Vandalism: Difference between revisions

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	{{selfref\|See ] for the policy concerning vandalism on ].}}
	'''Vandalism''' is the conspicuous ] or destruction of a structure or symbol which turns out to be, if one follows a ] ], against the will of the owner/governing body. Historically, it has been justified by painter ] as destruction of monuments symbolizing "war and conquest". Therefore, it can be done as an expression of contempt, creativity, or both. Vandalism only takes sense in a culture that recognize ] and ]. Like other similar terms (]/], and ] and ]), the term ''Vandal'' was originally an ] referring to the ], who sacked ] in ], but unlike the ] and ], the Vandals, like the Philistines, no longer exist as an identifiable ethnic group.

	The term was coined in ] ] during the ], by ], ] of ], in his report directed to the Republican Convention, where he used word ''Vandalisme'' to describe some aspects of the behaviour of the republican army. ]'s attempt, during the ] ], to put down the ] was one of the most celebrated event of vandalism, on which ] meditated afterwards (''the assassins of culture'' (see ] ''Nietzsche and the Vicious Circle'' ). The Vendôme column was considered a symbol of the past ] empire.

	== Official vandalism ==
	]

	Throughout history, the ritual destruction of monuments of a previous government or power has been one of the largest symbols showing the attempt at transition of power. In Rome '']'' ("damnation of his memory") was normally expressed by erasing the name of the hated individual from inscriptions and removing or replacing statues or replacing just their heads after their death and subsequent disgrace. ''Damnatio memoriae'' was effected after their death by the rivals and heirs of ], ], ], ] and ]. After the Emperor ] had his co-Emperor ] assassinated, all depictions or references to Geta were systematically destroyed as part of a ''damnatio memoriae''. Faces and genitals of surviving Greek and Roman sculpture often show how they have been systematically attacked. In ]s, text has been washed off parchment that have been overwritten with new text; the existence of effaced manuscripts that were not subsequently overwritten reveals an element of vandalism in this process.

	In Egypt, the return of the priests of Amun to power after the religious innovations of ] was accompanied by desecration of the pharaoh's tomb and the ritual obliteration of his image from temple reliefs and inscriptions. This is '''official vandalism'''.

	Recent cases of vandalism in this vein include the toppling and destruction of Soviet monuments after the fall of the ], the ] destruction of ] in ], and the ] of a ] statue by the ]. In a country with an unpopular ], vandalism of the leader's ]s and other elements of his ] can be a common form of dissent.

	Vandalism of Jewish properties and Jewish-owned businesses was part of the ] program, surfacing in the widespread, coordinated vandalism of '']'' the night of November 9 – 10, 1938, when shopwindows were smashed all over ].

	== Vandalism as crime ==
	] ] is an artform based in vandalism]]
	]
	Private citizens commit vandalism when they wilfully damage or deface the ] of others or the ]. Some vandalism qualifies as ] or sniggling — it is artistic in nature as well as being carried out illegally or without the property owner's permission. Examples include at least some ] art, billboard liberation and possibly ]. Criminal vandalism is often a reaction against an alienating society or is corporate ] activity.

	With the rise and development of the ] came unauthorized and undesired modification of Web pages, which some consider to be crimes. This may or may not be true. In any case the use of the term '''vandalism''' is a ] implying:
	*that, like web "site", the thing being changed is a physical place or thing
	*that, like physical property, it is hard to undo the damage without cost

	These assumptions are clearly false, so the issue is discussed in a separate article on ], and a more specific article ].

	== Vandalism as Art ==
	:''For more information, see the main article about ]''<br/>

	Though vandalism in itself is illegal, it is also an integral part of modern popular culture. French painter ]'s attempt to disassemble the ] during the ] ] was probably one of the first artistic vandalist act, celebrated at least since ] act during ]. Philosopher ] himself meditated about it, wondering what could justify culture if it was to be destroyed in such a "senseless" manner. Vandalism, as destruction of monument, can only have sense in a culture respecting ], ] - Nietzsche spoke of ''monumental history''. As destruction of monumental history, vandalism was assured a long life: ] could make such a claim, as well as ]'s ''poetic terrorism'' or ''Destroy 2000 Years of Culture'' from ]. Gustave Courbet's declaration stated:

	''"Attendu que la colonne Vendôme est un monument dénué de toute valeur artistique, tendant à perpétuer par son expression les idées de guerre et de conquête qui étaient dans la dynastie impériale, mais que réprouve le sentiment d’une nation républicaine, émet le vœu que le gouvernement de la Défense nationale veuille bien l’autoriser à déboulonner cette colonne."''

	("As the Vendôme column is formally considered a monument devoided of any artistic value, tending to perpetuate with its expression ideas of war and conquest of the past imperial dynasty, that are reprovated by a republican nation's sentiment, citizen Courbet is to emit his wish that the National Defense government will allow him to disassemblate this column.")

	This project wasn't followed, but finally, on ], ], the dismantlement of the imperial symbol was voted, and the column taken down on ]. After the assault on the ] by ], Gustave Courbet was condemned to pay part of the expenses. As any good vandal, he prefered flying away to ].

	], who is revered as a cult artistic figure by many, but seen by just as many as a criminal and a thug. Vandalism has its place in today's society, this much is certain, but where that place is remains to be seen.

	==See also==
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	==External links==
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Revision as of 22:36, 13 December 2005