Writing

1. To be labelled a “Work of Art”, a painting, sculpture or other art form should display certain qualities that are unique. However, over the past century there has been a decline in the quality of prize-winning artwork and it is now possible for quite ordinary pieces of art to be labeled “masterpieces” whilst true works of art pass unnoticed. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer.

2. Creative artists should be given the freedom to express their own ideas (in words, pictures, music or film) in whichever way they wish. There should be no government restrictions on what they do. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

3. Does Art give our lives meaning and purpose or is it merely a distraction from real life? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

SECTION IV

Discussion

1. Dwell on the following topics.

• Describe a museum or art gallery that you have visited. Which one would you recommend to other people?

• The need for museums and art galleries in our society.

• Making museums more interesting.

• Museum art – vs – popular art.

• Graffiti – art or vandalism?

• The role of public artworks, e.g. statues and buildings.

2. Which of these would you associate with the visual arts (V) and which would you associate with the performing arts (P)? Which are places and which are art forms?

0. ceramics V- art form

1. the cinema

2. a concert

3. dance

4. a gallery

5. graphic design

6. a museum

7. music

8. a play

9. (a) painting

10. photography

11. (a)sculpture

12. the theatre

What other art forms do you know of?

Discuss. Which of the art forms do you prefer and why? Talk about the last time you went to one of the places.

SECTION IV

Vocabulary Study

FAMOUS

0. well known and talked about by many people;

1. famous because of a special skill, achievement, or quality;

2. famous for a long time and talked about by many people;

3. receiving a lot of attention in the newspapers, on television etc. because you are famous;

4. famous because of something bad;

5. to become famous;

6. the fact of being famous;

7. someone who is famous, especially in the world of entertainment or sport;

8. not famous

1.well known and talked about by many people;

famous noted

well-known to be at the height of your fame

world-famous high profile

famous ( the rich and famous)

e.g.

She collected signed photographs of famous people.

One day I’ll be famous.

Would you like to try some of the famous ToKay dessert wine?

well-known/well known fairly especially in a particular place or among a particular

e.g.

She works in local radio, and is quite well known in the Houston area.

I'd never heard of her, but apparently very well known in medical circles.

He writes the advertisements for a well-known brand of cigarettes.

world-famous/world famous famous all over the world [adj]

e.g.

Come to Brazil for Rio's world-famous carnival.

I remember the performance that made him world famous.

noted /noted musician/scientist/surgeon, etc./ (= well known and respected because of a special ability, quality, achievement) [adj. only before noun]

e.g.

The noted surgeon Dr Christian Barnard will perform the operation.

The author quotes Stephen Jay Gould, the noted Harvard scientist, to support his theories.

be at the height of your fame to be at the point in your life, especially your working life, when you are most famous [v phrase]

e.g.

John Travolta was at the height of his fame in the late seventies.

As a champion boxer at the height of his fame, das, Casius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali and became a Black Muslim.

In the 1920s the Cotton Club in Harlem was at the height of its fame.

high profile if a person or organization has a high profile they attract a lot of attention, for exam­ple because they are important or are responsible for con­trolling a lot of money [n singular]

e.g.

He was a millionaire newspaper owner with a very high pro­file.

We intend to give the Enterprise Allowance Scheme a much higher profile.

high-profile [adj]

Martin Lord has a high-profile job at Pan American Airlines.

2. famous because of a special skill, achievement, or quality

be famous for renowned

be well known for eminent

be noted for

be famous for [v phrase]

e.g.

Mother Theresa is famous for her work with the poor. Their farm is in the Bordeaux district, famous for its wines.

be well known for to be fairly famous for a special skill, achievement, or good quality [v. phrase]

e.g.

My grandmother, who was well known in the village for her kindness, helped them.

Stephen hawking is well known for his work on the theory of black holes.

He is best known for his plays, although he regarded his novels as his most serious work.

be noted for to be well known for a particular quality, skill or activity, especially something that is unusual [v phrase]

e.g.

The waiters are always rude. They are noted for it!

We grew up in a city noted for its excellent music, food, and fashion.

Sweden is a country noted for its high expenditure on welfare.

renowned /ri'naund/ famous and admired by a lot of people, because of a special skill, achievement, or quality [adj]

e.g.

Dizzy Gillespie, the renowned trumpeter, died yesterday.

renowned for Barbados is renowned for the marvellous cricket players it produces.

| renowned as Father Tom was becoming renowned as a preacher - people travelled from far and wide to attend his church.

eminent eminent doctor /professor/ scientist (=famous and respected because they are very good at the work that they do) [adj. usually before noun]

e.g.

She's an eminent psychiatrist, and works at the Harvard Medical School.

Companies can afford to hire the most eminent lawyers to represent them.

3.famous for a long time and talked about by many people

celebrated

legendary

celebrated very well known, admired and talked about by many people, especially because of good qualities [adj. only before noun]

e.g.

Van Gogh, perhaps Holland's most celebrated artist, died in poverty.

Zelda Fitzgerald was a celebrated society hostess and her parties are remembered to this day.

America was inspired by the celebrated speech which John F. Kennedy made at his inauguration.

legendary very famous and having some special or unusual quality, that people like to talk about, usually because it is funny or interesting [adj. usually before noun]

e.g.

The party was attended by Samuel Goldwyn, Hollywood's legendary film producer.

The old actor can still use his legendary charm.

During one of his legendary drinking sessions in New York, Molloy was arrested for fighting.

4. receiving a lot of attention in the newspapers, on television etc because you are famous

be in the public eye much talked about

be in the spotlight/limelight sb's name is on everyone's lips

be in the public eye to receive a lot of attention, so that whatever you do may be reported in newspapers, on television etc. [v. phrase]

e.g.

The President's family is constantly in the public eye.

Athletes who are in the public eye have a responsibility to behave in a sensible way.

A failed actor, he managed to remain in the public eye by hosting a regular

programme on TV.

be in the spotlight/limelight/ to receive a lot of attention in the newspapers, on television etc, but usually only for a short period of time [v. phrase]

e.g.

In her dreams she was back in the spotlight, surrounded by her faithful fans.

Since 'Home Alone' was released, its young star has been permanently in the limelight.

much talked about receiving a lot of attention from newspapers, television etc, and

talked about by a lot of people, because of something interesting or surprising [adj.

phrase]

e.g. Following the publication of his new book he became much talked about, a controversial figure.

She is Australia's most talked about TV actress.

sb's name is on everyone's lips if someone's name is on everyone's lips they are very well known and talked about for a short time, usually because of a news story

e.g.

As a result of the scandal, the tall Texan millionaire’s name was on everyone’s lips.

5. famous because of something bad notorious infamous

notorious

infamous

notorious famous or widely known because of something bad, for example for being criminal, violent, or immoral [adj]

e.g. One of Britain's most notorious criminals has escaped from prison.

His bad manners are notorious.

notorious for

English soccer fans are notorious for their drunkenness.

If you go to the club, be careful. It's notorious for drugs and violence.

infamous famous for being bad, especially for being immoral or evil [adj. only before noun]

e.g.

The 'Cheka' was the infamous secret police.

That infamous prison camp is now a museum.

the infamous Yorkshire Ripper

6. to become famous

become famous/well known

rise to fame/achieve fame/win fame

make a name for yourself/make your name

achieve notoriety

rising star

hit/make the headlines

hit/make the big time

become famous/well known /[v phrase]

e.g.

Some people dream of becoming famous.

Doctor Nathaniel became well known in the city where he practised.

rise to fame/achieve fame/win fame to become famous, especially suddenly [v phrase]

e.g.

He rose to fame as an architect in the 1950s.

She won fame as the youngest-ever Olympic champion gymnast.

Mohandas Gandhi was later to achieve fame as the Mahatma who freed India from British rule. rise to fame [n phrase]

e.g.

The beginning of the century saw the rise to fame of the great New York hotels.

make a name for yourself/make your name to become well known, especially because of a particular skill or ability and especially as a result of hard work [v phrase] make a name for yourself as/make your name as

e.g.

She first made her name as a journalist at the age of 22.

He is beginning to make a name for himself as a fashion designer with original ideas. make a name for yourself/make your name

e.g.

By 1930 Hemingway had written the early novels with which he made his name.

achieve notoriety to become famous for something immoral or criminal [v phrase] e.g.

He achieved notoriety when the police raided his hotel.

achieve a certain notoriety

The club has achieved a certain notoriety as a gathering place for criminals and drug dealers.

rising star someone, especially a young person, who is quickly becoming famous [n C]

e.g.

She's one of the rising stars of politics, and is a very good public speaker.

hit/make the headlines to suddenly become very famous and receive a lot of attention from the newspapers, television etc, sometimes only for a short time [v phrase]

e.g.

Kitty Kelly hit the headlines with her sensational book about Nancy Reagan.

Eighteen months ago ozone hit the headlines, and we were told that earth was losing its vital protection.

The cyclone in Bangladesh made the headlines for three days.

hit/make the big time an expression used especially in newspapers and on television meaning to suddenly become very famous, successful, and rich, especially after a long time trying to become famous [v phrase]

e.g.

He made the big time when he joined the Dallas Cowboys as a quarterback.

After years of struggling to play in small concert halls and clubs, the group have finally hit the big time.

7. the fact of being famous

fame stardom renown

fame [n U]

e.g.

Money and fame meant nothing to them. They were not worldly people.

Sylvia Plath's fame has grown since her death.

She came to Hollywood in search of fame and fortune.

stardom great fame in popular music, films, sport etc [n U]

e.g.

Stardom is the dream of most young singers and actors.

She feared that by having a baby she had sacrificed her chances of stardom.

renown permanent fame and admiration that has been gained because of something good such as great skill, knowledge, or bravery [n U]

e.g.

The general's victories brought renown to himself and his family for generations to come.

Speakers of international renown will attend the conference.

8. someone who is famous, especially in the world of entertainment or sport

star big name

celebrity legend

superstar household name

personality

star a very famous and successful actor, singer, musician, dancer, or sports player [n C]

e.g.

Mick Jogger is my favourite rock star.

Elizabeth Taylor has been a famous movie star since the age often.

These remarkable young actors are the stars of tomorrow.

big/top star All the big stars will be there.

He was one of the top movie stars of his generation.

celebrity a very famous and popular person, especially one who works for television or in the entertainment business [n C]

e.g.

Now he's a celebrity, people forget that he's also a poet.

Many celebrities lend their support to charity events.

superstar a very successful star, especially one who is known all over the world [n C]

e.g.

The superstar Freddie Mercury died in 1992.

Ronald Reagan was once a movie actor, but he was never a superstar.

personality someone who is well known, especially because they often appear on television and at public events [n C]

e.g.

She is a world class athlete and also a TV personality.

For years, she was one of the best-loved personalities in the gossip columns of Fleet Street newspapers.

big name an informal word meaning a famous and successful performer [n C]

e.g.

Eric Hawkins, one of the big names of modern American dance.

He's persuaded some of the biggest names in show business to appear in his film.

legend someone who has become very famous over a long period of time, especially because they are very good at a particular activity [n C]

e.g.

Pele is a football legend, the greatest player the world has ever seen.

living legend (=someone who has become a legend while still alive)

Mother Theresa has become a living legend, a modern saint.

household name a person, company, or product that is a household name is so famous that everyone knows their name [n C]

e.g.

Coca-Cola is a household name all aver the world.

9. not famous

unknown obscure a nobody

unknown [adj]

e.g.

With a group of unknown actors and very little money, she set up her theatre. Gorbachev was virtually unknown in the West when he came to power.

As well as singing the old favourites, he performed some relatively unknown pieces. unknown [n C] He chose for this film an instantly successful unknown, Steve McQueen.

obscure someone or something that is obscure is known about only by a few people, because they belong to a group, place, or subject that not many people know about or are interested in [adj]

e.g.

Only an obscure country newspaper carried the news of his death.

Those lines were written by an obscure English poet named Mordaunt before the year 1790.

My nephew has made a brilliant discovery in some obscure branch of physics. obscurity [n U ] After the accident he retired from acting and died in relative obscurity (= he was hardly known when he died).

a nobody someone very ordinary, who is not famous, important, or successful [n singular]

e.g.

Why not apply for it? You don't want to be a nobody for the rest of your life, do you? It's difficult for an ambitious young man to realize he's a nobody.

SECTION V