American English · C1 · Unit 14
Art and design
Art and design
By the end you can
- Describe and interpret a work of art
- Discuss what makes something art
- Understand the text at an exhibition
Words and phrases
| American English | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| what strikes me is | what I notice most is | What strikes me is the use of empty space. |
| it evokes | it brings to mind (a feeling) | It evokes a sense of loneliness. |
| the artist is trying to | what the artist wants to do is | I think the artist is trying to provoke us. |
| thought-provoking | makes you think | I found it really thought-provoking. |
| my kid could do that | a common complaint about modern art | Honestly, my kid could do that. |
| leaves me cold | doesn't move me at all | Most abstract art leaves me cold. |
| the composition | how the parts of a picture are arranged | The composition draws your eye to the center. |
| in the eye of the beholder | depends on who is looking | Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. |
| an installation | a large work of art that fills a space | There's an installation that fills the entire room. |
| pretentious | trying to seem more important or clever than it is | The wall text is so pretentious. |
| a statement | a strong message | The piece is a statement about power. |
| form follows function | a design rule: an object's shape should come from its use | In good design, form follows function. |
Then talk it through
Walking through a museum with a friend who hates modern art. In the app you have this conversation out loud or typed, with the unit's goals to tick off and corrections at the end.