1 . “In the future, everybody will be famous for 15 minutes,” said US artist Andy Warhol (1928-1987). And he is quite right. Now it seems that anybody can become an instant online celebrity.
Warhol is best noted for his paintings that represent celebrity faces and US consumer goods, like Coca-Cola bottles or Campbell’s soup cans. As a great influence on the twentieth century pop art movement, Andy Warhol rose to become a cornerstone in the contemporary art world, devoted to bringing his views on materialism, polities and economics to the art. Actually, the visual world Warhol created is directly connected to his background.
In the mid-1950s, the working class gathered a great deal of fortune. They wanted to achieve a higher status in society. “The consumer goods and Hollywood faces are a working-class-coded iconography (肖像) that is often misinterpreted as generally ‘American’.” Anthony E. Grudin, author of Warhol’s Working Class commented. Reproducing these themes in his work meant that people outside of the art world could immediately connect with Warhol’s pictures. Considered “a creature of transformation”, Warhol constantly explored with different forms of media to evoke resonance among people.
For example, in addition to being a painter, Warhol was, in the words of UK writer Peter Wollen: “A filmmaker, a writer, a photographer, a TV soap opera producer.” Warhol, in short, was what we might call a ‘Renaissance (文艺复兴) man’, even though he was a leader in pop or perhaps post-modern art.
In his later years, he founded Interview Magazine and wrote several books, including The Philosophy of Andy Warhol. But UK artist Gillian Wearing said, “Warhol left his mark in many more ways than his actual work.” Warhol’s works are all about “America, money, fame and death”, UK writer Jon Savage remarked. “He summed up, defined and in many ways symbolized the world in which we now live.”
1. What’s Andy Warhol’s purpose of creating his paintings?| A．To highlight Renaissance style. | B．To combine art with materialism. |
| C．To attain fame and higher status. | D．To challenge traditional art forms. |
| A．Popular drinks. | B．Average people. |
| C．Commercial products. | D．Living scenes of working class. |
| A．Constructive and multi-talented. | B．Conservative and realistic. |
| C．Optimistic and encouraging. | D．Creative and critical. |
| A．Health. | B．Sports. | C．Science. | D．People. |
2 . For the creatively minded, snow represents a large blank canvas (空白画布) for art. But often, it’s limited to snowmen or other snow statues. Simon Beck had a different idea, and over the course of a decade he has carved a path for himself in the snow art world. He creates large land art by walking across soccer-field-sized areas covered in untouched snow. Combined with light and shadow, his artistic designs can only be fully appreciated when viewed from above.
Beck, 59, a former map maker turned into a snow artist, thanks to his decision late in life to pursue his hobby.
“It started just as a joke one day really,” Beck explained. “After skiing one day, I decided to make a drawing on snow to seek pleasure…”
“I really had no idea how good it would look when I made that first drawing, but it really went beyond my expectation, he said of his first ever creation that he looked down on from a ski lift.
To create this work, Beck stepped his way through the snow using only snowshoes and a ski pole for measurement with nothing else but the image of a design idea in his head. It was not challenging at all due to his previous work experience. But as his designs developed and became more complex, Beck said he began to start drawing them on paper first.
Beck’s paintings have become a huge hit since his work was first shared.
“Most of the time I had been doing failed careers, and people around me are asking what’s the quickest way of getting rid of this person,” Beck said. “And for the first time, I felt people actually wanted me. I felt like a more valued member of society.”
1. Where does Simon Beck create art?| A．On maps. | B．On mountains. | C．On snowfields. | D．On soccer fields. |
| A．To prove his talent. | B．To have fun. |
| C．To entertain the skiers. | D．To develop a new hobby. |
| A．His experience of making maps. | B．His passion for skiing. |
| C．His competitive nature. | D．His dream to be an artist. |
| A．Travel. | B．Sports. | C．Geography. | D．Art. |
3 . Artist Tom Campbell has exhibited his work at Outlaw Studios at Marina Commercial Park. The exhibition is Tom’s largest one to date and includes affordable art. The interactive show is made up of drawings, paintings, sculptures and live performances. Throughout the exhibition, Tom is working, giving the public an opportunity to watch inside his studio and have their portraits drawn. People can also commission a piece of their choosing.
Wall painting is part of Tom’s output. He has created a wall painting for Electric Picnic, along with four other artists invited to take part in this commission. His wall painting has a special theme, portrayed by doves (鸽子). As well as his anti-war standpoint, he is doing something meaningful. Tom is a founding member of a tree planting project called Trees Please. The group has distributed 10,000 trees in about four years across Ireland.
Humour is also important for Tom in his art. He can treat heavy subjects with irony, often employing an aggressive combination of lively colors and animals with wistful expressions communicating the importance of respect, peace, understanding and love. He has done creative work for mental health charities.
Tom was born with a love for art. He enjoys playing musical instruments in public, like the violin. He gets lots of smiles from people. He also sings and has an online channel featuring his songs, which are very improvised (即兴的). All this creativity is a lifeline for him, who believes that art is a necessity rather than a luxury.
Art is something everybody can do. If creativity was embraced by people in an open way, it could transform society. Art can bring a lot of joy. Everyone is creative and enjoys creativity whether it’s music or visual art or whatever.
1. What do we know about Tom’s exhibition?| A．It is targeted at the rich. |
| B．It takes on a variety of forms. |
| C．It is the largest one throughout art history. |
| D．It offers an opportunity to practise drawing. |
| A．His sense of humor and creativity. |
| B．His effort to protect plants and animals. |
| C．His advice on painting and planting trees. |
| D．His passion for peace and the environment. |
| A．He has creative talent. | B．Art is a luxury. |
| C．Art has no boundaries. | D．He is popular in public. |
| A．Literature. | B．Finance. | C．Figure. | D．Society. |
4 . Pop stars have traditionally not come from the upper classes of society. Eminem grew up on a trailer (活动住屋) park. 50 Cent is from the dangerous shelters of New York. The Beatles grew up in the poor city of Liverpool.
However, some musicians have come from the army. Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, served with the American Army in Germany while Jimi Hendrix was in the parachute regiment (伞兵团). Following in that tradition comes a British hit, James Blunt. His single, You’re Beautiful, was a huge success, and his concerts have sold out all over the country.
James Blunt, born on February 22, 1977, comes from a family with a long tradition of military service. His early life was not filled with music. His army officer father thought all music, even classical, was unnecessary noise. His life seemed certain to follow that of his father’s before him—private schools, a good university and a career as an officer in the British Army. The thought of pursuing a career in music had never occurred to him until he witnessed an older boy playing an electric guitar at age 14. When he was sent to Kosovo in 1999, he didn’t just take his gun he also took his guitar, attached to the side of his tank. As he drove through villages damaged by the war, he used to sing the John Lennon song Give Peace a Chance. “Well,” he later said, “we were peacekeepers.”
In 2003 he left the army and went to Los Angeles to make a record. In 2004, his first album Back to Bedlam was released, and the singles High, Wise Men and You’re Beautiful have been great successes. For the singing soldier, putting down a gun for a guitar has been a good choice.
1. What do Elvis Presley and James Blunt have in common?| A．They were from upper social classes. | B．They were kings of Rockand Roll. |
| C．They rose to fame in Britain. | D．They used to serve in the army. |
| A．His father’s support. | B．The Beatles’ influence. |
| C．A guitar performance. | D．Family tradition of music. |
| A．Back to Bedlam. | B．Give Peace a Chance. |
| C．High, Wise Men. | D．You’re Beautiful. |
| A．Blunt’s journey to the US. | B．Blunt’s success as a singer. |
| C．Blunt’s practice of singing. | D．Blunt’s best-selling records. |
5 . In 1933 an unknown American called Clarence Nash went to see the filmmaker Walt Disney. He had an unusual voice and he wanted to work in Disney’s cartoon (动画片) film for children. When Walt Disney heard Nash’s voice, he said “Stop! That’s our duck!”
The duck was the now-famous Donald Duck, who first appeared in 1934 in the film The Wise Little Hen. Donald lived in an old houseboat (水上住家) and wore his sailor jacket and hat. Later that year he became a star after an eight-minute Mickey Mouse film. The cinema audience liked him because he was lazy and greedy (贪婪的), and because he lost his temper (发脾气) very quickly. And they loved his voice when he became angry with Mickey’s eight nephews (侄子). Soon Donald was more popular than Mickey Mouse himself, probably because he wasn’t a goody-goody like Mickey.
In the 1930s, 40s and 50s Donald and his friends Mickey, Goofy and Pluto made hundreds of Disney cartoons. He also made educational films about the place of the USA in the world, and safety in the home. Then in 1966 Donald Duck and his voice disappeared — there were no more new cartoons.
Clarence Nash died in February, 1985. But today’s children can still see the old cartoons on television and hear that famous voice.
1. Who made Donald Duck film?| A．Mickey Mouse | B．Clarence Nash | C．Walt Disney | D．Pluto |
| A．In 1933 | B．In 1934 | C．In 1966 | D．In 1930 |
| A．A cartoonist | B．Donald Duck’s voice | C．A film-maker | D．A film star |
| A．In new film | B．At the cinema | C．On television | D．At concerts |
6 . Van Gogh painted sunflowers for the first time in the summer of 1886.Two years later, his interest appeared again after he settled in Arles. After he had invited the French artist Paul Gauguin, whom he admired, to join his Studio of the South, he began painting sunflowers to brighten up the whitewashed walls of the yellow house he was living in, not far from the town’s railway station.
Gauguin accepted Van Gogh’s invitation. When he began dragging his heels(脚后跟), Van Gogh painted the last two of the four original Sunflowers for the modest bedroom where his guest would sleep following his arrival that autumn, “Van Gogh saw the Sunflowers for Gauguin’s bedroom as a way of attracting his friend to come from Brittany, “says Bailey.
According to Martin Gayford, “Gauguin was very surprised by the Sunflowers, which he repeatedly praised and asked for as a gift. Years later, Gauguin himself painted some sunflower pictures.”
Van Gogh’s Sunflowers stand for (代表)his relationship with Gauguin. “I think he painted them for the joy of it,” says Jansen. “Van Gogh was at the height of his powers in the summer of 1888,”explains Bailey. “He painted the Sunflowers quickly and with great energy and confidence.” Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo in late August, “I’m painting quickly now, which won’t surprise you when it’s a question of painting large Sunflowers.”
Van Gogh recognized at once that he had created something important and that his sunflowers were so different. As he told Theo in January 1889, while other artists were known for painting other flowers, “The sunflower is mine.” This, in fact, explains the reason for the popularity of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers today.
1. Van Gogh painted sunflowers in 1888 in order to ________.| A．give them to Gauguin | B．make his living |
| C．decorate his house | D．show his artistic talent to others |
| A．In the British museum | B．In Gauguin’s bedroom |
| C．In the town’s railway station | D．In a rich businessman's house |
| A．Very bad | B．Just soso |
| C．Rather worried | D．Quite surprised |
| A．Van Gogh was not good at painting large Sunflowers |
| B．Van Gogh had much trouble in painting the Sunflowers |
| C．Van Gogh didn’t like his Sunflowers at all at that time |
| D．Van Gogh realized the Sunflowers would make him known |
