Graffiti Publications

Several Australian graffiti magazines have been banned for promoting a criminal act, the vandalism of public property.

Dirty Deeds

Publisher Russ Connell / Australia

In December 2008, Donald McDonald wrote to the publisher and requested DIRTY DEEDS No. 8 be submitted for classification. No previous issues of this the Queensland based graffiti magazine had been rated.

A submittable publication is a title that would likely be rated Category 1, 2, or RC. If the Director of the Classification Board believes a title fits this definition, then he may request the publisher send it in for rating.

December 3, 2008
Editor DIRTY DEEDS

Notice to submit publication for classification within three days

I am writing to advise you that I have reviewed the following publication and that you are now required to submit an application for classification of this publication within three business days.

Title: DIRTY DEEDS Volume: Issue 08
Australian publisher/distributor: DIRTY DEEDS
Number of pages: 100
Country of origin: Australia

Under sub-section 46(1) of the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Enforcement Act 1995 (NSW), if:

(a) the Director has reasonable grounds to believe that a publication is a submittable publication, and
(b) the publication is being published in New South Wales, or the Director has reasonable grounds to believe that it will be published in New South Wales,

the Director may, by notice in writing given to the publisher of the publication, require the publisher to submit an application under the Commonwealth Act for classification of the publication (or of subsequent issues of the publication).

‘Submittable publication’ is defined in section 5 of the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 (Cth) (the Classification Act) to mean:

an unclassified publication that, having regard to section 9A or to the Code and the classification guidelines to the extent that they relate to publications, contains depictions or descriptions that:

(a) are likely to cause the publication to be classified RC; or
(b) are likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult to the extent that the publication should not be sold or displayed as an unrestricted publication; or
(c) are unsuitable for a minor to see or read.

Publish’ is defined in section 5 of the Classification Act to include ‘sell, offer for sale, let on hire, exhibit, display, distribute and demonstrate’.

I have reasonable grounds to believe the above named publication is a submittable publication and I believe it has been published in New South Wales.

I have therefore decided to issue this notice requiring the publisher to submit an application for classification of the publication.

Information about how to apply, including the application form and fees, is available at www.classification.aov.au . You may also wish to contact David Emery, the Applications Manager, on (02) 9289 7100. It is an offence not to comply within three business days after receiving this notice.

A notice of my decision will be published in the Commonwealth Gazette.

– To: Australian publisher/distributor: Dirty Deeds
– From: Donald McDonald AC, Director, Classification Board

No. 8 RC

The publisher, Dirty Deeds Streetwear, complied with the request.

In January 2009, it was banned because it promoted a criminal act, the vandalism of public property.

January 2009
Pubs 1(c) The publication is classified RC in accordance with the National Classification Code, Publications Table, 1.

(c) as publications that “promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence”.

– Classification Board

September 21, 2009
It also became apparent from the purchasing of these adult publications that many of the publications had not been classified. The Director has the power to call in publications for classification where reasonable grounds exist to believe that an unclassified publication is a submittable publication, being published in an Australian jurisdiction. I called in the publications that were unclassified. If a distributor did not comply with a call in notice, the Department was asked to advise law enforcement agencies.

During the reporting period, I also called in other publications which came to my attention. These publications were graffiti magazines,

– Donald McDonald, Director’s Overview
– Classification Board, Annual Report 2008-2009

September 21, 2009
Publications classified RC cannot be sold or displayed in Australia. During the reporting period, of the total of 180 publications classified, five publications were classified RC .

Three publications called in for classification during the reporting period were classified RC .

DIRTY DEEDS Issue 08 was classified RC as it promoted a criminal act, the vandalism of public property.

– Classification Board, Annual Report 2008-2009

No. 1 Unrestricted

In August 2009, issue No. 1 (2002) was passed as Unrestricted.

The applicant was the NSW Police Service – Wentworthville.

Six more RC issues

In July 2015, issue No. 2 (2004), No. 7 (2007), No. 9 (2009), No. 10 (2010), No. 11 (2011), and No. 14 (2015) were banned.

The reason given was:

July 2015
Pubs 1(c) The publication is classified RC in accordance with the National Classification Code, Publications Table, 1.
(c) as publications that “promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence”.

– Classification Board

No. 12 (2012) and No. 13 (2013) were passed with M (Unrestricted) ratings.

In all cases, the applicant was the Queensland Police Service Graffiti Task Force.

At the same time, they received RC-ratings for DVDs of CHASING REALITY (2013), RIVER CITY (2010) and RIVER CITY 2 (2013). See the separate entries in Film Censorship Database No. 1.

Unrestricted vs. RC – What is the difference?

Jayden reports.
All issues of DIRTY DEEDS contain numerous images of graffiti. The majority of which is on trains.

I was therefore interested in the distinction that the Classification Board made between a banned issue (No. 2 & No. 9) and an Unrestricted issue (No. 1). My conclusion is that it is when they “…instruct in matters of crime”. For example, No. 2 discusses doing panels on trains in Perth, security issues and the importance of quickly documenting your work.

There appears to be a fine line between Unrestricted and Refused Classification decisions. It could be argued, all issues “…promote… in matters of crime” just by posting multiple images and calling for submissions. It would be interesting to see the Classification Board’s decision reports for this magazine to see exactly where they cross the line.

Shakewell Magazine

Publisher Michael Chora / Australia

In August 2015, issue No. 1 (2014) (48-pages) and No. 2 (2014) (100-pages) were banned.

This was followed in July 2016 by No. 3 (2015) (96-pages) and No. 4 (2016) (96-pages).

August 2015 & July 2016
Pubs 1(c) The publication is classified RC in accordance with the National Classification Code, Publications Table, 1.
(c) as publications that “promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence”.

– Classification Board

In all cases the applicant was the Queensland Police Service Graffiti Task Force.

The four banned issues

2014
SHAKEWELL MAGAZINE is a local print publication promoting the creative, urban and underground culture.

Based in Australia- we’re a bunch a nobodies telling the tales of the somebodies. We’re incoherently immature, aggressively un-fancy, foolishly honest and irrationally interesting, aiming to fill the void left by society’s dispensable rules. We’re advocating for the art that needs no regulation. We’re increasing the volume on voices that seek to be heard.

Art is the expression of human creative skill and imagination. The World serves as a canvas for each and the regulation of that to the extent which we are surrounded by deserves to be questioned by those who are willing to pay attention. There are Vandals and then there are Artists and whether you choose to identify with either the Authorities see you as the same…
“Our city is our playground, a concrete jungle, a cemented maze. Let’s get lost in these streets.”

– shakewellmagazine.com

2014
Issue 1 – SHAKEWELL MAGAZINE is a local print publication promoting the creative, urban and underground culture of Brisbane.

Issue One features 48 pages promoting 61 artists in interviews, articles, competitions and photo features.

– shakewellmagazine.com

2014
Issue 2 – It’s been a longer than expected wait, but Issue 2 is ready for distribution.

Issue 2 features: Coker photo feature, Sireps photo feature, VNDs Photo feature, Interview with Teens on Acid, Bolivian adventures with Aeon FLYS, How to paint a tunnel with Cekios and Ekaer, Urbex, Interview with Viet Now, John K photo feature, 5 mins with No Comply gallery, Gus

Issue 2 is twice the size of issue one (100 pages), and has been perfect bound. We have also had a total re design of this issue, focusing more on some of the design aspects.

We can’t wait for you to get your hands on issue 2, it’s bigger and better than issue 1!

– shakewellmagazine.com

2015
Issue 3 – Features: RIP FAWTS special MTS crew photo special. Well Dressed Vandals. EUROK photo special. ATOME IBS/TFP interview. Melburban tunnel photo feature. PURES HD photo special. Sarah Etheridge interview. Crush City tattoo interview. The Devils Beachouse interview. Plus MUCH MUCH more!!

Issue 3 follows in the footsteps of issue 2, 100 pages, perfect bound and made to impress. We have expanded on some features and redefined some others. This issue is a dedication to our mate FAWTS BWP LS. Rest in peace.

– shakewellmagazine.com

2016
Issue 4 – Features: BAD & MACH freight love. 2 minutes with TC. PIANO feature. TOBIAS feature. HKLS & FKCS interview. JIESKIE photo feature with HKLS & FKCS. GENIUS interview. CHEEKY OBSERVER interview. AKUZE AFP photo feature. THEIVEZ interview. DMOTE feature interview. Plus MUCH MUCH more!!

Issue 4 follows in the footsteps of issue 2 and 3, with 100 pages, perfect bound and made to impress. We have expanded on some features and redefined some others.

– shakewellmagazine.com

Artillery Magazine

Publisher Luke Shirlaw / Australia

In June 2016, ARTILLERY MAGAZINE: CHAPTER 6 (2013) (116-pages) was banned by the Classification Board.

June 2016
Pubs 1(c) The publication is classified RC in accordance with the National Classification Code, Publications Table, 1.
(c) as publications that “promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence”.

– Classification Board

2013
ARTILLERY is an independent publication dedicated to the creative struggle, determination and rawness of the world’s best graffiti artists. In addition to its predominant graffiti focus, ARTILLERY mixes in a healthy dose of art, design and photography; presenting all of it in a well thought out, beautifully designed and printed package.

Issue 6
ARTILLERY MAGAZINE is pleased to announce the sixth chapter in its endeavour to roll the world’s best graffiti, visual art and imagery into a high quality, section sewn publication.

The content is flawlessly put together in a well curated outfit, designed to be visually pleasing whilst maintaining a hard edge for the info heads. Coming together at 116 pages, Chapter Six boasts in-depth feature interviews with Australian and international graffiti artists; Caib KOC (Sydney), KGB Crew (Sydney), Roger (Adelaide) and Zoer CSX (France).

The magazine also features site-specific illustrations in the Art Department by Seb Gorey (France/NYC), KC Ortiz (Chicago), Gimiks Born (Brisbane), Remio VTS (USA) and this chapter’s spotlights focus on street artist turned gallery superstar Anthony Lister (Brisbane), eclectic street photographer Jacob Doubleyou (Perth) and American all-rounder Jurne.

– artillerymagazine.net

At the same time, ARTILLERY MAGAZINE: CHAPTER 5 (2011) (132-pages) was passed with an Unrestricted (M – Not recommended for readers under 15 years) rating.

In both cases, the applicant was the Queensland Police Service Graffiti Task Force.