2007年1月5日星期五

NewConceptEnglishIII_018:Electric currents in modern art

          Modern sculpture rarely surprises us any more. The idea that modern art can only be seen in museums is mistaken. Even people who take no interest in art cannot have failed to notice examples of modern sculpture on display in public places. Strange forms stand in gardens, and outside buildings and shops. We have got quite used to them. Some so-called 'modern' pieces have been on display for nearly fifty years.
          In spite of this, some people--including myself--were surprised by a recent exhibition of modern sculpture. The first thing I saw when I entered the art gallery was a notice which said: 'Do not touch the exhibits. Some of them are dangerous!' The objects on display were pieces of moving sculpture. Oddly shaped forms that are suspended from the ceiling and move in response to a gust of wind are quite familiar to everybody. These objects, however, were different. Lined up against the wall, there were long thin wires attached to metal spheres. The spheres had been magnetized and attracted or repelled each other all the time. In the centre of the hall, there were a number of tall structures which contained coloured lights. These lights flickered continuously like traffic lights which have gone mad. Sparks were emitted from small black boxes and red lamps flashed on and off angrily. It was rather like an exhibition of prehistoric electronic equipment. These peculiar forms not only seemed designed to shock people emotionally, but to give them electric shocks as well ! 

       现代雕塑不再使我们感到惊讶了。那种认为现代艺术只能在博物馆里才能看到的观点是错误的。即使是对艺术不感兴趣的人也不会注意到在公共场所展示的现代艺术品。公园里、大楼和商店外竖立着的奇形怪状的雕塑,对这些,我们已经司空见惯了。有些所谓的“现代”艺术品在那里已经陈列了近80年了。
        尽管如此,最近举办的一次现代雕塑展览还是使一些人(包括我在内)大吃了一惊。走进展厅首先看到的是一张告示,上面写着“切勿触摸展品,某些展品有危险!”展品都是些活动的雕像。人们所熟悉的是悬挂在天花板上、造型奇特、随风飘荡的雕塑品。这些展品却使人大开眼界。靠墙排列着许多细长的电线,而电线又连着金属球。金属球经过磁化,互相之间不停地相互吸引或相互排斥。展厅中央是装有彩色灯泡的许多高高的构件,灯泡一刻不停地闪烁着,就像失去了控制的红绿灯。小黑盒子里迸出火花,红色灯泡发怒似地忽明忽暗。这儿倒像是在展览古老的电子设备。好像设计这些奇形怪状的展品不仅是为了给人感情上的强烈刺激,而且还想给人以电击似的!

1. 单词
 (1)sculpture  
英[ˈskʌlptʃə(r)] 美[ˈskʌlptʃɚ]
n.  雕刻(术),塑像; 雕刻品; 刻纹;
vt. 雕塑; 以雕刻装饰; 侵蚀;
vi. 雕刻;
 (2)exhibit 
英[ɪgˈzɪbɪt] 美[ɪɡˈzɪbɪt, ɛɡ-]
vt.  呈现; 陈列,展览; 证明; [法] 提交证据;
vi.  展出; 公开展览某物;
n.   展览,陈列; 展览品; 公开展示; [法] 证据;
 (3)oddly 
英[ˈɒdli] 美[ˈɑ:dli]
adv.    奇怪地,古怪地; 奇妙地; 额外地,附加地; 零碎地,单数地;
[释义]    oddly enough的变体;
(4)gust
英[gʌst] 美[ɡʌst]
n.  风味; 一阵狂风; 突发的一阵; 迸发(感情);
vi.  猛刮(风);
(5)sphere 
英[sfɪə(r)] 美[sfɪr]
n.  球(体); 范围(兴趣或活动的); 势力范围; 天体,如行星或恒星;
vt. 形成球体; 包围,围绕; 置于球面内部;
 (6)magnetize  
英[ˈmægnətaɪz] 美[ˈmæɡnɪˌtaɪz]
vt. 迷住; 使有磁性; 使磁化; 紧紧吸引;
 (7)repelled 
英[rɪ'peld] 美[rɪ'peld]
v.  排斥; 推开; 击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 ); 使厌恶;
(8)flicker 
英[ˈflɪkə(r)] 美[ˈflɪkɚ]
v.  闪烁; 飘扬,摆动; 昏倒;
n.  闪烁; 闪光; 电影; 假装昏倒的乞丐;
 (9)prehistoric
英[ˌpri:hɪˈstɒrɪk] 美[ˌpri:hɪˈstɔ:rɪk]
adj.  史前的; 陈旧的;
(10)peculiar 
英[pɪˈkju:liə(r)] 美[pɪˈkjuljɚ]
adj.  奇怪的,古怪的; 异常的; 特有的,特殊的;
n.   专有特权,专有财产; [多用于英国] 特殊教堂;

2. 短语
(1)electric currents  电流 

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