Topic vocabulary: The arts |
| abstract (adj) |
abstract art expresses the artist's ideas or feelings rather than showing the exact appearance of people or things |
I'm not very keen on abstract paintings. |
| abstract (n) |
an abstract painting or design |
You're not supposed to understand what it is; it's an abstract! |
| auction (n) |
a public occasion when things are sold to the people who offer the most money for them |
They bought the paintings at auction in 1989. |
| audition (n) |
a short performance in which you sing, dance or act so that someone can decide if you are good enough to perform in a particular play, concert, etc |
I've got an audition for the school play tomorrow. |
| bestseller (n) |
a book that many people buy |
His first novel was a bestseller. |
| collector's item (n phr) |
a rare or valuable object that collectors want to own |
Do you think this watch is a collector's item? |
| curator (n) |
someone whose job is to look after the objects in a museum |
Ask the curator - he'll be able to tell you more about it. |
| fine art (n phr) |
objects such as paintings that are created to be looked at because they are beautiful or interesting (note: the fine arts = activities in which people create beautiful or interesting objects, for example painting and sculpture) |
I'm thinking of studying fine art at university. |
| installation (n) |
a piece of art that consists of several different objects or pictures arranged to produce a particular effect |
There's an interesting installation at the Tate Gallery at the moment. |
| lines (n pl) |
the words that an actor says in a performance |
He forgot his lines. |
| lyrics (n pl) |
the words of a song |
I've written the music but haven't written any lyrics yet. |
| masterpiece (n) |
an excellent painting, book, piece of music, etc, or the best work of art that a particular artist, writer, musician, etc has ever produced |
Vertigo is the film widely regarded as Hitchcock's masterpiece. |
| paperback (n) |
a book with a cover made of thick paper |
His collection of poetry is now out in paperback. |
| period (adj) |
typical of a particular historical time |
Will you be wearing period costumes in the play? |
| period (n) |
a particular time in history |
Their collection is confined solely to the Roman period. |
| priceless (adj) |
very valuable and impossible to replace |
These are priceless jewels. |
| recital (n) |
a performance of music or poetry |
Are you coming to the piano recital tonight? |
| retrospective (adj) |
relating to or considering things that happened in the past |
The show takes a retrospective look at the 1970s. |
| retrospective (n) |
an exhibition that includes examples of a particular artist's work from their whole career |
I really want to go to the Norman Rockwell retrospective. |
| score (n) |
the music written for a film, play, etc |
Who wrote the musical score for Star Wars? |
| sketch (n) |
a drawing made quickly that does not have many details |
Draw a rough sketch of the dog. |
| sketch (n) |
a short funny scene performed within a longer show |
She toured Europe with a programme of songs and sketches. |
| sketch (v) |
to draw a picture quickly and with few details |
I'll just sketch a rough outline of the house. |
| work of art (n phr) |
something such as a painting or sculpture that is of very high quality |
There are many priceless works of art in the Louvre. |
| work of art (n phr) |
something that is made or done in a skillful or attractive way |
Her house is a real work of art. |
| worthless (adj) |
not having any value or good qualities, or not useful |
The country's currency is nearly worthless. |
