常春藤解析英语 83 Art Outside the Law　另类的街头涂鸦艺术

Art Outside the Law　另类的街头涂鸦艺术

by Matthew Brown

What seems like modern street art is a tradition that dates back to a time before there were streets.

看似现代的街头艺术其实早存在于尚无街道的远古时代。

A teenager wearing a dark hoodie (连帽上衣) 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 (壁画). 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

原来如此

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)，可知空格内应置入名词。

b. 选项中为名词的有 (D) property(财产)、(F) pause(暂停)和 (G) identity(身分)，然仅 identity 置入后符合语意，表隐藏自己的『身分』之意，故选 (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. 空格前有主词 Graffiti(涂鸦)，而空格后有介词词组 in many forms(许多种形式)，故应置入可与 in 搭配的第三人称单数不及物动词。

b. 符合上述条件的选项仅有 (A) comes，置入后形成下列用法：

come in...　　(物)有……(大小、尺寸、颜色等)

例: The new computer comes in a variety of colors.

(这款新型计算机有各式各样的颜色。)

c. 根据上述，可知应选 (A)，表涂鸦艺术『有』许多种形式。

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

理由:

a. 空格前有介词 on，可知空格内应置入名词。

b. 选项中为名词的尚有 (D) property(财产)和 (F) pause(暂停)，然仅 property 置入后符合语意，表在不属于艺术家之『财产』上的记号、图画或文字，故选 (D)。

property n. 财产;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动词 make(让……)及受词 us(我们)，因此空格应置入名词、形容词或原形动词作受词补语。

b. 符合上述条件的选项有 (C) likely(可能的)、(F) pause(暂停;停顿)和 (J) appreciate(欣赏)。(C) 置入后语意不合，故不可选;而由于空格后并无任何受词，由此可知应选不及物动词 pause，表这个定义或许可以让我们在过度严厉批判现今那些违法的喷漆画家前，先『停下来思考一下』，故选 (F) 。

pause vi. & n. 暂停;停顿

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 动词 is 及副词 more(更……)，可知空格内应置入形容词。

b. 选项 (C) likely(可能的)为形容词，置入后与空格后的不定词 to 形成下列用法：

be likely to V　　可能会……

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 点到图书馆就可能会遇到她。)

c. 根据上述，故选 (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 为关系代名词，代替之前的先行词 cultures(文化)。在此形容词子句中，that 为主词，空格后的名词词组 its (= graffiti's) unique aspects(涂鸦艺术的独特面)为受词，由此可知，空格内应置入及物动词，且配合主要子句的时态，此动词应为现在式。

b. 在剩下的选项中，为现在式及物动词的仅有 (J) appreciate(欣赏)，置入后亦符合语意，表涂鸦艺术被许多懂得『欣赏』其独特面的文化所认同，故选之。

c. appreciate vt. 欣赏

例: I really appreciate jazz music.

(我真的很欣赏爵士乐。)

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 动词 are，空格之后则有形容词 talented(有天份的)，可知空格内应置入副词，以修饰形容词 talented。

b. (I) particularly(特别地)为副词，置入后亦符合语意，表无论他们是否『特别』具有天份，故选之。

c. particularly adv. 特别地

例: I like all the colors, particularly the red used on the walls.

(我喜欢所有颜色，特别是用在墙上的这种红色。)

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

理由:

a. 空格前为一完整的句子 Graffiti is often used for political messages(涂鸦艺术常被用来传达政治讯息)，因此空格内应置入可修饰整个主要子句的副词或副词词组。

b.选项中仅剩 (E) as well(也)可作副词，即等于 too 之意，置入亦符合语意，表涂鸦艺术『也』常被用来传达政治讯息，故选 (E)。

c. ...as well　　也……

例: Barry bought a new stereo system and a TV as well.

(贝瑞买了一台新音响，还买了一台电视。)

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

理由:

a. 空格前有 be 动词 is，空格后为介词 with，可知空格内应置入可与 with 搭配的形容词、现在分词或过去分词。

b. 符合上述条件的选项仅有 (H) associated(有关联的)，置入后亦符合语意，故选之。

c. be associated with...　　 和……有所关联

例: He is associated with several New York gangsters.

(他和纽约的好几个黑帮有牵连。)

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 动词 are，空格后有介词词组 by comic-book art(被漫画艺术)，因此空格应置入过去分词，以形成被动语态。

b. 符合上述的选项仅剩 (B) inspired(被启发)，置入后亦符合语意，故选之。

c. be inspired by...　　受到……启发

例: I am inspired by the story of Helen Keller.

(海伦‧凯勒的故事启发了我。)

精解字词词组

1. conceal vt. 隐藏;隐瞒

例: Andrew is poor at concealing his feelings.

(安德鲁不善于隐藏自己的感受。)

2. block out...　　阻挡……

例: Cathy tried to block out the noise by covering her ears.

(卡西摀住耳朵试图阻挡那些噪音。)

3. belong to...　　属于……，是……的

例: This house belongs to my uncle.

(这栋房子是我叔叔的。)

4. be seen as...　　被视为……

= 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.

(理察被认为是名好父亲，但却是个糟糕的员工。)

5. involve vt. 包含;牵涉

be involved in...　　牵涉∕卷入……

例: It is reported that the senator was involved in the bribery.

(据报导，该参议员与那件贿赂案有所牵连。)

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.

(艾德有学习语言的天赋。)

7. be nothing more than + N　　只不过是……

= be nothing but + N

例: Donald believes that politicians are nothing more than con artists.

(唐纳德认为政客只不过是骗子罢了。)

8. undeniably adv. 不可否认地

例: The Great Wall of China is undeniably impressive.

= There is no denying that the Great Wall of China is impressive.

(无可否认地，中国的万里长城令人非常印象深刻。)

单字小铺

1. hoodie n. 连帽上衣

2. scramble vi. 爬行，攀爬

3. ladder n. 梯子

4. handkerchief n. 领巾;手帕

5. fumes n.(气体、烟雾的)难闻气味

6. spray paint n. 喷漆 & vt. 用喷漆喷

7. trademark n. 标记;商标

8. vandalism n. 故意破坏公物的行为

9. graffiti n. 涂鸦

10. scratch vt. 涂写;刻划

11. mural n. 壁画

12. definition n. 定义

13. harshly adv. 严厉地

14. marker n. 记号笔;麦克笔

15. pigment n. 颜料;色素

16. aspect n. 方面，观点

17. outsider n. 局外人

18. hip hop n. 嘻哈文化(1980 年代源起于美国黑人青少年的文化，其特色为霹雳舞、墙上涂鸦和节奏强烈的音乐)

19. oversized a. 过大的

20. distorted a. 扭曲的

21. lettering n.(写或刻印的)字体

22. character n. 字体

23. pseudonym n. 笔名，假名

身穿深色连帽上衣的小伙子顺着楼梯爬上建筑物顶端。一条领巾围住了他的嘴巴，一方面是为了躲过监视器，隐藏自己的身分，另一方面则是为了阻隔喷漆的难闻气味。在一片漆黑中，他开始迅速地在砖墙上重新描绘自己独特的设计。

涂鸦是街头艺术还是破坏公物?或许它两者兼具。涂鸦艺术有许多种形式，小至某人在墙壁上涂写自己的名字，大至使用喷漆完成的一大片壁画皆是。基本上，任何在不属于艺术家之财产上的记号、图画或文字都可称为涂鸦。这个定义或许可以让我们在过度严厉批判现今那些违法的喷漆画家前，先停下来思考一下。事实上，涂鸦可被视为最古老的艺术形式之一。石洞壁画就可算是一种涂鸦，而涂鸦甚至在古希腊罗马时代就相当普遍。

现今的涂鸦已发展为自成一格的文化及风格。现今一般的涂鸦艺术者大多可能使用喷漆或麦克笔，而非动物的血或植物染料来作画。涂鸦艺术的独特在于其可能隐含的危险，以及其『非主流艺术』的地位，这种艺术被许多懂得欣赏其独特面的文化所认同。姑且不论人们是否特别具有天份，与其尝试在严肃的美术馆中展出，涂鸦反而是一种让他们在公开场合展现才华的方法。另外，涂鸦也常被用来传达政治讯息。

但是普遍说来，涂鸦艺术与嘻哈文化最有关连。涂鸦通常都是以超大且扭曲的字体呈现，而且许多作品都包含受漫画艺术启发而创造出的文字及图画。虽然很多涂鸦作品只不过是艺术家的笔名，并不特别有创意，但不可否认地，这个领域中还是存在着一些展现出想象力及才华的艺术家。

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