A walk through the galleries of Quebec’s Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) places individuals face-to-face with some 43,000 artworks ranging from Chinese ceramics to Inuit sculpture.
While the visiting is an incredible cultural experience, a group of local physicians will soon be able to prescribe (开处方) museum visits as treatment for some illnesses.
“We know that art contributes to neural (神经的) activity,” said MMFA director Nathalie Bondil. “What we see is that being in contact with art can really help your well-being.”
Hélène Boyer, vice president of a Montreal-based medical association, explains that museum visits have been shown to increase levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter (神经递质) known as the “happy chemical” which helps to lift the mood.
According to Boyer, the small increase in hormones associated with enjoying an afternoon of art is similar to that offered by exercise, making museum visits prescriptions ideal for the elderly experiencing pain that prevents them from regularly joining in physical activity.
The museum visits are designed to improve traditional methods. As Bondil notes,spending time in a peaceful environment can provide a welcome distraction. “What is most important is this experience can help them escape from their own pain,” she says. “When you enter the museum,you escape from the speed of our daily life.”
“I am convinced that in the 21st century, culture will be what physical activity was for health in the 20th century,” said Bondil.“Some people would do well to recall that just in the 19th century,sports were believed to do harm to the body. Just as doctors now prescribe exercise, they will be able to prescribe a visit to the MMFA.”
【小题1】What does Hélène Boyer think of museum visits?| A．They can cheer people up. |
| B．They can reduce physical activity. |
| C．They can slow down our life pace. |
| D．They can increase levels of art appreciation. |
| A．Stop them concentrating on pain. |
| B．Stop them focusing on traditional methods. |
| C．Encourage them not to be absent-minded. |
| D．Encourage them to slow their steps while walking. |
| A．Physical activity was popular in the 19th century. |
| B．Sports are considered to be harmful to the body. |
| C．Ideas of treating illnesses are changing over time. |
| D．Doctors prescribe museum visits regularly now. |
