节目资讯
刊物:空中英語教室
日期:2012-04-16
难易度:High
关键字:apprentice, thirst for knowledge, -dimensional, lifelike, fantastical
Welcome back.
"Renaissance man" is a term we use to describe someone with many intellectual
interests,
and who was also accomplished in the areas of art and science - a perfect
description of Leonardo da Vinci.
In fact, I think this term was created because of him.
Let's continue our reading now down on line 14.
(Music).
Leonardo da Vinci.
Though he lacked a formal, academic education, da Vinci had a strong desire to
better understand the world around him.
That thirst for knowledge would impact both his work and the world in many ways.
Before da Vinci, for instance, artists painted pictures that looked a lot like
flat cartoons.
By studying light and shadow, da Vinci realized that things were not just
two-dimensional outlines but three-dimensional.
Consequently, he learned to give his paintings the soft, lifelike quality seen
in his most famous painting, the Mona Lisa.
Well, Leonardo da Vinci is a fascinating man with his fantastical inventions and
his beautiful artwork.
But what's more amazing about him is he lacked a formal, academic education.
That's right.
And when we think of a formal education, we think of attending classes, going to
university, that sort of thing.
Well, we know that Leonardo da Vinci was a very smart man.
But he didn't take all of this formal education as we would like to do today.
Now Brandon, most often when we see this, we see just formal education.
But what's interesting is we say "formal, academic education." That means he
probably studied art and some other things as well,
but more importantly, he was very academic; he just didn't attend classes like
you said.
So this is a very specific way of talking about him and his education.
But we do know that da Vinci he had a strong desire to better understand what
was going on in the world around him.
He had this very strong desire.
If you have a strong desire to do something, that pushes you to do it.
And he wanted to learn more, so he did.
That's right.
That thirst for knowledge would impact both his work and the work of people that
come for many, many generations, Brandon.
It didn't stop with just him.
But that "thirst for knowledge," that's an interesting phrase right there.
I love this phrase.
And we kind of already had a description here.
But if you have a "thirst for knowledge," you have this strong desire to know
more.
And maybe you have a thirst for knowledge, when it comes to English or another
subject, you want to know all that you can about that.
That's right.
It not only impacted his work, but as I said, it impacted the world in many
ways, not just... not just Italy, not just him, but the entire world.
Well, that is interesting, interesting enough for us to visit the Information
Station.
Leonardo da Vinci is the most famous person to ever come out of the town of
Vinci.
That's right, Bill.
"Da Vinci" literally means from the town of Vinci.
But to find out if any other famous people lived in Vinci, we need to go to...
Information Station.
The best way to learn about people from Vinci would be to make a trip to Vinci.
Yes. But we can't do that, so we'll take a call from the past.
Go ahead, Bryan.
Answer it.
Oh.
Hello. Information Station.
This is Bryan. Who's this?
This is Mona.
Oh! This is Bryan, Mona.
Are you calling from Vinci?
Of course! Vinci is where I live.
Where are you?
Hi, Mona. Bryan and I are calling from the future.
Mona, would you happen to know a guy named Leonardo da Vinci?
Leonardo?
No.
But I do know a guy named Leo.
Ah, Leo.
Does your friend Leo happen to be an artist?
He thinks he's an artist.
I think he's more like some kind of engineer.
You should see the water cannon he built last month.
Wow! You saw that?
That's one of Leonardo's... I mean Leo's most famous inventions.
Eh, it's nothing special, just some big piece of equipment that shoots water in
the air.
Oh, speaking of water, one time Leo took me swimming and told me to put this on.
Hey, Bryan, that's da Vinci's famous diving helmet.
Wow! Mona, did the helmet happen to um... work?
Not really.
I could see clearly, but I couldn't breathe.
Mona, one last question.
Did Leo ever paint a picture of you?
Hey, Leo told me he'd never show that picture to anyone.
How do you find out about that?
You're famous, Mona.
The whole world admires Leo's painting of you.
Of course, they do.
I am rather beautiful, aren't I?
Why, yes! You are.
Thanks for answering our questions, Mona of Vinci.
You're welcome, men of the future.
Great!
And we'll see all of you next time here at...
Information Station.
Well, we've learned that da Vinci changed the world.
But before da Vinci, for instance, artists painted pictures that looked a lot
like flat cartoons, Kaylah.
That's right.
We're talking about ways he has impacted, the ways he changed the world.
One of them we're starting with is the way people used to draw and paint.
We said they looked like flat cartoons.
Brandon, aren't all cartoons flat because they're just drawn?
Well, actually it makes me think of Mickey Mouse.
If you think about the old Mickey Mouse drawings, it looks very flat.
It doesn't have any... we think of 3D, three-dimensional drawings.
They are very different.
But if you don't have the three-dimensional drawings, it looks very flat.
That's right. It means that it doesn't look like there's any depth in the
picture.
It's just one level.
Well, by studying light and shadow, da Vinci realized that things were not just
two-dimensional lines but three-dimensional.
So he was looking at the way the sunlight and lights in a room make everything
have this depth to them.
We're not just flat objects.
Everything is... has a third dimension around it.
That's right, and "-dimensional" meaning they're talking about having
measurements and a stated direction, or stated directions.
And then we have "three-dimensional" referring to length and depth and height;
all of that is referring to the dimension.
That's right. And if we look at the painting of The Last Supper on page 33 in
our magazine,
we can see what it means to have the... that third dimension as the room in this
painting looks like it goes back.
That is the direction of the dimension.
Consequently - that means "as a result" - da Vinci learned to give his paintings
the soft, lifelike quality seen in his most famous painting, the Mona Lisa.
And you have that soft, lifelike quality of something.
"A painting is soft," what does that mean, Kaylah?
Well, that means it's very gentle.
It looks more natural than just straight lines with no dimension.
It's soft; it looks more human.
And then we have the word here "lifelike." It looks real.
When you look at it, it kind of looks like that is a real person, and so it has
that lifelike quality.
That's right.
When something is lifelike, it seems like it could be alive; it's very real or
is very similar to what we would consider real.
Even though it's a painting, you almost feel like you're looking right at a
lady.
Well, that's all the time we have for today here, Brandon, because it's time for
us to watch today's skit.
Ah, Leonardo, you are a genius.
I believe you are one of the greatest minds to ever live.
Grazie, kind sir. Yes, it is true.
So where exactly did you get your formal, academic education?
Actually, I lacked formal education.
But I have a strong desire to better understand the world around me.
No doubt your thirst for knowledge impacts your work.
Yes. And hopefully the world too.
As I learn, I write things down.
Alas! My notebooks contain all the details of my research.
Putting your works in notebooks is a grand idea.
Yes. These books also detail my many inventions.
Oh, yes.
Your inventions are fantastical.
You are so clever, Leonardo.
Thank you. Grazie, signore.
So have you seen my painting?
Oh... Leonardo, this painting is marvelous.
You excel at the arts too.
Oh, it's right.
I was... what is the word?... apprenticed by Andrea del Verrocchio.
Yes. He is one of the famous artists or our day.
Yes. But since then, I have developed my own style.
Oh. I have never seen anything like it.
Why doesn't it look like a flat cartoon?
I studied light and shadow and realized that things are not just
two-dimensional.
Indeed.
This painting has a soft, lifelike quality.
It's magnificent.
Perhaps that's why the subject is smiling.
Ah, yes. Her smile is uh... quite special, isn't it?
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And time really flies.
Make sure you come back tomorrow. I'll see you then.
Bye-bye.
Thank you, Michelle.
We appreciate those definitions.
Friends, let me remind you of the translations in the back of your Studio
Classroom magazine.
They're not a word-for-word translation of the text.
What they are is a reference for you in case you hit a roadblock and need help
understanding a certain concept.
You might find them useful especially for high-level lessons like this one.
OK.
Join us tomorrow for more about who changed the way we think - Leonardoda Vinci.
Have a great day.