VOA常速英语2007-Vibrant First Half of 20th Century Shown in Amer

By Mike O'Sullivan
Los Angeles
30 October 2007

The first half of the 20th century was a time of transformation¹ in the United States. The country experienced two world wars, the Great Depression, and the rapid growth of cities. Mike O'Sullivan reports, the changes that swept across the country are now on display in an exhibition of art prints at the Huntington Library in Pasadena, California.

The prints show farm hands harvesting wheat and urban workers building the skyscrapers² that changed the face of the cities. Assistant curator Kevin Murphy says the pictures, like the period, are dynamic.

"We've got images from the teens when America is becoming a world power and trying to figure out what it means to be a world power economically and politically. We've got images from the boom years of the 1920s, and then the depression of the '30s," said Murphy. "So we've got artists who are struggling with what it means to be an American, and what specifically it means to be an American artist."

There are scenes of people at work in factories and mines, socializing in nightclubs, or getting a haircut and manicure in a barber shop. The images show the growing urban landscapes of New York and Chicago.

The art works range from wood carvings³ and lithographs⁴ to color screen prints, and include the work of such well-known American artists as Edward Hopper.

Kevin Murphy says some of the art works celebrate changes taking place in society, while others critique them. A number of prints portray⁵ the vitality⁶ of the cities, while others show the dislocation and poverty of the people who were living there. Hungry men in overcoats stand in a crowded bread line. A caravan⁷ of cars returns from the beach to the city.

"They're coffin-life cars, and the artist is questioning speed and technology, and the specter of death hangs over all of these cars racing⁸ back from a nice weekend in the Hamptons," he said. "But there is this idea that speed and technology ultimately may cause death and accidents."

The first half of the 20th century was a turbulent time, with a major financial depression and two world wars. A print from 1939 shows people listening to the radio for news of impending⁹ conflict, and one from 1943 shows warplanes and parachutes.

The half-century was also a time of cultural change, as people moved from the farm to the city. Jessica Todd Smith, curator of American art at the Huntington Library, says women took a more active role in society than they had earlier, and were seen more in public places.

"In places such as amusement parks, movie theaters, dance halls, night clubs where people of different classes and backgrounds were mixing more for the first time," said Smith. "And we have a whole section in the exhibition devoted¹⁰ to women in public spaces, which you wouldn't have seen in the 19th century."

This was also a time of change in American art, as native-born artists studied overseas and immigrants brought new techniques and perspectives.

"And a tremendous proliferation of types of styles, between American artists who are going abroad and experiencing influences there, European artists or artists from Mexico, in one case, coming to the United States and bringing their cultural heritage," added Smith.

She says a creative surge in American art reflected the changes taking place in society.

1 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

2 skyscrapers   

n.摩天大楼

参考例句：

• A lot of skyscrapers in Manhattan are rising up to the skies. 曼哈顿有许多摩天大楼耸入云霄。
• On all sides, skyscrapers rose like jagged teeth. 四周耸起的摩天大楼参差不齐。

3 carvings   

n.雕刻( carving的名词复数 )；雕刻术；雕刻品；雕刻物

参考例句：

• The desk was ornamented with many carvings. 这桌子装饰有很多雕刻物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Shell carvings are a specialty of the town. 贝雕是该城的特产。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 lithographs   

n.平版印刷品( lithograph的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The etchings, drypoints, lithographs, and engravings together formed his graphic work. 蚀刻画、铜版画、平版画以及雕刻构成了他书画刻印的作品。 来自互联网
• These historic works of art will be released as limited editions of signed lithographs. 这些艺术历史作品是以有限的单一的平版版本发行。 来自互联网

5 portray   

v.描写，描述；画(人物、景象等)

参考例句：

• It is difficult to portray feelings in words.感情很难用言语来描写。
• Can you portray the best and worst aspects of this job?您能描述一下这份工作最好与最坏的方面吗？

6 vitality   

n.活力，生命力，效力

参考例句：

• He came back from his holiday bursting with vitality and good health.他度假归来之后，身强体壮，充满活力。
• He is an ambitious young man full of enthusiasm and vitality.他是个充满热情与活力的有远大抱负的青年。

7 caravan   

n.大蓬车；活动房屋

参考例句：

• The community adviser gave us a caravan to live in.社区顾问给了我们一间活动住房栖身。
• Geoff connected the caravan to the car.杰弗把旅行用的住屋拖车挂在汽车上。

8 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

9 impending   

a.imminent, about to come or happen

参考例句：

• Against a background of impending famine, heavy fighting took place. 即将发生饥荒之时，严重的战乱爆发了。
• The king convoke parliament to cope with the impending danger. 国王召开国会以应付迫近眉睫的危险。

10 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。