1、 Learn to get information from listening material; Learn to talk about artwork Since it began in the late 20th century, the Contemporary Art Movement has raised questions and doubts, with people asking, “Is it really art?” This was the case in 1999 with British artist Tracey Emins work, My bed- whic
2、h was, quite literally, her unmade bed. Then, in 2015, cleaners in an Italian gallery threw away an art piece after mistaking the pile of empty bottles, cigarette ends and pieces of coloured paper for rubbish! While some say contemporary art lacks skill, meaning and artistic value, others argue that
3、 its worth lies in its ability to stimulate new discussions and understanding of everyday objects. Listen to the conversation and choose the main idea. 1 Everyone can create art, whatever their background. 2 We can use art to learn about the world. 3 Art means different things to different people. 4
4、 Everyone should try to include art in their lives. Listen again and complete the table. It was boring and there was 1_ _. It had 2_ for me. It was really clever, and the viewer can 3_ _. Jills opinionsAndrews opinions nothing to look at decide what it means no meaning It was rather lazy because the
5、 artist didnt 4_ _. Everyday objects can also be art. I could 5_ _ when looking at the details. Jills opinions Andrews opinions actually create anything tell how the artists lives It was just 6_ anyone can make, and my cat would love to play in them. That was my favorite piece and it really 7_ _. Ji
6、lls opinionsAndrews opinions explore the nature of the art pile of boxes Now talk about how Jill and Andrew express their opinions towards contemporary artworks. Listen again if necessary. Work in pairs. Act out the conversation to share your opinions about the artwork. Student A l What do you think
7、 of ? l I think it is l I especially like l I have to disagree because l Theres a great deal of meaning in the work. For example, l I think the artist is saying You like this painting very much. Share what you think of it, based on the following opinions: It has a wonderful sense of movement and ene
8、rgy. It is vivid and original. It expresses the artists emotions and imagination. Some art critics have described the painting as a form of dance or music. Student A Work in pairs. Act out the conversation to share your opinions about the artwork. Student B l What do you think of ? l I think it is l
9、 I have to disagree because l Theres no meaning in the work. For example, l I cant see in the work, but I can see l To be honest, I prefer You think this painting is boring and meaningless. Share what you think of it, based on the following opinions: Its just paint poured in random lines and shapes.
10、 There is no recognisable form within the painting, so it is difficult to understand. It didnt require much artistic skill to create. It doesnt hold as much meaning as more traditional paintings of recognisable subjects. Student B Work in pairs. Think of another artwork and have a similar conversati
11、on. I like the SUNFLOWERS by Vincent Van Gogh, an abstract painting. Because abstract art defies rules and conventions. Its up to you as the artist to break rules, be expressive, and decide what is art. Student A Theres a great deal of meaning in the work. For example: the colors are vibrant and exp
12、ress emotions typically associated with the life of sunflowers: bright yellows of the full bloom to arid Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers browns of wilting and death; all of the stages woven through these polar opposites are presented. Perhaps this very technique is what draws one into the painting; the
13、 fulfillment of seeing all angles of the spectrum of life and in turn reaching a deeper understanding of how all living things are tied together. Student B I dont like the SUNFLOWERS by Vincent Van Gogh, an abstract painting. because it can actually be more challenging to understand than traditional
14、 or classical paintings. I think its just paint poured in random lines and shapes. There is no recognizable form within the painting and doesnt hold as much meaning as more traditional paintings of recognizable subjects. To be honest, I prefer the Chinese traditional paintings. Pauses give the liste
15、ner extra time to understand what is being said. Pausing also allows the speaker to emphasise certain words within a sentence. Try to be aware of where and when to pause during a conversation. How do you think of contemporary art? Are there any standards about it? Write down your understanding. Surf the Internet for the information if necessary.
