ESL Questions Graffiti
Graffiti
Is it art or is it vandalism? These questions explore the world of street art, from spray-painted tags on trains to the famous murals that bring tourists to the city.
Beginner
Do you see graffiti?
Is the paint colorful?
Do you like art?
Is the wall big?
Do you see a name?
Is the paint wet?
Do you use spray?
Is the artist fast?
Do you see a bridge?
Is the city gray?
Do you like pictures?
Is it on a train?
Do you have a pen?
Is the drawing good?
Do you see a tag?
Is the park clean?
Do you see a mural?
Is the paint bright?
Do you like the city?
Is the wall high?
Do you see a face?
Is the art old?
Do you walk past it?
Is the street busy?
Do you like colors?
Intermediate
What would you do if someone painted a large mural on the side of your house?
How do you feel when you see colorful art in a very boring, gray part of town?
Is it better to have clean walls or walls covered in creative street art?
How do you think an artist feels when the city washes their work away?
Why do some people think that all graffiti is a crime against the city?
Have you ever seen a piece of street art that you thought was beautiful?
Do you think that 'tagging' your name is the same as creating a painting?
How do you feel about famous artists like Banksy who sell their work for millions?
Is it a good idea for cities to have 'legal walls' where anyone can paint?
What is the difference between a mess on a wall and a piece of art?
Should we punish young people more strictly for painting on public trains?
How do you feel when you see graffiti on a very old, historic building?
Why do some neighborhoods use murals to make the area feel safer or friendlier?
Is it difficult to use spray paint to create a realistic face or scene?
How has the image of 'graffiti' changed since you were a little child?
Do you prefer art that is in a museum or art that is on the street?
What is the most interesting piece of graffiti you have ever seen?
How do you handle a situation where you see someone painting a wall illegally?
Should businesses pay artists to paint the front of their shops?
What is the role of 'political' messages in the world of street art?
How do you feel about graffiti that is used to mark a specific territory?
Is it possible for street art to increase the value of a neighborhood?
Why do people feel the need to leave their mark on the world in this way?
What is the best color for a mural that is supposed to make people happy?
How do you think graffiti will look in a hundred years?
Advanced
Is 'street art' a legitimate form of social protest or just a nuisance for taxpayers?
How does the 'gentrification' of a neighborhood often begin with street art and murals?
Should we distinguish between 'artistic' graffiti and 'vandalism' in a court of law?
Is it ethical for a museum to remove a piece of street art to sell it for profit?
How does the 'anonymity' of a graffiti artist add to the power of their message?
Should we preserve certain pieces of graffiti as part of our cultural heritage?
How does 'guerrilla gardening' compare to graffiti as a way to change the city?
Is 'advertising' on public walls just a legal form of visual pollution and graffiti?
How does the presence of graffiti influence our perception of crime in an area?
Should we use technology like 'anti-graffiti paint' to prevent all street art?
How do 'street art festivals' change the way we interact with our local environment?
Is the 'commercialization' of graffiti taking away its original rebellious spirit?
How does street art reflect the specific problems of the people living in a city?
Should an artist be allowed to paint over another artist's work on a public wall?
How do we decide who 'owns' the visual space of a city street?
Is graffiti an essential part of 'hip-hop' culture and its history?
How does 'digital graffiti' in augmented reality change the way we see the world?
Should we encourage 'street art tours' as a way to boost local tourism?
How does the 'broken windows theory' apply to the presence of graffiti tags?
Is 'yarn bombing' (knitted graffiti) a more acceptable form of street expression?
How do political regimes use and ban graffiti to control public opinion?
Should we teach 'street art' techniques in formal art schools and universities?
How does the 'ephemeral' (short-lived) nature of street art change its meaning?
Is it right to arrest someone for expressing their opinion on a concrete wall?
What will happen to the 'street art' movement as our world becomes more digital?