UNIT 8. B12

UNIT 8. art

Start

Discuss the quotes below. What did these people mean?

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”

“I'd been painting rats for three years before someone said, 'That's clever. It's an anagram of art,' and I had to pretend I'd known that all along.”

Pablo Picasso

“Art, freedom and creativity will change society faster than politics.”

Banksy

Victor Pinchuk

• Overall, how do you feel about modern art? Do you prefer it to more traditional art or vice versa?• Do you ever go to see art installations, exhibitions or look for graffiti in the streets? • Can you describe any other thought-provoking forms of art you have seen? • What’s your favourite type of art and art style? • Have you ever tried drawing, painting, sculpting, or any other artistic activities?

DISCUSSION

•• How often do you go to museums or artgalleries?• What artists or designers do you know? Who’syour favourite one and why? • Why do you think art is an important part of acountry’s culture? • Do you think that nowadays anyone canbecome an artist? • Is graffiti art in your opinion? Why/why not?

DISCUSSION

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

a) Did graffiti start in New York?b) What is Beyond the Streets? c) Is the show’s curator still a graffiti artist? d) How many artists are featured at the exhibition? e) When did photographer Martha Cooper publish her book? f) Where does the graffiti and street art festival take place?

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

a) Did graffiti start in New York? Nob) What is Beyond the Streets? The largest graffiti and street art exhibition ever produced c) Is the show’s curator still a graffiti artist? No d) How many artists are featured at the exhibition? Around 150 e) When did photographer Martha Cooper publish her book? 1984 f) Where does the graffiti and street art festival take place? Tahiti

COMPLETE WITH ONE WORD

a) Graffiti and street art was out of ...................b) I was ................... with graffiti as a kid and I still am. c) I want people to come here and understand the true ................... of graffiti. d) For weeks, a team of designers, carpenters and artists worked feverishly to put together the show in a ................... new building. e) Of course, it’s ................... and it is a crime, and that is what’s so interesting about it. f) It’s funny how we have ................... our opinion.

COMPLETE WITH ONE WORD

a) Graffiti and street art was out of control.b) I was obsessed with graffiti as a kid and I still am. c) I want people to come here and understand the true birth of graffiti. d) For weeks, a team of designers, carpenters and artists worked feverishly to put together the show in a brand new building. e) Of course, it’s vandalism and it is a crime, and that is what’s so interesting about it. f) It’s funny how we have softened our opinion.

DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE?

• Graffiti is just vandalism and it doesn’t have any artistic value.• Street artists should stick to painting on legal graffiti walls and not committing a crime. • When graffiti ends up in galleries, it stops being graffiti. • Thanks to graffiti and street art, cities are colourful, lively and look more interesting. • Graffiti is an effective way of spreading political messages.

PASSIVE VOICE

PREFERENCES