Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- viral / ˈvaɪ rəl / (adj.) – relating to something that spreads very quickly to many people and becomes very popular, especially through social media
Example:The dance challenge quickly became viral, with people all over the world participating.
- wreath / riθ / (n.) – a decoration made of leaves and flowers in the shape of a circle
Example:The front door was beautifully designed with a festive holiday wreath.
- lei / leɪ / (n.) – a necklace made of flowers that is given to visitors
Example:The hotel staff give leis to welcome the guests to the hotel.
- adhesive / ædˈhi sɪv / (n.) – a material that is used to make things stick together, usually permanently
Example:He can’t remove the poster since he used a very strong adhesive.
- treat / trit / (v.) – to apply a chemical or a substance to something to clean, protect, and preserve it
Example:They are treating the water with a special chemical to make it safe for drinking.
Article
Read the text below.
Googly eyes have been appearing on sculptures around the central Oregon city of Bend, delighting many residents and sparking a viral sensation covered widely by news outlets and featured on a popular late-night talk show.
On social media, the city shared photos of googly eyes on installations in the middle of roundabouts that make up its so-called “Roundabout Art Route.” One photo shows googly eyes placed on a sculpture of two deer, while another shows them attached to a sphere. It’s not yet known who has been putting them on the sculptures.
“While the googly eyes placed on the various art pieces around town might give you a chuckle, it costs money to remove them with care to not damage the art,” the city said in its posts.
The Facebook post received hundreds of comments, with many users saying they liked the googly eyes. “My daughter and I went past the flaming chicken today and shared the biggest laugh,” one user said, using a nickname for the “Phoenix Rising” sculpture. “We love the googly eyes. This town is getting to be so stuffy. Let’s have fun!”
Others said the city should focus on addressing more important issues, such as homelessness, instead of spending time and money on removing the googly eyes.
Over the years, the city’s sculptures have been adorned with other seasonal decorations, including Santa hats, wreaths, and leis. The city doesn’t remove those, and views the googly eyes differently because of the adhesive, Bend’s communications director, Rene Mitchell, told The Associated Press.
“We really encourage our community to engage with the art and have fun. We just need to make sure that we can protect it and that it doesn’t get damaged,” she said.
The city has so far spent $1,500 on removing googly eyes from seven of the eight sculptures impacted, Mitchell said, and has started treating some of the art pieces, which are made of different types of metal, such as bronze and steel. The “Phoenix Rising” sculpture might need to be repainted entirely, she said.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Googly eyes were placed on sculptures. Why do you think this was done to the sculptures? Do you think adding funny things to public art or structures is okay? Why or why not? Discuss.
- If this happened to a public artwork in your country, how would people react? Why? Discuss.
Discussion B
- The city has already spent $1,500 to remove googly eyes from the sculptures. Do you think this is a smart use of the city’s funds? Why or why not? How can you tell if a government leader is using the funds in a wise manner? Discuss.
- What do you think are the solutions that could help lessen the cost of removing the googly eyes? How do you think the community can be encouraged not to add items that might damage artwork when removed? Discuss.