ArtandHumor(藝術與幽默)
Art and Humor
Millions of people struggle out Of bed each morning, fumble into some clothes, and make their way to a cup of coffee and the morning newspaper. They need something cheerful to remind them that the rest of the day will be less difficult than getting up. This need may be the reason that many of them turn their half-opened eyes to the comics section of the newspaper as they sip their first cups of coffee of the day.
Cartoons reflect the times and the troubles and worries of people. They give people an opportunity to laugh at themselves and at familiar situations. For example, a cartoon might say that the government of a country is responsible for the bad economy and also show the government leaders as a group of ridiculous people. Being able to use the leaders as scapegoats and to laugh at the leaders somehow makes people feel better about their situation.
Cartoons also make people laugh at their own personal worries. Young people who are not always sure of how to act can smile at their awkwardness. Old people whose grown children pay little attention to them can chuckle at their neglect and loneliness. Students who have studied too little before an examination can laugh at their anxiety. Everyone's problems are made bigger-than-life in the comics. Perhaps the problems seem funny because there is humor in something that is real being made unreal.
A cartoon combines art and humor. When it is skillfully done, a simple line drawing and a few words can make people laugh. Their troubles seem less important, and they enjoy life more fully.
藝術與幽默
每天清晨，成千上萬的人掙扎著起床，摸索著穿上衣服，然后喝咖啡，看早報。他們需要一些令人高興的事情來提醒自己一天中剩余的時間將不會像起床那樣難受。這就是為什么他們會在喝一天中的第一杯咖啡時將惺忪的睡眼投向報紙上的連環(huán)漫畫欄的原因。
漫畫反映一個時代，也反映人們的問題和煩惱。它給了人們一個自我解嘲的機會，讓人們對他們熟悉的事情發(fā)笑。例如，某幅漫畫會把經(jīng)濟不景氣歸咎于一個國家的政府，但也會把政府領導人畫成一群可笑的人。把領導人當成替罪羊來加以嘲諷，從某種程度上這會讓人們對自己的處境感覺好一點。
漫畫也使人們對個人煩惱付之一笑。年輕人不知所措時可以對困境微微一笑。被成年子女冷落的老人可以對自己被人遺忘、孤獨的境地輕輕苦笑。而“平時不燒香，臨時抱佛腳”的學生也可以對考試前的焦慮笑一笑。連環(huán)漫畫把人們的問題都夸張地表現(xiàn)出來。可能那些問題看上去很可笑，是因為當真實的事物被夸大到不真實的程度時，本身就產生了幽默。
漫畫結合了藝術和幽默。巧妙得畫幾筆簡單的線條，寫幾句簡潔的話就能讓人開懷大笑，人們的煩心事看上去不那么重要了，而人們就會更充分地享受生活。