February 03rd, 2016

​

Tagging Teens
While taking a train to the city I observed a teen all of 15 years pacing the carriage.
The Carriage had a handful of passengers eyes on their phones.
No way I was going to be distracted by my phone and miss my stop with a storm looming.
The young lad moved to the corner and removed a razor from his pocket and begun to scratch his tag onto the carriage window then moved to the other side and scratched away another tag. No one battered an eye or lifted a forehead. I sat watching and when he was done he turned to me and said are you right! I replied yes thanks. He proceeded to disembark at the next stop.
I disembarked at the next stop right next to the carriage supervisor, I think that is what you call the guy who keeps hundreds of passenger’s safe every day.
I stopped to chat about what I had just seen, he told me if he sees a youth tagging he has been instructed to do nothing for the safety of the passengers and himself. He was 6ft + and built like a tank.
It made think why the teens do it.  Is it emotional out let, family breakdown, the thrill of breaking the law, the power vandalising and knowing no one will stop them, expression of inner artism, notoriety within the community.
I was curious why trains are the popular choice for tagging and after some research on Google because Google knows everything. It appears the popularity is that the trains travel vast distances taking the tagger to places they may never travel to. The taggers use tagging like a language the communicate and use it to evoke ownership of land. It is a very complex issue with varying degrees. Even though I have titled this tagging teens there is no stereo type, age, race professional, men and woman with families. Such a complex experience. https://youtu.be/po_hM90TgD4  A great documentary worth a watch.
I wonder if some artist who produce some of the amazing street art started out tagging while they develop their skills.
Not all journey`s in life fit with society`s beliefs.
 
 

---