Vocab List – Arts and Architecture
Nouns
street art
guerrilla art
Straßenkunst
heimliches und plötzliches Platzieren von
Kunstwerken im öffentlichen Raum
graffiti
vandalism
canvas
aversion
resemblance
left-hand/right-hand corner
abandoned building
background/foreground/middle
bottom/top
impression
appeal
abstract art
Verbs
to masquerade
to erect
to spotlight
to draw
to paint
to construct
to design
to garnish
to show
Adjectives
elaborate
hastily
unconventional
striking
gifted
dreary
illegal
fashionable
outdated
hideous
realistic
Phrases
to convey a story
to mess with sb./sth.
The viewer’s interest is drawn to
What the artist/photographer
express/criticise is...
to commit an offence
Idioms
to cut to the chase
to give him the slip
to know the ropes
over the top
Vandalismus
Leinwand
Abneigung
Ähnlichkeit
linke / rechte Ecke
verlassenes Gebäude
Hintergrund/Vordergrund/Mitte
unten/oben
Eindruck
Wirkuung
abstrakte Kunst
sich verkleiden; etw. vorgeben
errichten
aufmerksam machen
zeichnen
zeichnen
erbauen
designen
verzieren
zeigen
kunstvoll
hastig
unkonventionell; eigenwillig
auffallend; bemerkenswert
talentiert
trostlos
illegal
modern
altmodisch
hässlich
realistisch
eine Geschichte vermitteln
sich mit jemanden anlagen
Das Interesse des Betrachters wird von…
angezogen
wants
to
ein Vergehen begehen
Leave out all the unnecessary details and just
get to the point
to get away from; to escape
to understand the details
very excessive/extravagant
Pictures – Art and Architecture
Texts and Questions – Art and Architecture
Quotation
If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it
takes him. – John F. Kennedy
This world is but a canvas to our imagination. – Henry David Thoreau
Question:
What do these quotations state? Do you agree with them or not?
Blog
Traditional Art vs. Modern Art
Traditional Art
Traditional art is cultural artwork. Traditional artists
work organically within a community. These artists learn
informally from someone that is in their
community. Traditional art can also be named folk art.
Since Traditional art did not have to be "art" it could have
been a tattooed bamboo pipe or a calendar stick.
Traditional art is not only folk art but is like a painting. This
type of Traditional art focuses on realistic things but
sometimes mythical. This kind of Traditional art can also
focus on religious things.
Modern Art
Modern art is a style of a kind of artwork that extended
around the1860s to the 1970s. Modern artists made artwork
that were abstracted. Some modern art includes different
colorful shapes or figures. Modern art can be reduced to
three solids:cube,sphere,and cone. Modern art has different
styles like analytic cubism and synthetic cubism. This kind
of art is made up of different textures,surfaces,collage
elements, papier collé and a large variety of merged subject
matter.
The first chart shows only the pro and cons of Traditional
art.
Traditional Art
Pros
has been defined within the parameters of painting,drawing,sculpting, and architecture
we refer to it as realist or figurative
focuses on the figure and realism
was based on human figure of landscape
can also be like folk art
Cons
the art has sometimes been altered
some artists forged traditional materials
some of the artwork went in neither category of painting of sculpture
stayed with the tradition
lead oxides may be used in some of the art
The second chart shows the pros and cons about Modern art.
Modern Art
Pros
abstraction is used
the artists feel free to trust their inner visions
characterized by a large number of different movementsoccurring at the same time
resembles something in life
can be just about anything the artist wants
Cons
there are no rules in modern art
hard to explain the artwork
the traditions have been thrown aside
hard to find the meanings of the artwork
they are not realistic
The top 5 Traditional artworks are:
The Mona Lisa
Starry Night
The Last Supper
American Gothic
Girl with a pearl earring
The top 5 Modern artworks are:
The Scream
The Persistence Of Memory
Marilyn Monroe
Campbell's Soup Cans
Guerenica
Both of these types of art have different good things about them. Traditional art stays within the rules. But,
Modern art goes all the wayout and breaks the boundaries of art. I personally like Traditional art better.
Traditional art is my style. This is just my opinion. Which type of art do you like better?
Now it is your time to choose which is better. Traditional art and Modern art are both good but I prefer
Traditional art
Posted by Sylvia K at 4:17 PM1
Question:
Describe the differences between modern and traditional art. Which style attracts you more? Are there
any special works you like particularly?
1
K., Sylvia: Traditional Art vs. Modern Art. URL:
http://thecreativecorner123.blogspot.co.at/2013/03/traditional-art-vs-modern-art.html [Stand: 04.01.2015]
Text
Historic vs. Modern: Which Type of Building is Right for You?
Selling Points of Historic Buildings
The most obvious difference between historic and modern buildings is the
general sense of character and aesthetics. There’s an undeniable romance to
well-preserved historic architecture. Now, don’t go overboard in your
daydreaming—if you hear “historic” and you start to have visions of living at
Hogwarts, well, you’ll be sorely disappointed. But hardwood floors? Built-in
bookshelves? Entirely possible (though, of course, no guarantees). Some
older buildings may even have features like window seats, art-glass windows,
or other architectural details that make you sigh, “They just don’t make ‘em like
they used to.” As historic preservation aficionados like to say, it’s not good
because it’s old, it’s old because it’s good.
Let’s repeat a statement above, this time with emphasis on the key words:
There’s an undeniable romance to well-preserved historic architecture. . . . And there’s an undeniable
agony to historic buildings that haven’t been updated in a generation or two—or that have been updated
poorly, with all the woodwork stripped out, the fireplace Sheetrocked over, the stained-glass replaced by
splotchy plywood. No, thanks. Old buildings often have old-building problems—drafty windows, faulty
heating systems, funky room layouts that result in the oven in the living room and the bathroom
accessible only through the coat closet. One person’s romantic eclecticism is another person’s worst
nightmare.
Historic buildings also tend to be be smaller—not necessarily tiny, but almost certainly not skyscrapers.
As we pointed out in the post comparing small and large buildings, fewer units means fewer neighbors,
which has both its pros (closer-knit community) and its cons (maybe you don’t want a close-knit
community!). And where there are small, historic buildings, there are likely to be other small, historic
buildings—odds are good that it’s a long-established neighborhood with shops and restaurants and a
distinct sense of place.
Selling Points of Modern Buildings
Modern buildings will have their own quirks, obviously, but a whole lot less of
them—so if you want to do things the easy way, the newer the better.
Modern buildings are also more likely to have more (tangible) amenities. Think
central air. Roomy showers with reliable hot water. Thoroughly modern
kitchens with ample counter space and shiny new appliances. (Remodeled
older apartments may have these, too.) These amenities don’t come free,
though, so be prepared to pay higher rent.
Also keep in mind that many new highrise buildings are located in up-andcoming new neighborhoods, so you may have to deal with limited services
until the neighborhood gets established. You may discover that grocery stores
or dry cleaners are few, and your takeout options are scarce.
No matter what vintage your new apartment is, be sure to ask all the right questions. When you visit the
unit prior to signing the lease, turn on the water and see how long it takes to warm up. Turn on the lights
in each room. Ask what type of heating is used, how effective it is, and who pays the bills. If the building is
historic, inquire about lead paint, asbestos, and other hazardous materials—they should have been
abated, but it’s always best to ask. Look at the ceiling and see if there are any odd discolorations that
could be water damage—and could, in turn, indicate bigger problems like leaky pipes or ice dams.2
Question:
In which building would you like to live most? Historic or modern?
2
Mack, Douglas: Historic vs. Modern. URL: http://www.myfirstapartment.com/2013/04/historic-vs-modernwhich-type-of-building-is-right-for-you/ [Stand: 04.01.2015]
Graffiti: is it art or vandalism?
Toronto sets up official panel and the wrangling starts over what to preserve
By Larry Humber. Web only
Published online: 07 November 2012
Toronto's Graffiti Alley
Toronto is taking a hard look at street art, going so far as to create an official five-member Graffiti Panel,
made up of city staffers with backgrounds in “the arts, urban design, architecture and other relevant
disciplines”, which met for the first time on 2 November. The first session was contentious but civil, with
panel members facing off against property owners who were appealing notices of violation for “markings”
on their buildings. “Even if it’s Picasso, you’re not allowed to paint on other people’s walls,” says Elyse
Parker, a city official who is leading Toronto’s crackdown on graffiti.
At the same time, the city has begun to open its eyes to street art, realising that there is something of
merit in the best of it. Toronto’s council has already given its blessing to what is known as Graffiti Alley, a
series of colourful backstreets only a few blocks from City Hall. David Liss, the director of Toronto’s
Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, who also has some background in street art, applauds the
move. “Certainly the Queen West Alley has some great work, so I’m in favour of preservation,” he says.
“Maybe they could start marketing it as a tourist attraction.”
The Graffiti Panel considered nine controversial sites at its first meeting. It was careful to avoid the word
“art”, almost as if were an obscenity. “Questioning what is art is what we wanted to get away from,” says
Parker.
However, the term would regularly creep into the discussions. At one point, the head of the panel Glen
Sharp referred to a work under scrutiny as “art”, then corrected himself, saying, “Excuse me, I mean
graffiti.” He also made reference to “the artist” more than once. A panel member subsequently referred to
“the art pieces”.
Reaching a consensus will be difficult. One building owner appeared with his lawyer to defend his graffiti
covered walls, more than happy to let them stay. The panel wasn’t so sure, first opting to defer
judgement, then reopening the matter before deferring it yet again. The owner was asked to reappear at
the next session on 30 November. “You can’t win,” he said.
The panel had only photographs of the works to look at, and judging the subject matter could be difficult.
“I’m concerned about what the character is holding in his hand,” said one member about a lion figure
waving an unidentifiable object. Additional photographs were requested for the next session, to be
provided 18 days before the panel sits again. But who is to say graffiti artists won’t revisit the site in the
intervening time?
“If anyone thinks that an official programme will reduce graffiti, they’re sadly mistaken,” says Liss. “Many
graffiti artists will intentionally not participate and continue working unsanctioned. There is a strain of
thought among certain graffiti artists and taggers to ‘destroy’ and vandalise, while others see their
markings as a way to claim space from ever-increasing corporate control.”3
Question:
Graffiti: Is it art or vandalism? What do you think?
3
Humber, Larry: Grafitti: is it art or vandalism?. URL: http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/Graffiti-isit-art-or-vandalism/28040 [Stand: 04.01.2015]