Graffiti (n.) unauthorized writing or drawing on a public surface
However, the common encyclopedia Encarta defines it as:
Graffiti (n.) writing on walls: drawings or words that are scratched, painted, or sprayed on
walls or surfaces in public palces.
Here we see, a similarity in the two definitions but the second mentions nothing about it being illegal, or unauthorized, as said in the first. This is interesting because the first definition is one of the only definitons I have seen that has stated "unauthorized" in its text.
Graffiti began as a form of political activism and a way to claim territory and is known to mainly begin during the mid 60's in Philidelphia, Pensylvania (Eric). It has seemed to then progressively translate into something used by gangs, to claim territory, intimidate, etc. This then lead more to people tagging words or phrases with what seems no ultimate cause.
