TG English 350 Professor Ramser 23 November 2016 Tag...Your Building’s it! Unwarranted symbols and signatures plaster sides of many building’s encompassing the unlawful act of South Central Los Angeles California area. The term “tagging” refers to this the practice of spray painting or writing names and vandalism. “Tagging” is defined as and initials…usually on trains, walls other property” (Carrington 411). Surprisingly, in my literature review many people debate whether taggers are gang members that are marking their territory or simply mischievous adolescents defacing property to fit in of the socially, “part culture of belonging to a tagging crew is repeated engagement in tagging, marking territory and tagging serves the function of gaining fame” (Russell 91). Additionally, Russell explained, “gang defining territory, communication between initiates, and (Russell 93). The intimidation” average person with little to no gang knowledge probably assumes the varied writings displayed across South Central walls are placed there with no rhyme or reason. During my quest for answers; I found that to be untrue. In fact, while interviewing Jose Martinez, an ex-gang member and a current employee of is like marking your territory. It lets Fred’s Burger declared, “Tagging and to not come around in In my opinion, them fools know what’s up our hood”. “tagging” provokes neighborhood violence and goes far beyond the mere defacing of property. The showcase of can be considered a wall of shame, placing enemy names of those “tagging” individuals dwelling among opposing sides. The markings are directly sending a warning and
TG English 350 Professor Ramser 23 November 2016 Tag...Your Building’s it! Unwarranted symbols and signatures plaster sides of many building’s encompassing the South Central Los Angeles California area. The term “tagging” refers to this unlawful act of vandalism. “Tagging” is defined as the practice of spray painting or writing names and initials…usually on trains, walls and other property” (Carrington 411). Surprisingly, in my literature review many people debate whether taggers are gang members that are marking their territory or simply mischievous adolescents defacing property to fit in socially, “part of the culture of belonging to a tagging crew is repeated engagement in tagging, marking territory and gaining fame” (Russell 91). Additionally, Russell explained, “gang tagging serves the function of defining territory, communication between initiates, and intimidation” (Russell 93). The average person with little to no gang knowledge probably assumes the varied writings displayed across South Central walls are placed there with no rhyme or reason. During my quest for answers; I found that to be untrue. In fact, while interviewing Jose Martinez, an ex-gang member and a current employee of Fred’s Burger declared, “Tagging is like marking your territory. It lets them fools know what’s up and to not come around in our hood”. In my opinion, “tagging” provokes neighborhood violence and goes far beyond the mere defacing of property. The showcase of “tagging” can be considered a wall of shame, placing enemy names of those individuals dwelling among opposing sides. The markings are directly sending a warning and
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