2006年VOA标准英语-Leader of Avant-Garde Electronic Art Movem

By Craig Fitzpatrick
Washington, D.C.
01 February 2006
 
watch Nam Paik profile

Although many people outside the art world don't know who Nam June Paik is, they probably would recognize the quick cutting editing style that he pioneered and is so prevalent in many TV commercial and music videos today. Nam June Paik died on Sunday at the age of 73.   Six years ago, VOA's Craig Fitzpatrick met this revolutionary artist.  Melinda Smith narrates¹ this look back at Paik's work and his influence on America's media culture.

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Nam June Paik  
  

Nam June Paik was known as the father of video art.  He created an art form using TV monitors, cameras, and video switchers to produce dazzling and entertaining effects. He was part of the 60s’ avant-garde art movement, which expanded the definition of art. 

"We wanted to criticize everything existing.  To put into question everything that existed in 1964,” he told us.  This movement even produced "anti-art." 

Paik in his video studio  
  
Nam June Paik was born in South Korea but received his formal education in Japan, completing degrees in aesthetics² and music. He spent the early 60s in Germany, experimenting with musical compositions and video installations, eventually moving to New York in 1964.
 
 
High-Tech³ Baby was displayed at the Guggenheim
  
Museum
In 2000, the Guggenheim Museum in New York showed a retrospective of his art. One memorable⁴ sculpture was his, "Family of Robot."   Here Paik bolted old television sets and radio cabinets together to represent the human form.  His family consisted of a grandmother . . . and a grandfather . . . and a "High-Tech Baby" who was perpetually hyperactive.  In another installation, he placed twenty aquariums⁵ in front of twenty TV monitors.  He called this, "Video Fish."

"Nobody lost money by underestimating the Americans' taste," said Mr. Paik.
 

A kinetic⁶ video design   
  
He especially shocked audiences in the late 60s and 70s, when classical cellist⁷ Charlotte Moorman participated in "TV Bra for Living Sculpture."  She played a piece he wrote for the cello⁸.

Although his art was electrifying⁹ and may have surprised audiences, in real life Paik was very down to earth.  "I'm kind of a humble¹⁰ guy. . . modest."

 
Laser art in the museum atrium 
  
At the 2000 exhibit, Paik said he thought he had gone as far as he could with video and started experimenting with lasers.  He constructed a waterfall in the rotunda¹¹ of the Guggenheim and had laser lights zigzagging¹² through it.   Some may question what is art, but Paik had a very simple definition.

"Art is what pleases me at this moment."

For more than 40 years Nam June Paik expanded the definition of what art can be and changed the way we look at television.  He died of natural causes.

1 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

2 aesthetics   

n.(尤指艺术方面之)美学，审美学

参考例句：

• Sometimes, of course, our markings may be simply a matter of aesthetics. 当然，有时我们的标点符号也许只是个审美的问题。 来自名作英译部分
• The field of aesthetics presents an especially difficult problem to the historian. 美学领域向历史学家提出了一个格外困难的问题。

3 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

4 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

5 aquariums   

n.养鱼缸，水族馆( aquarium的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Biotope aquariums represent the natural environments of ornamental fish. 生态鱼缸表现出观赏鱼的自然生活环境。 来自互联网
• There are aquariums in many cities in the world. 世界上好多城市有水族馆。 来自互联网

6 kinetic   

adj.运动的；动力学的

参考例句：

• There exist many sources of energy both potential and kinetic.存在着许多势能和动能的能源。
• The kinetic theory of gases is the best known example.气体动力学理论就是最有名的例子。

7 cellist   

n.大提琴手

参考例句：

• The cellist's bowing was very sensitive . 那位大提琴手的弓法十分细腻。 来自辞典例句
• World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma founded The Silk Road Project in 1998. 世界闻名的大提琴家马友友于1998年创建了丝路工程。 来自互联网

8 cello   

n.大提琴

参考例句：

• The cello is a member of the violin family.大提琴是提琴家族的一员。
• She plays a melodious cello.她拉着一手悦耳的大提琴。

9 electrifying   

v.使电气化( electrify的现在分词 )；使兴奋

参考例句：

• The dancers gave an electrifying performance. 舞蹈演员们的表演激动人心。
• The national orchestra gave an electrifying performance of classic music. 国家交响乐团举行了一次古典音乐的震撼性演出。 来自辞典例句

10 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

11 rotunda   

n.圆形建筑物；圆厅

参考例句：

• The Capitol at Washington has a large rotunda.华盛顿的国会大厦有一圆形大厅。
• The rotunda was almost deserted today,dotted with just a few tourists.圆形大厅今天几乎没有多少人，只零星散布着几个游客。

12 zigzagging   

v.弯弯曲曲地走路，曲折地前进( zigzag的现在分词 )；盘陀

参考例句：

• She walked along, zigzagging with her head back. 她回头看着，弯弯扭扭地向前走去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We followed the path zigzagging up the steep slope. 我们沿着小径曲曲折折地爬上陡坡。 来自互联网