime?

According to the text and video, why does graffiti cause such a problem? Choose more that one answer.

• It defaces private property.

• Graffiti does not cause a problem for anyone because it is just beautiful artwork.

• Artists get a chance to display their talents as graffiti artists for the first time.

• It hurts businesses by making customers feel uncomfortable or even think they've gone out of business.

What would have to happen in order for it to be legal to paint on a building in New York City?

• A person would need to demonstrate that they are talented as an artist.

• The owner would need the permission of the artist.

• A person would need to have permission from the property owner.

• No rules apply, you can just walk up to buildings and start painting.

What strategy does the New York City and State Anti-Graffiti Legislation law use to prevent graffiti?

• It invites building owners and graffiti artists to sit down at a "round table" so artists can get permission to paint buildings.

• This low is trying to notify parents of teens that their children could potentially get in trouble.

• This law is trying to prevent people from getting the paint and tools they use to create graffiti.

• The law makes it legal to give aerosol paint cans to teens under the age of 18.

What are the 3 major rights that V.A.R.A. grant visual (graffiti) artists? Choose more that one answer.

• the right to prevent their work from being changed or destroyed

• The right to paint another artists name on work that is not their own.

• the right to take their name off work that has been damaged or changed, or that they did not create.

• the right to claim their work

What does the letters V. A. R. A mean?

• Visual Artists Remembrance Act of 1990

• Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990

• Visual Artists Relief Act 1990

• Visual Artists and Religious Rights Act 1990

Read the paragraph below:

[1] Your eyes stare in wonder, your breath catches, and you can’t stop taking pictures. Surrounded by such beauty, it’s easy to see why this place was deemed worthy of protection as a national park. Created to protect “gigantic arches, natural bridges, ‘windows,’ spires, balanced rocks and other… sandstone formations,” Arches National Park is an exceptional place — with a very common problem: graffiti on those unique and beautiful rocks.

According to paragraph 1, why does the National Park Service object to all graffiti?

• Graffiti endangers the lives of the animals in a national park.

• Graffiti encourages violence throughout national parks.

• Graffiti leads to a decrease in national park visitors.

• Graffiti destroys what the park is meant to protect.

Read the paragraphs below:

[5] Will you help stop this problem? Instead of carving on the rocks, there are many other ways to mark your journey here: a spectacular photo, an unforgettable hike, a quiet moment of reflection. Be inspired by the National Park Service mission: “to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.”

[6] We can all do our part to achieve this mission. Help protect Arches National Park by not leaving your mark. Make memories, take photos, and leave no trace.

What is the purpose of paragraphs 5-6?

• To describe the mission of the National Park Service

• To increase the number of people who visit the parks each year

• To provide alternate ways to remember an experience in a national park

• To explain where graffiti is and is not allowed on National Park Service property

Read the paragraph below:

[11] Tagger graffiti tends to be more prolific. It’s found in more areas and on more surfaces in order to be seen by more people.

Which word best states the meaning of “prolific” as used in the text?

• artistic

• detailed

• isolated

• widespread

Read the facts about graffiti below:

1. Graffiti vandals represent every social, ethnic and economic background. Suburban males, pre-teen to early 20s, commit approximately 50% of graffiti vandalism .

2. The average age of those arrested for graffiti vandalism is 17-18, with an overall broad range of 8-54.

3. There are four primary motivating factors for graffiti vandalism : fame, rebellion, self-expression and power.

4. Getting the media to publish photos and videos of graffiti is often considered the mark of ultimate fame for graffiti vandals .

How does the author’s repeated use of the words “vandals” and “vandalism” affect the reader?

• It reinforces the idea that graffiti is criminal.

• It emphasizes the idea that some graffiti is art.

• It illustrates that graffiti makes a city less desirable to live in.

• It reveals that only certain types of graffiti pose a threat to a community.

Which word best states the meaning of “cumulative” as used in the text?

• increasing

• popularity

• decreasing

• disapproval