Monday, September 14, 2009

Ways to Prevent Vandalism

Surveillance should be part of any library's vandalism prevention approach. Goldstein recommends two types of surveillance. The first is traditional formal surveillance by police, security guards, citizen groups or paid or voluntary security personnel. The second type of surveillance is that which naturally occurs by employees such as librarians and custodians while completing their daily activities. Any surveillance should be at irregular intervals so that potential vandals cannot predict when a certain area will be unobserved (Lincoln).

Goldstein describes rule setting as making express statements of both acceptable and unacceptable behaviour, as well as the consequences for misbehaviour, available and well posted. To keep rule setting from being an empty threat, libraries should follow through with punishment, another strategy suggested by Goldstein, by enforcing their rules on the (unusual) occasions that vandals are caught. Punishments may include fines, restitution, or suspension of library privileges. Another Goldstein strategy, counselling, may be appropriate for vandals, such as young students caught vandalizing a school or public library. As well as publicizing the library's rules, publicity may be used to inform potential vandals and the general public of the problem and costs of vandalism through such means as anti- vandalism advertising, new releases, decals, slogan contests, anti-vandalism buttons, t-shirts, rulers, bookmarks, posters, and flyers (Goldstein). Lincoln recommends that libraries share the costs of anti-vandalism advertising and other publicity such as public service announcements by partnering with schools or transit authorities.

and many other ways...

Many Forms of Vandalism in the Library

Vandalism in libraries can take many forms. Lincoln has enumerated six types of vandalism in libraries, including: intentional damage to materials, vandalism outside the building, vandalism inside the building, vandalism to vehicles, vandalism to equipment, and arson. For example, one public library in Georgia spent $5,000 in one month repairing windows that were repeatedly broken by vandals (G.M.E.). Prevention strategies for all types of vandalism will be presented in the last section of this paper. The remainder of this section will explore the insidious problem of materials mutilation.
Many authors, such as Robert Schumm do not believe that complete elimination of materials mutilation is possible. However, he suggests that understanding the types of materials that are most frequently mutilated is the first step in reducing the problem. For example, studies have shown that materials about controversial subjects and materials in special formats are more frequent targets than other materials (Curry, Flodin and Matheson). The survey of libraries subscribing to Playboy that found two-thirds of the libraries experienced problems with that magazine alone (Cornog and Perper) supports the contention that controversial materials are a target for vandalism. The literature abounds with examples such as the vandalism of twelve gay-positive books in the Central Michigan University library ("Gay"). The books were discovered with ripped out pages and tossed into toilets. Although not vandalism of sex materials per se, six Boston public libraries found copies of an illustrated essay supporting pedophilia as an acceptable practice pasted into their books (R.O.). Cornog and Perper warn librarians about treating the vandalism of sex materials differently than the vandalism of other materials. They suggest that it is inappropriate to choose not to carry sex materials where such a decision would not be considered for other types of materials. They recommend employing the same strategies to prevent vandalism as librarians use for other materials, and not to opt for simply restricting or not replacing the materials.

Categories of Vandalism & its Definition.

To properly prepare for and prevent vandalism, it is important to consider what acts constitute vandalism. Goldstein suggests that acts of vandalism have in common three central concepts: intentionality, destructiveness and property ownership. In other words, "[v]andalism is an intentional act of destruction or defacement of property not one's own" (Goldstein 22). With respect to mutilated material, Badri Prasad has suggested that "mutilated" refers to any act that makes material unfit for reading, either partially or completely. Utilizing Prasad's definition, mutilation of materials would include such acts as cutting pages, highlighting, underlining, making notes in the margins, and adding materials, such as stickers or letters that are not meant to be part of the material.
A number of authors, including Goldstein and Stanley Cohen, have recognized certain categories of vandalism, many of which are common in libraries. The first category is acquisitive vandalism, which involves acts done to obtain property or money (Goldstein). Examples of acquisitive vandalism that may occur in libraries includes damage to parking meters, public telephones, vending machines, and photocopiers (Lincoln). The second classification of vandalism is tactical vandalism. It includes acts done to accomplish goals other than monetary gain (Cohen), such as graffiti (Lincoln) or the defacement of material by a student to prevent the use of that material by fellow students. The third type of vandalism is ideological vandalism, which are acts done in promotion of a social, political or other cause (Goldstein), such as the placement of KKK stickers within materials in a public library ("KKK"). Often ideological vandalism will be identifiable by the materials targeted (Cornog and Perper). Vindictive vandalism, the fourth category, involves acts to gain revenge (Goldstein). In her review of the literature, Constantia Constantinou found that there were contrary studies as to whether or not hostility towards a library is a significant factor in a vandal's motivation. The fifth category is play vandalism. It includes acts of destruction or disfigurement in the course of play (Goldstein), such as a group of teenagers who decide to play target practice with library windows. The final category of vandalism is malicious vandalism. These acts express rage or frustration (Goldstein). Examples a library might encounter include the clogging of toilets or sinks, setting off fire alarms or sprinkler systems, or urinating in public places (Lincoln). While the above categories have not been extensively tested so as to verify their comprehensiveness and reliability (Goldstein), they may be useful in designing appropriate prevention practices.

Pictures

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Sunday, September 13, 2009

Vandalisme dalam Kalangan Remaja Faktor-faktor Berlakunya Vandalisme

i. Pengaruh Rakan Sebaya Pengaruh rakan sebaya boleh menyebabkan vandalisme. Golongan remaja biasanya lebih mudah meniru dan terpengaruh dengan rakan sebaya. Pengaruh rakan sebaya akan mencorakkan sikap, nilai dan tingkah laku remaja, lebih-lebih lagi remaja yang tercicir dan menghadapi masalah keluarga. Kebiasaannya, golongan remaja yang melakukan vandalisme merupakan remaja dalam kumpulan, Mereka tidak mempunyai tujuan dan apabila berkumpul timbullah pelbagai idea termasuklah menconteng harta benda awam dan merosakkannya.

ii. Ibu Bapa dan Keluarga Ibu bapa ialah pendorong kepada sifat vandalisme di kalangan remaja. Contohnya, ketika memandu ibu bapa membuang sampah atau kulit buah-buahan seperti rambutan dan limau di samping tidak menghiraukan papan tanda had kelajuan. Sesetengah remaja yang terjebak dalam gejala vandalisme berasal daripada keluarga bermasalah atau keluarga yang mengamalkan budaya hidup negatif. Menurut kajian yang dijalankan vandalisme dendam dilakukan oleh remaja yang ingin bebas dan berlatarkan keluarga yang bermasalah. Selain itu kurangnya kawalan dan bimbingan yang sempurna daripada ibu bapa juga antara faktor utama mendorong remaja terjebak dalam gejala negatif ini.

iii. Pengaruh Media Massa Media massa mempunyai pengaruh dan kesan yang amat kuat dan sukar sekali dielakkan dewasa ini. Paparan adegan-adegan negatif dari filem-filem atau rancangan dari barat yang mempunyai unsur-unsur perlakuan ke arah vandalisme boleh mempengaruhi remaja melakukan vandalisme. Golongan remaja lazimnya mudah meniru dan mengikut hal yang dilihat di sekeliling termasuk media massa, apatah lagi tanpa bimbingan dan tunjuk ajar sewajarnya.

iv. Sikap Apati ( tidak peduli), Individualistik dan Materialistik Masyarakat Remaja adalah produk sistem sesebuah masyarakat. Masyarakat yang pincang akhirnya akan melahirkan produk yang pincang.Sikap sesetengah masyarakat kini yang mementingkan soal kebendaan dan tidak ambil peduli terhadap isu-isu sosial sememangnya merumitkan masalah yang sedia wujud. Menurut kajian masalah vandalisme banyak berlaku di bandar. Golongan remaja menconteng dan merosakkan harta benda awam bukannya tidak terpelajar tetapi generasi yang dilahirkan di bandar sukar dikawal. Di kawasan bandar sesetengah penduduknya tidak ambil peduli terhadap apa yang berlaku di sekeliling mereka. Oleh itu golongan remaja merasakan diri mereka bebas untuk meneruskan gejala negatif ini tanpa menghiraukan rasa tanggungjawab terhadap harta benda awam.

Langkah-langkah

i. Penguatkuasaan Undang-undang Penguatkuasaan dan pelaksanaan undang-undang perlu dijalankan oleh pihak berkenaan. Di bawah Akta Kerajaan Tempatan 9 Undang-Undang Kecil Vandalisme 1991), sesiapa yang didapati merosakkan harta benda awam boleh didenda yang membabitkan RM 2,000 atau penjara tidak lebih setahun jika sabit kesalahan.Pelaksanaan undang-undang baru menetapkan pesalah-pesalah vandalisme menjalankan kerja-kerja khidmat masyarakat dan mereka juga akan menggunakan pakaian seragam pesalah vandalisme. (kerja ini dilakukan di tempat awam seperti pusat membeli-belah)Tindakan tegas perlu dikenakan kepada pesalah agar menjadi teladan kepada rakan-rakan.

ii. Peranan Ibu Bapa dan Keluarga Ibu bapa berperanan memberi tunjuk ajar kepada golongan remaja tentang falsafah kepentingan harta benda awam. Ibu bapa semestinya menerangkan kepada anak-anak tentang pentingnya menganggap harta benda orang lain sama seperti harta sendiri. Secara tidak langsung sekiranya anak sudah diingatkan dengan falsafah ini maka sudah tentu masalah vandalisme tidak seteruk hari ini. Ibu bapa perlu mengasihi dan mendampingi anak-anak mereka supaya tidak berlaku kebosanan dan kekosongan di hati remaja. Kesedaran perlu diterapkan untuk membentuk jiwa remaja yang sihat dan fikiran yang matang sebelum melangkah ke alam dewasa.

iii. Peranan Masyarakat dan Pihak Sekolah. Setiap anggota masyarakat perlu bersikap prihatin dan memberi perhatian kepada anak mereka agar tidak melakukan perbuatan yang salah ini dan masyarakat perlu peka terhadap apa yang berlaku di sekeliling mereka. Masyarakat perlu proaktif terhadap gejala vandalisme yang berlaku di kawasan mereka. Selain itu anggota masyarakat boleh memainkan peranan penting memberikan kefahaman betapa buruknya akhlak vandalisme. Pihak sekolah patut memberi nasihat dan bimbingan kepada pelajar mengenai kepentingan harta awam .Generasi muda perlu diterangkan dengan mendalam tentang tanggungjawab mereka terhadap harta benda awam. Terangkan kepada pelajar apa perasaan mereka sekiranya beg sekolah mereka diconteng atau dikoyak oleh mereka tidak bertanggungjawab Kesedaran seumpama itu akan sedikit sebanyak memberi gambaran tentang pentingnya sikap dan tanggungjawab.

iv. Peranan Media Massa Selain berfungsi sebagai media hiburan dan sumber maklumat terkini, media massa juga seharusnya ada tanggungjawab sosial kepada masyarakat. Media massa memainkan peranan dan mempunyai pengaruh kuat dari segi menanam kesedaran memperoleh kerjasama dan menyampai maklumat tentang vandalisme dalam apa bentuk rancaangan yang tersiar atau yang terdapat dalam media massa. Media massa juga berperanan membantu pihak kerajaan dari segi mengadakan kempen agar masyarakat faham dan menghayati kempen ” Harta Awam Milik Bersama” kerana dengan adanya iltizam dan komitmen daripada media massa maka kempen ini dapat direalisasikan keberkesanannya.
Vandalism is a major problem facing educators and taxpayers alike. The present investigation analyzed how vandalism costs and student disruption were related to the implementation of a training and consultation package designed to increase the reinforcing ambience of the school. A positive environment, it was posited, would displace previous events that may have set the occasion for vandalism, with cues to promote productive school performance. Eighteen elementary and junior high schools were involved over a 3-year period. Using a delayed treatment control design, treatment was delivered following either 4 or 13 months of baseline. During treatment, teams of school personnel attended training workshops in behavioral strategies for reducing vandalism and disruption by students in school. Each team also met regularly on its campus to plan and implement programs on a schoolwide basis. To demonstrate that reinforcing procedures were actually implemented and accompanied by change in student performance, these variables were periodically probed throughout the study. Project staff also provided consultation. Vandalism costs decreased significantly (p less than .05) more in treatment than control schools, with an average reduction of 78.5% for all project schools. Rates of praise delivered by project teachers and other randomly selected teachers in the school increased significantly (p less than .05), and rates of off-task behavior by students decreased significantly (p less than .05) following treatment. The staff development model used in this study appeared to be both feasible and economical.

Some Pictures of Vandalism







...

stop Vandalism NoW!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Vandalisme

Apakah itu 'Vandalism'?

• 'Vandalism' adalah perbuatan merosakkan atau memusnahkan kemudahan awam atau
harta persendirian tanpa sebab yang sah di sisi undang-undang.
• 'Vandalism' mengakibatkan pihak awam dan swasta mengalami kerugian kerana
terpaksa mengeluarkan kos untuk membaiki dan menggantikan barang-barang yang
rosak.
• 'Vandalism' boleh dilakukan secara sendirian atau berkumpulan.

Mengapa 'Vandalism' terjadi?

Sebab-sebabnya adalah:

• Untuk mendapatkan sesuatu, contohnya duit dari telefon awam
• Untuk masuk ke sesuatu tempat, contohnya memecah masuk ke dalam rumah
• Untuk menyatakan sesuatu idea dan kepercayaan
• Untuk membalas dendam
• Untuk meluahkan rasa tidak puas hati terhadap seseorang atau sesebuah organisasi
• Untuk keseronokan dan kepuasan diri
• Untuk diterima sebagai kawan dan ahli kumpulan

Mengapa remaja terlibat dalam 'geng'?

Remaja terlibat dalam 'geng' kerana pelbagai sebab seperti:

• Keseronokan
• Rasa megah / status
• Perlindungan
• Peluang untuk mencari wang dan sumber pendapatan
• Rasa diterima oleh ahli kumpulan (sense of belonging)
• Dipaksa (jarang berlaku)

Apakah ciri-ciri lain yang boleh dikaitkan dengan 'Vandalism'?

• Remaja yang terlibat dengan 'Vandalism' biasanya menghadapi masalah peribadi
sejak kecil dan tidak mendapat rawatan yang sepatutnya.
• Masalah peribadi yang tidak dirawat boleh mengakibatkan tingkah laku anti sosial
• Masalah-masalah ini mungkin melibatkan aspek emosi, mental, sosial dan fizikal.

• Contoh-contoh masalah yang boleh menjuruskan kepada kelakuan 'Vandalism' adalah
:
o Ponteng kelas atau sekolah
o Melepak di kawasan awam semasa atau di luar waktu sekolah
o Lewat bangun pagi dan pulang lewat malam
o Kemahiran sosial yang lemah
o Mencari perhatian dengan cara yang negatif
o Jarang berhubung dengan ahli keluarga atau rakan-rakan
o Tekanan perasaan dan masalah mental yang lain
o Masalah keluarga
o Masalah dalam persahabatan
o Masalah di sekolah
o Masalah dengan pihak berkuasa dan undang-undang
o Penyalahgunaan dadah

Apakah akibat buruk menjadi seorang remaja yang terlibat dalam
'Vandalism'?

• Remaja yang aktif melakukan 'vandalism' akan mudah menjadi penjenayah apabila
dewasa kelak, dan mungkin juga akan terlibat dalam keganasan
• Remaja yang melakukan 'vandalism' biasanya terlibat dalam lain-lain salahlaku
seperti gangguan seksual, pencerobohan, kecurian dan pencemaran alam persekitaran
(contohnya pembuangan sampah sarap di tempat yang tidak sesuai).
• Remaja yang melakukan 'vandalism' selalunya menghadapi masalah.

o Dengan pihak sekolah

• Remaja yang melakukan 'vandalism' selalunya mendapat laporan buruk dari pihak
sekolah, keadaan ini boleh mengurangkan peluang untuk mereka berjaya dalam hidup.
• Ini akan menimbulkan lebih banyak masalah ketika mereka sudah dewasa kerana
ianya menjuruskan mereka kepada aktiviti jenayah mereka akan menjalani kehidupan
yang kurang sihat.
• 'Vandalism' akan mengakibatkan kerugian besar dan menyusahkan
masyarakat terutamanya apabila kemudahan awam (contohnya telefon awam) tidak
dapat digunakan di waktu kecemasan.
• 'Vandalism' terhadap harta benda dan perkhidmatan awam mungkin

o Mengakibatkan kehilangan nyawa di waktu kecemasan yang kritikal

• Gangguan fizikal dan emosi boleh membawa kepada masalah peribadi dan sosial
seperti tekanan, tingkahlaku agresif serta putus hubungan persahabatan.

Bagaimanakah seseorang itu boleh mengelakkan diri dari terlibat dalam
'Vandalism'?

• Memahami bahawa vandalism adalah satu kesalahan jenayah.
• Tanya diri anda :

o Bagaimanakah kemusnahan harta benda boleh membantu saya?
o Apakah kesannya pada saya setelah merosakkan harta benda ini?
o Apa lagi yang boleh saya lakukan untuk mendapatkan bantuan?
o Siapa yang boleh membantu saya?

• Mengawal kemarahan yang mendorong anda untuk melakukan 'vandalism'. (lihat
Menangani kemarahan)
• Memupuk kemahiran menyelesaikan masalah secara sihat dan wajar.(lihat Membuat
keputusan dan Penyelesaian masalah )
• Mencari cara yang terbaik dan sesuai dalam menyelesaikan masalah untuk
mengelakkan 'vandalism'. (lihat Kemahiran sosial dan Komunikasi)
• Meminta pertolongan dari orang lain ketika menghadapi masalah
• Sentiasa libatkan diri dalam aktiviti sihat dan aktiviti kurang berisiko seperti senaman,
bersukan, hobi dan kerja-kerja sukarela yang boleh membantu anda mengatasi
tekanan hidup
• Jauhi rakan-rakan yang melakukan 'vandalism'
• Sentiasa mengawal kelakuan anda sedikit demi sedikit dan mencatatkannya di atas
kertas
• Untuk bantuan dalam hal ini, dapatkan nasihat kaunselor atau pakar psikologi.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Vandalism

Vandalism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Vandalism is the behaviour attributed to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable. Such action includes criminal damage, defacement, graffiti and crass erection of an eyesore.


See also:
Environmental vandalism
Iconoclasm
Malicious Mischief


References:
^ "Oxford English Dictionary". Oxford University Press. http://www.oed.com. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
^ a b See Pierre Klossowski, 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")
^ Raphael Lemkin: Akte der Barbarei und des Vandalismus als delicta juris gentium, Anwaltsblatt Internationales (Wien), November 1933.
^ NYC Mayor's Press Office (2001-05-30). "FBI Crime Statistics For Calendar Year 2000 Show Drop In New York City Crime". Press release. http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/2001a/pr181-01.html. Retrieved 2007-08-04.
^ British Museum
^ "La Colonne Vendôme déboulonnée" (in French). http://www.histoire-image.org/site/etude_comp/etude_comp_detail.php?analyse_id=60. Retrieved 2007-08-04.
^ Fine Art, Sí, Vandalism, No

History of the term

Historically, vandalism has been justified by painter Gustave Courbet as destruction of monuments symbolizing "war and conquest". Therefore, it is often done as an expression of contempt, creativity, or both. Vandalism is only a meaningful concept in a culture that recognizes history and archaeology. Like other similar terms (Barbarian/barbary, and Philistine), the term Vandal was originally an ethnic slur referring to the Vandals, who under Geiseric sacked Rome in 455. The Vandals, like the Philistines, no longer exist as an identifiable ethnic group. The term in its modern acceptance 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 dismantle the Vendôme column, a symbol of the past Napoleon III authoritarian Empire, was one of the most celebrated events of vandalism. Nietzsche himself would meditate after the Commune on the "fight against culture", taking as example the intentional burning of the Tuileries Palace on May 23, 1871. "The criminal fight against culture is only the reverse side of a criminal culture" wrote Klossowski after quoting Nietzsche.[2]


In a proposal to the International Conference for Unification of Criminal Law held in Madrid in 1933, Raphael Lemkin envisaged the creation of two new international crimes (delicta juris gentium): the crime of barbarity, consisting in the extermination of racial, religious or social collectivities, and the crime of vandalism, consisting in the destruction of cultural and artistic works of these groups.[3] The proposal was not accepted.

Vandalism as crime

Private citizens commit vandalism when they willfully damage or deface the property of others or the commons. Some vandalism may qualify as culture jamming or sniggling: it is thought by some to be artistic in nature even though carried out illegally or without the property owner's permission. Examples include at least some graffiti art, billboard "liberation" and possibly crop circles. Criminal vandalism takes many forms. Graffiti on public property is common in many inner cities as part of a gang culture; however, other more serious forms of vandalism that may take place during public unrest such as rioting can involve the willful destruction of public and private property. Vandalism per se is sometimes considered one of the less serious common crimes, but it can become quite serious and distressing when committed extensively, violently or as an expression of hatred and intimidation.


Examples
Examples of vandalism include salting lawns, cutting trees without permission, egg throwing, breaking windows, arson, spraying paint on others' properties, tagging, placing glue into locks, tire slashing, keying (scratching) paint, ransacking a property, and flooding a house by clogging a sink and leaving the water running.



The destruction of glass windows and doors is a form of vandalism.



A caution sign damaged by bullet holes.



Side of a car that has been keyed.


Motives
Actions of this kind can be ascribed to anger or envy, or to spontaneous, opportunistic behaviour – possibly for peer acceptance or bravado in gang 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 happy slapping. 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.


Reaction of authorities
In view of its incivility, punishment for vandalism can be particularly severe in some countries. In Singapore, for example, a person who attempts to cause or commits an act of vandalism may be liable to imprisonment for up to 3 years and may also be punished with caning. Vandalism in the UK is construed as an environmental crime and may be punished with an ASBO (Anti-Social Behaviour Order).


Former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani made a crackdown on vandalism a centerpiece of his anti-crime agenda in the 1990s, asserting that a strong campaign against nonviolent "quality of life" crimes such as vandalism would bring about a corresponding decrease in violent crime. FBI statistics claim that New York's crime rate plummeted during his tenure.[4]

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Vandalism as art

For more details on this topic, see Graffiti.



Graffiti is a common form of vandalism


A bust of Germanicus Caesar. Note the cross incised on the statue's forehead and the broken off nose.[5]


Though vandalism in itself is illegal, it is often also an integral part of modern popular culture. French painter Gustave Courbet's attempt to disassemble the Vendôme column during the 1871 Paris Commune was probably one of the first artistic vandalist acts, celebrated at least since Dada performances during World War I. The Vendôme column was considered a symbol of the recently-deposed Second Empire of Napoleon III, and dismantled as such.


After the burning of the Tuileries Palace on May 23, 1871, Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche himself meditated about the "fight against culture", wondering what could justify culture if it were 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 writes: "I {also} know what it means: fighting against culture". After quoting him, Klossowski writes: "The criminal fight against culture is only the reverse side of a criminal culture"[2]


As destruction of monument, vandalism can only have sense in a culture respecting history, archeology - Nietzsche spoke of monumental history. As destruction of monumental history, vandalism was assured a long life (as Herostratus proved): Performance art could make such a claim, as well as Hakim Bey's poetic terrorism or Destroy 2000 Years of Culture from Atari Teenage Riot. 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, [le citoyen Courbet] émet le vœu que le gouvernement de la Défense nationale veuille bien l’autoriser à déboulonner cette colonne."[6]


("As the Vendôme column is formally considered a monument devoid of any artistic value, tending to perpetuate with its expression ideas of war and conquest of the past imperial dynasty, that are reprobated by a republican nation's sentiment, citizen Courbet is to emit his wish that the National Defense government will allow him to dismantle 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 April 12, 1871, the dismantlement of the imperial symbol was voted by the Commune, and the column taken down on May 8. After the assault on the Paris Commune by Adolphe Thiers, Gustave Courbet was condemned to pay part of the expenses. As any good vandal, he preferred flying away to Switzerland.[neutrality disputed]


In 1974, Norman Mailer glorified the art of vandalism in Faith of Graffiti, which likened tagging in New York City to the work of Giotto and Rauschenberg. New York City responded by coating subway walls with Teflon paint, jailing taggers and requiring hardware stores to keep spray paint inventories under lock and key.[7]


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 Bristol born guerrilla-artist Banksy, who is revered as a cult artistic figure by many, but seen by others as a criminal.