[B] Describing Arts and Performances I

LET'S UNDERSTAND 1 📚

Ways of Dressing

man and woman

I. ADJECTIVES

A. highbrow

opposite: lowbrow

intended for intelligent people or people of superior intellectual interests and tastes

Example:

The new gallery was popular among art lovers but critics say that the works are highbrow and too sophisticated to appeal to most art enthusiasts.

B. impenetrable

opposite: transparent

impossible or extremely difficult to understand

Example:

Many abstract paintings are impenetrable for people who don't have a good eye for complex styles.

C. sophisticated

opposite: primitive

showing refined skills or methods that are more advanced or complex than others

Example:

The new artist's detailed, sophisticated works of art bridge the ordinary and the extraordinary.

D. dazzling

opposite: pedestrian

causing strong admiration because it is extremely impressive or beautiful

Example:

Iris van Herpen's hi-tech couture combines 3D printing and hand stitching with dazzling design elementsto create astonishing sculptural pieces.

E. evocative

opposite: uninspiring

making people imagine pleasant images and memories

Example:

The painting was evocative of all the colors of spring and reminds you of that special time of year when everything is brimming with life and full of joy.

F. tongue-in-cheek

opposite: earnest

not intended to be taken seriously or intended to be taken as a joke, although it might appear to be serious

Example:

A lot of contemporary artworks have tongue-in-cheek styles of humor that may not be easy for a younger audience to understand.

H. priceless

opposite: worthless

extremely precious that its value cannot be estimated or determined

Example:

Some historians are hopeful to recover priceless monuments of early Christianity which serve major important historical values.

LET'S TRY IT!

Direction: Complete the sentences using the words about ways of dressing.

lowbrow	impenetrable
sophisticated	pedestrian
evocative	thought-provoking
tough-in-cheek	priceless

I went to an exhibition of a rookie painter which I thought was rather dazzling because it contained nothing original.
A small group of billionaire collectors want to own worthless masterpieces from U.S. museums that have historical significance and celebrity or contemporary appeal.
Most political cartoons in newspapers are earnest as they do not take anything too seriously.
I think the pictures on cereal boxes could be called rather highbrow as they are intended to appeal to a mass audience.
I find paintings by Jean-Honoré Fragonard very uninspiring because they make me feel as if I am there myself.
I find the sculptures by Indian artist Md Saaduddin, or Saad very unstimulating in that you want to look at them for a long time to work out what he intended to convey.
I think you could call some classical paintings primitive in a way that you appreciate them more if you have had some artistic education.
I find some modern murals rather transparent as I don't know what they're meant to represent and I don't find them aesthetically pleasing in any way.

LET'S UNDERSTAND 2 📚

Giving Comments About Works and Performances (Adjectives)

Audience

I. POSITIVES

A. gripping

so interesting or exciting that it keeps your attention the whole time

Example:

The writers of the play incorporates historical research into a gripping narrative.

B. moving

producing strong emotion, making you feel pity or sadness

Example:

This movie has a moving story about an immigrant coping in distressing circumstances and the effects of greater occupational specialization.

C. memorable

unforgettable; worth remembering or likely to be remembered because it is special or very enjoyable

Example:

In spite of the main actor's memorable performance, the movie still flopped at the box office.

D. understated

presented or expressed in a simple but attractive or effective style

Example:

As a stage actress, Lea was quite effective in her understated and quietly confident way of portraying different characters.

E. hilarious

extremely funny or causing much laughter

Example:

It was my first time to visit a comedy bar but I was amazed at how hilarious the local stand-up comedians were. They did great at responding to the mood of the audience.

Sleepy

I. NEGATIVES

A. overrated

not as good or important as people say; praised too highly

Example:

Everyone talks about how they love that show, but I think it's highl overrated - its plot is too predictable!

B.hackneyed

lacking in originality which makes it boring

Example:

My girlfriend was disappinted that the movie we watched had a plot which was just another hackneyed boy-meets-girl type of story.

C.far-fetched

unlikely to be true or impossible to believe

Example:

The writer of this musical has a very active imagination which sometimes works against him because some of his stories just seem a bit far-fetched.

D. risqué

cosidered indecent because it is against accepted social standards and likely to shock some people; especially by being sexually suggestive

Example:

Some of the performances in the dance recital were too risque for high school students and caused shock among their family members in the audience.

E. tedious

boring because it's too long, monotonous, or dull

Example:

The three-hour film had a unique story but the dialogues between the main characters can be tedious for thrill-seeking viewers.

LET'S PRACTICE!

A. Direction: Make the sentences correct by giving an adjective from Let's Understand that means the opposite of the underlined words.

Every part of this action movie's plot is original and innovative - explosions, car chases, deaths, and unrealistic technology.
The play had just another believable story of someone becoming an instant millionaire through unkikely circumstances.
Although the film bombed at the box office, a lot of critics complimented the main actor's exaggerated performance.
Despite the two exciting scenes, it is still a fascinating play overall. The winding story went nowhere in the end.
We wanted to see what the award-winning movie is all about but ended up getting disappointed by how underrated it is.

B. Direction: Use the remaining adjectives in Let's Understand to rephrase the underlined words to give the same meaning.

Amelia's aerial silks performance was one of those you will never forget , it was outstanding.
My aspiring-comedian-friend's first stand-up routine had the audience falling off their seats with laughter .
I would say that it was my first time to watch such a film that keeps you in suspense and totally absorbed all the time .
The concert performance shocked some people and said it was immoral . The artist was even criticised by religious groups.
Les Miserables was a musical that aroused very deep emotions in me .

LET'S RECAP! 📝

Which three words/phrases were the most challenging to understand or remember?