The term “graffiti” is an Italian word meaning scratching or scribbling (乱涂). It entered the English language in the 1850s, specifically to describe the casual wall writing that experts found in Pompeii and the Roman tombs. Originally a term used only in ancient scribbling, the word has undergone considerable expansion of meaning in the past 75 years so that it now refers to any written message on a wall. Graffiti are characterized by their casualness；if they were more formal, they would be known as inscriptions (铭文).
The first piece of graffiti was found on one of the walls of the city Pompeii, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. It was one of 1,600 pieces of graffiti uncovered in Pompeii during a dig in the 19th century. Not surprisingly, there is much evidence of graffiti writing on the pyramid and temples of ancient Egypt. It is likely that ever since people have had walls and materials to scratch or paint with, they have been engaged in this simplest form of communication.
The writing of graffiti gives people a unique opportunity to achieve some kind of public audience. Thus short poems, declarations of love, pieces of political and revolutionary polemic (论战), and criticisms of institutions and people form a significant part of graffiti.
Apart from its usefulness in terms of self-expression, graffiti is also a valuable source for historians. There is always the possibility that historical events may be recorded by the presence of graffiti. Perhaps the most interesting example of this is the graffiti relating to the gladiatorial (角斗士) contests held in Pompeii. Graffiti can also give us a unique view into the daily life and customs of a people, for its casual expression encourages the recording of details that more formal writing would tend to ignore.
In the late 1970s, graffiti became popular. A thought written on a toilet wall in Wolverhampton can now be read in Chicago or Adelaide. In its own way, this is probably the most fascinating example of McLuhan’s concept of “the global village”. We now have a worldwide toilet wall.
【小题1】According to the first paragraph, graffiti .| A．is another name for “inscription” |
| B．got its name from the English language |
| C．was born in the 1850s |
| D．mainly refers to casual writing or pictures on walls |
| A．Graffiti has a long history. |
| B．Graffiti is an attractive form of art. |
| C．Graffiti made the ancient city Pompeii famous. |
| D．Graffiti was ancient Egyptian’s main way of communication. |
| A．Graffiti’s great value. |
| B．Graffiti’s features. |
| C．Graffiti’s way of expression. |
| D．Graffiti’s connection with people’s daily life. |
| A．the presence of graffiti makes the world closely connected |
| B．the concept of “the global village” is famous worldwide |
| C．graffiti has become very popular all over the world |
| D．people like using toilet walls to share their graffiti |
