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| == Vandalism as Art == | == Vandalism as Art == | ||
| :''For more information, see the main article about ]''<br/> | :''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== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 22:35, 13 December 2005
See Misplaced Pages:Vandalism for the policy concerning vandalism on Misplaced Pages.Vandalism is the conspicuous defacement or destruction of a structure or symbol which turns out to be, if one follows a Classical liberalism philosophy, against the will of the owner/governing body. Historically, it has been justified by painter Gustave Courbet 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 history and archeology. Like other similar terms (Barbarian/barbary, and Philistine and Bastard), the term Vandal was originally an ethnic slur referring to the Vandals, who sacked Rome in 455, but unlike the Berbers and Basters, the Vandals, like the Philistines, no longer exist as an identifiable ethnic group.
The term was coined in January 1794 during the French Revolution, by Henri Grégoire, constitutional bishop of Blois, in his report directed to the Republican Convention, where he used word Vandalisme to describe some aspects of the behaviour of the republican army. Gustave Courbet's attempt, during the 1871 Paris Commune, to put down the Vendôme column was one of the most celebrated event of vandalism, on which Friedrich Nietzsche meditated afterwards (the assassins of culture (see P. Klossowski Nietzsche and the Vicious Circle ). The Vendôme column was considered a symbol of the past Napoleon III empire.
Official vandalism
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 Soviet Union, the Taliban destruction of Buddhist statuary in Afghanistan, and the well-known toppling of a Saddam Hussein statue by the multinational force in Iraq. In a country with an unpopular dictator, vandalism of the leader's portraits and other elements of his personality cult can be a common form of dissent.
Vandalism of Jewish properties and Jewish-owned businesses was part of the Nazi program, surfacing in the widespread, coordinated vandalism of Kristallnacht the night of November 9 – 10, 1938, when shopwindows were smashed all over Nazi Germany.
Vandalism as crime
[[Image:Graffitiforvandalismarticle.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Graffiti tagging is an
Vandalism as Art
- For more information, see the main article about Graffiti