2008-08-13

Art Outside the Law 另類的街頭塗鴉藝術

 
每週 四 出刊.2008.08.14
 
本 期 目 錄 簡介/舊報明細
Art Outside the Law 另類的街頭塗鴉藝術
原來如此
精解字詞片語
單字小舖
美女與野獸
不對等的組合似乎才是絕配...
文意選填 

Art Outside the Law 另類的街頭塗鴉藝術

by Matthew Brown
What seems like modern street art is a tradition that dates back to a time before there were streets.
看似現代的街頭藝術其實早存在於尚無街道的遠古時代。

A teenager wearing a dark hoodie (連帽上衣) scrambles up a ladder to the top of a building. A handkerchief covers his mouth, partly to conceal his _(1)_ from security cameras and partly to block out the fumes from his spray paint. In the dark, he rapidly begins to recreate his trademark design on the brick wall.

Street art or vandalism? Maybe graffiti is both. Graffiti _(2)_ in many forms, from someone scratching a name on a wall to an enormous spray-painted mural (壁畫). Basically, any marking, drawing, or writing on _(3)_ not belonging to the artist can be called graffiti. This definition might make us _(4)_ before we judge modern law-breaking spray-painters too harshly. In fact, graffiti can be seen as one of the most ancient forms of art. Cave drawings can be considered graffiti, and graffiti was common even in ancient Greek and Roman times.

Today's graffiti has developed a culture and style all its own. The average modern-day graffiti artist is more _(5)_ to use spray paint or markers than animal blood and vegetable pigments. Graffiti has been adopted by different cultures that _(6)_ its unique aspects: the danger involved, and its status as a kind of "outsider art." It is a way for people to display their talents—whether or not they are _(7)_ talented—in a public place, instead of trying to get a painting in a serious art museum. Graffiti is often used for political messages _(8)_.

Most commonly, though, it is _(9)_ with hip hop. It is often done with oversized, distorted lettering, and many pieces have characters and drawings that are _(10)_ by comic-book art. While many graffiti designs are nothing more than the artist's graffiti pseudonym and do not seem especially creative, there are undeniably some artists who show imagination and talent.

(A) comes (B) inspired (C) likely (D) property (E) as well (F) pause (G) identity (H) associated (I) particularly (J) appreciate
原來如此 


1. A handkerchief covers his mouth, partly to conceal his identity from security cameras and partly to block out the fumes from his spray paint.

理由:
a. 空格前有所有格 his(他的),可知空格內應置入名詞。
b. 選項中為名詞的有 (D) property(財產)、(F) pause(暫停)和 (G) identity(身分),然僅 identity 置入後符合語意,表隱藏自己的『身分』之意,故選 (G)。
identity n. 身分

2. Graffiti comes in many forms, from someone scratching a name on a wall to an enormous spray-painted mural.

理由:
a. 空格前有主詞 Graffiti(塗鴉),而空格後有介詞詞組 in many forms(許多種形式),故應置入可與 in 搭配的第三人稱單數不及物動詞。
b. 符合上述條件的選項僅有 (A) comes,置入後形成下列用法:
come in...  (物)有……(大小、尺寸、顏色等)
例: The new computer comes in a variety of colors.
(這款新型電腦有各式各樣的顏色。)
c. 根據上述,可知應選 (A),表塗鴉藝術『有』許多種形式。

3. Basically, any marking, drawing, or writing on property not belonging to the artist can be called graffiti.

理由:
a. 空格前有介詞 on,可知空格內應置入名詞。
b. 選項中為名詞的尚有 (D) property(財產)和 (F) pause(暫停),然僅 property 置入後符合語意,表在不屬於藝術家之『財產』上的記號、圖畫或文字,故選 (D)。
property n. 財產;所有物

4. This definition might make us pause before we judge modern law-breaking spray-painters too harshly.

理由:
a. 空格前有不完全及物動詞 make(讓……)及受詞 us(我們),因此空格應置入名詞、形容詞或原形動詞作受詞補語。
b. 符合上述條件的選項有 (C) likely(可能的)、(F) pause(暫停;停頓)和 (J) appreciate(欣賞)。(C) 置入後語意不合,故不可選;而由於空格後並無任何受詞,由此可知應選不及物動詞 pause,表這個定義或許可以讓我們在過度嚴厲批判現今那些違法的噴漆畫家前,先『停下來思考一下』,故選 (F) 。
pause vi. & n. 暫停;停頓

5. The average modern-day graffiti artist is more likely to use spray paint or markers than animal blood and vegetable pigments.

理由:
a. 空格前有 be 動詞 is 及副詞 more(更……),可知空格內應置入形容詞。
b. 選項 (C) likely(可能的)為形容詞,置入後與空格後的不定詞 to 形成下列用法:
be likely to V  可能會……
例: You are likely to bump into her if you go to the library at 6:00 every day.
(如果你每天 6 點到圖書館就可能會遇到她。)
c. 根據上述,故選 (C)。

6. Graffiti has been adopted by different cultures that appreciate its unique aspects: the danger involved, and its status as a kind of "outsider art."

理由:
a. 空格前的 that 為關係代名詞,代替之前的先行詞 cultures(文化)。在此形容詞子句中,that 為主詞,空格後的名詞詞組 its (= graffiti's) unique aspects(塗鴉藝術的獨特面)為受詞,由此可知,空格內應置入及物動詞,且配合主要子句的時態,此動詞應為現在式。
b. 在剩下的選項中,為現在式及物動詞的僅有 (J) appreciate(欣賞),置入後亦符合語意,表塗鴉藝術被許多懂得『欣賞』其獨特面的文化所認同,故選之。
c. appreciate vt. 欣賞
例: I really appreciate jazz music.
(我真的很欣賞爵士樂。)

7. It is a way for people to display their talents—whether or not they are particularly talented—in a public place, ...

理由:
a. 空格前有 be 動詞 are,空格之後則有形容詞 talented(有天份的),可知空格內應置入副詞,以修飾形容詞 talented。
b. (I) particularly(特別地)為副詞,置入後亦符合語意,表無論他們是否『特別』具有天份,故選之。
c. particularly adv. 特別地
例: I like all the colors, particularly the red used on the walls.
(我喜歡所有顏色,特別是用在牆上的這種紅色。)

8. Graffiti is often used for political messages as well.

理由:
a. 空格前為一完整的句子 Graffiti is often used for political messages(塗鴉藝術常被用來傳達政治訊息),因此空格內應置入可修飾整個主要子句的副詞或副詞片語。
b.選項中僅剩 (E) as well(也)可作副詞,即等於 too 之意,置入亦符合語意,表塗鴉藝術『也』常被用來傳達政治訊息,故選 (E)。
c. ...as well  也……
例: Barry bought a new stereo system and a TV as well.
(貝瑞買了一台新音響,還買了一台電視。)

9. Most commonly, though, it is associated with hip hop.

理由:
a. 空格前有 be 動詞 is,空格後為介詞 with,可知空格內應置入可與 with 搭配的形容詞、現在分詞或過去分詞。
b. 符合上述條件的選項僅有 (H) associated(有關聯的),置入後亦符合語意,故選之。
c. be associated with...   和……有所關聯
例: He is associated with several New York gangsters.
(他和紐約的好幾個黑幫有牽連。)

10. It is often done with oversized, distorted lettering, and many pieces have characters and drawings that are inspired by comic-book art.

理由:
a. 空格前有 be 動詞 are,空格後有介詞片語 by comic-book art(被漫畫藝術),因此空格應置入過去分詞,以形成被動語態。
b. 符合上述的選項僅剩 (B) inspired(被啟發),置入後亦符合語意,故選之。
c. be inspired by...  受到……啟發
例: I am inspired by the story of Helen Keller.
(海倫•凱勒的故事啟發了我。)
精解字詞片語 


1. conceal vt. 隱藏;隱瞞
例: Andrew is poor at concealing his feelings.
(安德魯不善於隱藏自己的感受。)

2. block out...  阻擋……
例: Cathy tried to block out the noise by covering her ears.
(凱西摀住耳朵試圖阻擋那些噪音。)

3. belong to...  屬於……,是……的
例: This house belongs to my uncle.
(這棟房子是我叔叔的。)

4. be seen as...  被視為……
= be viewed as...
= be regarded as...
= be looked upon as...
= be thought of as...
例: Richard is thought of as a good father but a bad employee.
(理察被認為是名好父親,但卻是個糟糕的員工。)

5. involve vt. 包含;牽涉
be involved in...  牽涉/捲入……
例: It is reported that the senator was involved in the bribery.
(據報導,該參議員與那件賄賂案有所牽連。)

6. talent n. 天份,才能
talented a. 有天份的,有才能的
have a talent for...  具有……方面的才能
= be talented in...
例: Ed has a talent for learning languages.
= Ed is talented in learning languages.
(艾德有學習語言的天賦。)

7. be nothing more than + N  只不過是……
= be nothing but + N
例: Donald believes that politicians are nothing more than con artists.
(唐納德認為政客只不過是騙子罷了。)

8. undeniably adv. 不可否認地
例: The Great Wall of China is undeniably impressive.
= There is no denying that the Great Wall of China is impressive.
(無可否認地,中國的萬里長城令人非常印象深刻。)
單字小舖 


1. hoodie n. 連帽上衣
2. scramble vi. 爬行,攀爬
3. ladder n. 梯子
4. handkerchief n. 領巾;手帕
5. fumes n.(氣體、煙霧的)難聞氣味
6. spray paint n. 噴漆 & vt. 用噴漆噴
7. trademark n. 標記;商標
8. vandalism n. 故意破壞公物的行為
9. graffiti n. 塗鴉
10. scratch vt. 塗寫;刻劃
11. mural n. 壁畫
12. definition n. 定義
13. harshly adv. 嚴厲地
14. marker n. 記號筆;麥克筆
15. pigment n. 顏料;色素
16. aspect n. 方面,觀點
17. outsider n. 局外人
18. hip hop n. 嘻哈文化(1980 年代源起於美國黑人青少年的文化,其特色為霹靂舞、牆上塗鴉和節奏強烈的音樂)
19. oversized a. 過大的
20. distorted a. 扭曲的
21. lettering n.(寫或刻印的)字體
22. character n. 字體
23. pseudonym n. 筆名,假名


身穿深色連帽上衣的小夥子順著樓梯爬上建築物頂端。一條領巾圍住了他的嘴巴,一方面是為了躲過監視器,隱藏自己的身分,另一方面則是為了阻隔噴漆的難聞氣味。在一片漆黑中,他開始迅速地在磚牆上重新描繪自己獨特的設計。

塗鴉是街頭藝術還是破壞公物?或許它兩者兼具。塗鴉藝術有許多種形式,小至某人在牆壁上塗寫自己的名字,大至使用噴漆完成的一大片壁畫皆是。基本上,任何在不屬於藝術家之財產上的記號、圖畫或文字都可稱為塗鴉。這個定義或許可以讓我們在過度嚴厲批判現今那些違法的噴漆畫家前,先停下來思考一下。事實上,塗鴉可被視為最古老的藝術形式之一。石洞壁畫就可算是一種塗鴉,而塗鴉甚至在古希臘羅馬時代就相當普遍。

現今的塗鴉已發展為自成一格的文化及風格。現今一般的塗鴉藝術者大多可能使用噴漆或麥克筆,而非動物的血或植物染料來作畫。塗鴉藝術的獨特在於其可能隱含的危險,以及其『非主流藝術』的地位,這種藝術被許多懂得欣賞其獨特面的文化所認同。姑且不論人們是否特別具有天份,與其嘗試在嚴肅的美術館中展出,塗鴉反而是一種讓他們在公開場合展現才華的方法。另外,塗鴉也常被用來傳達政治訊息。

但是普遍說來,塗鴉藝術與嘻哈文化最有關連。塗鴉通常都是以超大且扭曲的字體呈現,而且許多作品都包含受漫畫藝術啟發而創造出的文字及圖畫。雖然很多塗鴉作品只不過是藝術家的筆名,並不特別有創意,但不可否認地,這個領域中還是存在著一些展現出想像力及才華的藝術家。

標準答案: 1. (G) 2. (A) 3. (D) 4. (F) 5. (C) 6. (J) 7. (I) 8. (E) 9. (H) 10. (B)
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