Reading Roars!

Reading Borough Council and Chronicle Extra are leading a campaign to tackle Reading’s graffiti problem. Over the next 6 months, the worst affected areas will be cleaned up, according to Cllr Steve Waite.

Reading Chronicle editor Simon Jones comments on his blog:

…I guess it is an interesting debating point: where do you draw the line between graffiti being considered ‘art’ and graffiti being considered a blight on communities? I know my views on the subject, but I would be interested to hear yours.

I’m not too bothered about graffiti, though I dislike the mindless variety, such as swear words, misspelt or otherwise, and genitalia (our neolithic ancestors were also fond of phallic symbols, so maybe it’s a hereditary thing).

There are bigger problems than naughty ink to deal with - like our ridiculous congestion (traffic just gets worse and worse) and drink-induced yob behaviour. Graffiti can be exciting - and not just in an artistic sense (colourful images really do brighten an otherwise dull building).

I remember when I was a student in Madrid, several years back, and I spotted a youth defacing a wall on a fairly busy high street late one evening. I stood and watched while he sprayed what turned out to be the anarchy symbol - a circle containing the capital letter “A”. Was I repulsed? No, absolutely not. Here was someone young and politically motivated, demonstrating what he stood for. The act, while technically wrong, was more admirable than the disgusting, brainless behaviour you sometimes see of someone (no matter the sex) spewing in a gutter after one too many Stellas.

There were many other examples of political graffiti in Madrid (such as ETA no! and anti-Aznar slogans). It certainly wasn’t art but, in my opinion, tolerable.

Finally, two examples of great graffiti in Reading: round the back at The Hobgoblin (perfect for dry conversations) and the exterior wall of The Turks.