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Good morning, today's lecture is the very first of a series of lectures on art history, so I'd like to spend some time discussing with you the following topic:
早上好，今天的课是艺术史系列讲座的第一节课，所以我想花点时间和大家讨论一下这个话题：
Why do we need to study art history? And what can we learn from it?
为什么我们需要学习艺术史？我们能从中学到什么？
First of all, I'd say, if you study art history, this might be a good way to learn more about a culture than it's possible to learn in general history classes.
首先，我想说，学习艺术史，跟学习一般历史课程相比，可以更深入地了解一种文化。
You know, most typical history courses concentrate on politics, economics and war, but art history focuses on much more than this.
大家知道，大多数常见的历史课程主题都是政治、经济和战争，但艺术史的重点远不止于此。
Because art reflects not only the political values of a people, but also their religious beliefs, emotions etc.
因为艺术不仅反映一个民族的政治价值观，还反映出他们的宗教信仰、情感等等。
In addition, information about the daily activities of our ancestors can be provided by art,
此外，艺术还能让我们了解祖先的日常活动，
like what people did for a living, what kind of dress they wore, what ceremonies they held etc.
比如，他们以什么为生，他们穿了什么样的衣服，他们举行什么仪式等。
In short, art can express the essential qualities of a time and a place,
简而言之，艺术可以表达某一个具体时间和地点的重要性质，
and the study of it clearly offers us a deeper understanding than can be found in most history books and enables us to learn more things about human society and civilization.
而艺术研究让我们对此有了更深刻的理解，这是在大多数历史书中得不到的，还让我们对人类社会和文明有了更多的了解。
The second point I'd like to make is about the type of information.
我想说的第二点是信息的类型。
In history books, information is objective, that is facts about political economic life of a country are given, but opinions are not expressed.
历史书中的信息是客观的：给出的都是一个国家政治经济生活的事实，却没有表达意见。
Art, on the other hand, is subjective. It reflects personal emotions and opinions.
而艺术是主观的。它反映了个人的情感和观点。
For example, Francisco Goya was a great Spanish painter and also perhaps the first truly political artist.
例如，弗朗西斯科·戈雅是一位伟大的西班牙画家，也是第一位真正的政治艺术家。
In his famous painting, The Third of May 1808, he showed soldiers shooting a group of simple people.
在他的著名画作《1808年5月3日夜枪杀起义者》中，他描绘了士兵们射杀一群无辜者的画面。
His description of soldiers and their victims has become a symbol of the enormous power or the misuse of this power that the government can have over its people.
他对士兵及其受害者的描绘已经成为政府对其人民的巨大权力或滥用权力的象征。
Over 100 years later, on another continent, the powerful paintings of Mexican artists depicted their deep anger and sadness about social problems.
100多年后，在另一个大陆上，墨西哥艺术家震撼人心的画作描绘了他们对社会问题的极度愤怒和悲伤。
In summary, through art you can find a personal and emotional view of history.
综上所述，通过艺术你可以发现一种个人的、感性的历史观。
