Straightforward B2 Upper Intermediate Vocabulary, Lesson 5B

Discussing the idea of art and it’s value, along with evaluating something.

First date taught: 18 April 2023 (PiP2), 25 May 2023 (PiP1)

5B – Priceless!

Theme: Choosing art to hang in a hospital and a company; discussing and learning about evaluating as a functional part of the English language.

caricature (n) – (the art of making) a drawing or written or spoken description of someone that usually makes them look silly by making part of their appearance or character more noticeable than it really is

embellish (v) – to add or change some details of a story (or piece), usually to make it more interesting or exciting

accentuate (v) – to emphasize a particular feature of something or to make something more noticeable

distinctive features (adj) [C1] – having a quality or characteristic that makes something different and easily noticed

perspective (n) [C1] – a particular way of considering something, based on your viewpoint

arbritary (adj) [C2] – based on chance rather than being planned or based on reason

objectivity (n) – the fact of being based on facts and not influenced by personal beliefs or feelings

modern art – includes artistic work produced during the period extending roughly from the 1860s to the 1970s

contemporary art – art that is made today by living artists

What’s the Difference Between Modern Art and Contemporary Art?

money laundering (n) – the crime of moving money that has been obtained illegally through banks and other businesses to make it seem as if the money has been obtained legally

tax evasion (n) – ways of illegally paying less tax than you should

(informal) skeevy (adj) – unpleasant or unacceptable, especially because of being dirty

(formal) in poor taste – to be unacceptable in a way that will upset or anger people

*Monolith and Shadow* by John Aiken at *University College Hospital* on Euston Road

worthwhile investment

you get your money’s worth (idiom) – to get enough value or pleasure out of something, considering the amount of money, time, etc. that you are spending on it

what makes art – what constitutes art?

constitutes (v) [C1] – to be considered to be something

Andy Warhol, *Campbell’s Soup Cans*, 1962

How do you define art?

darkroom (n) – a room that can be made completely dark, where you can take film out of a camera and develop photographs

finesse (n) – great skill in dealing with people or situations, especially in a light and careful way

provactive (adj) – intended to make people angry or upset; intended to make people argue about something

macabre (adj) – unpleasant and strange because connected with death and frightening things

crucifix (n) – a model of a cross with a figure of Jesus Christ on it, as a symbol of the Christian religion

blasphemous (adj) – (of behaviour or language) showing a lack of respect for God or religion

time capsule (n) – a container that is filled with objects that people think are typical of the time they are living in. It is buried so that it can be discovered by people in the future.

encapsulate (v) – to represent all their most important aspects in a very small space or in a single object or event

evocative (adj) – making you think of or remember a strong image or feeling, in a pleasant way

art installation (n) – a piece of modern sculpture that is made using sound, light, etc. as well as objects

art exhibition (n) – the act of showing something, for example works of art, to the public

underground art movement

Boston, MA – *The Embrace* by Hank Willis Thomas. See more about the controversy here.

botched / to botch something up (v) – to do something badly

hack job (n) – a task that was completed as quickly as possible at the expense of quality and attention to detail

focal point (n) – a thing or person that is the centre of interest or activity; A focal point is the feature of a work of art that is the most interesting or important or the most strongly emphasized.

composition (n) [C2] – the way that people or things are arranged in a painting or photograph

draws your eyes, draws your attention (ph.v.) [B2] – to attract someone’s attention

sparked controversy (n) [C1] – a lot of disagreement or argument about something, usually because it affects or is important to many people; when controversy is sparked, it is a reference to a spark of fire that begins a large fire

play the devil’s advocate (n) – a person who expresses an opinion that they do not really hold in order to encourage a discussion about a subject

relatable (adj) – that someone can understand or feel sympathy for

history in the making (phrase) – an event happening now that will be remembered in the future because it is very important

Chicgo Bean, or *Cloud Gate* by Anish Kapoor

Additional Listening:

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Attribution: Image by Freepik

5B – Priceless!

Additional Listening:

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