Vandalism: Difference between revisions

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		⚫	Vandalism is fun.
	{{unsourced}}
	:''For the Australian electro house music group known as Vandalism, see ].''
	{{selfref\|For vandalism on Misplaced Pages, see ].}}
	{{Crimes}}

	'''Vandalism''' is the conspicuous ] or destruction of a structure or symbol 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 makes sense in a culture that recognizes ] and ]. Like other similar terms (]/], and ]), the term ''Vandal'' was originally an ] referring to the ], who sacked ] in 455, but unlike the ], the Vandals, like the Philistines, no longer exist as an identifiable ethnic group.

	The term was coined in January 1794 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 1871 ], to dismantle the ], a symbol of the past ] authoritarian Empire, was one of the most celebrated events of vandalism. ] himself would meditate after the Commune on the "fight against culture", taking as example the intentional burning of the ] on ] ]. "The criminal fight against culture is only the reverse side of a criminal culture" wrote ] after quoting Nietzsche <ref name="klossowski">See ], ''Nietzsche and the Vicious Circle'', first Chapter: What is the value of culture if those who are exploited by it destroy it? ''"En sorte qu'il nous faut être bien loin de vouloir, du haut de notre sentiment de nous-mêmes, imputer le crime d'un combat contre la culture exclusivement à ces malheureux.'' Je sais ce que cela veut dire: le combat contre la culture. (...) '' je me campronnai avec une conviction sérieuse à la valeur métaphysique de l'art, lequel ne saurait exister à cause des pauvres gens, mais doit accomplir des missions plus hautes. Mais, en dépit de mon extrême douleur, je n'étais pas en état de jeter la moindre pierre à ces profanateurs qui, pour moi, n'étaient que les suppôts de la culpabilité universelle, sur laquelle il y a beaucoup à méditer!"'' (Nietzsche quoted by Klossowski pp.29-30 French edition, who adds: ''"Le combat criminel contre la culture n'est lui-même que l'envers d'une culture criminelle"'' ("The criminal fight against culture is only the reverse side of a criminal culture")</ref>.

	==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. ] of ] taking down a ], published by '']'' magazine]] ''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''. Mutilated 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. This is a recurring theme in George Orwell's ].

	Further examples of official vandalism include the return of the priests of Amun to power in Egypt 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.
	Vandalism of Jewish properties and Jewish-owned businesses was part of the ] program, surfacing in the widespread coordinated vandalism of '']'' – the night of ] – ] ], when shop windows all across ] were smashed.

	Recent cases of vandalism in this vein include the toppling and destruction of Soviet monuments after the fall of the ], and the ] destruction of ] in ]. 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 as crime==

	Private citizens commit vandalism when they wilfully damage or deface the ] of others or the ]. Some vandalism qualifies as ] or ] — 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 ].
	] vandalism has many forms, graffiti on ] is common in many ] as part of a ] culture, however other more devastating forms such as those involved with public unrest, such as ], involve the wilful destruction of public and private property.
	]In the case of vandalism to private property, the owner — the victim, may feel that they were specifically targeted by the perpetrator(s) — this is not necessarily the case. An example of such a crime would be the wilful destruction of a car window for no obvious purpose save to give the perpetrator(s) possibly a few seconds of entertainment, with no consideration, or empathy for the detriment to the state of mind or inconvenience of the victim.
	Reasoning for such actions can be attributed to envy, or spontaneous and opportunistic behaviour — possibly for peer acceptance or bravado in ] cultures, or disgruntlement with the target (victim) person or society. Opportunistic vandalism of this nature may also be filmed, the mentality of which can be akin to ].
	The large scale prevalence of gang graffiti in some inner cities has almost made it acceptable to the societies based there — so much so that it may go unnoticed, or not be removed, possibly because it may be a fruitless endeavour, to be graffitied on once again.

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

	Though vandalism in itself is illegal, it is often also an integral part of modern popular culture. French painter ]'s attempt to disassemble the ] during the 1871 ] was probably one of the first artistic vandalist acts, celebrated at least since ] performances during ]. The Vendôme column was considered a symbol of the past ] empire, and dismantled as such.

	After the burning of the ] on ] ], Philosopher ] himself meditated about the "fight against culture", wondering what could justify culture if it was to be destroyed in such a "senseless" manner (the arguments are: culture is justified by works of art and scientific achievements; exploitation is necessary to those achievements, leading to the creation of exploited people who then fight against culture. In this case, culture can't be legitimised by art achievements, and Nietzsche write: "I {also} know what it means: fighting against culture". After quoting him, ] writes: "The criminal fight against culture is only the reverse side of a criminal culture" <ref name="klossowski"/>

	As vandalism is sometimes perceived as an artform ]]As destruction of monument, vandalism can only have sense in a culture respecting ], ] - Nietzsche spoke of ''monumental history''. As destruction of monumental history, vandalism was assured a long life (as ] proved): ] 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.")

	Hence, painter Courbet justified the dismantlement of the Vendôme column on political grounds, downgrading its artistic value. Vandalism poses the problem of the value of art compared to life's hardships: Courbet thought that the political values transmitted by this work of art neutralized its artistic value. Anyway, his project wasn't followed, however, on ], ], the dismantlement of the imperial symbol was voted by the Commune, 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 preferred flying away to ].


	] tags, designs, and styles of writing are commonplace on clothing and are an influence on many of the corporate logos with which we are familiar. Many skateparks and similar youth-oriented venues are decorated with commissioned graffiti-style artwork, and in many others patrons are welcome to leave their own. There is still, however, a very fine line between vandalism as an artform, as a political statement, and as a crime. An excellent example of one who walks this threefold line is ] born guerrilla-artist ], who is revered as a cult artistic figure by many, but seen by just as many as a criminal and a thug.

	==Notes==
	<references />

	==See also==
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	==External links==
	{{wiktionarypar\|vandalism}}
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Revision as of 16:10, 17 August 2006

Vandalism is fun.