Art & Culture

20 words

1. 1

   iconicadjective/aɪˈkɒnɪk/

   very well known and representative of a particular idea, place, or period

   “The red phone box is an iconic symbol of London.”

2. 2

   canonnoun/ˈkænən/

   a body of works considered authoritative, important or standard in a particular field

   “She argued that the literary canon needed to include more female authors.”

3. 3

   censorshipnoun/ˈsensəʃɪp/

   the practice of officially examining books, films, etc., and suppressing unacceptable parts

   “Writers in that era often faced strict censorship.”

4. 4

   authenticitynoun/ɔːˈθentɪsɪti/

   the quality of being real, genuine or true

   “Experts questioned the authenticity of the signature on the letter.”

5. 5

   spectaclenoun/ˈspektəkl/

   an impressive public display or show that attracts attention

   “The parade was a colourful spectacle, with floats and dancers.”

6. 6

   multiculturalismnoun/ˌmʌltiˈkʌlʧərəlɪz(ə)m/

   a social or political idea that multiple cultures can coexist and be supported within one country

   “Multiculturalism is often discussed in debates about immigration policy.”

7. 7

   appropriationnoun/əˌprəʊpriˈeɪʃən/

   the act of taking or using elements from another culture or context, often controversially

   “Debates about cultural appropriation often centre on power and consent.”

8. 8

   subtextnoun/ˈsʌbˌtɛkst/

   an underlying or implicit theme or meaning in a text, film, or performance

   “The play's humour masks a darker political subtext.”

9. 9

   depictverb/dɪˈpɪkt/

   to show or describe something, especially in a picture or story

   “The mural depicts scenes from the city's industrial past.”

10. 10

    juxtapositionnoun/ˌdʒʌkstəpəˈzɪʃən/

    the act of placing things side by side for comparison or contrast

    “The film's power comes from the juxtaposition of beauty and decay.”

11. 11

    vernacularnoun/adjective/vəˈnækjʊlə/

    language or styles native to a particular place; characteristic of ordinary local life

    “The exhibition highlighted vernacular architecture from rural regions.”

12. 12

    retrospectiveadjective/noun/ˌrɛtrəˈspɛktɪv/

    looking back on or dealing with past events; (noun) an exhibition that surveys an artist's past work

    “The gallery organised a retrospective of the painter's fifty-year career.”

13. 13

    prolificadjective/prəˈlɪfɪk/

    producing a large amount of something (works, offspring, results) over a period of time

    “She is a prolific novelist with dozens of titles to her name.”

14. 14

    ephemeraladjective/ɪˈfemərəl/

    lasting for a very short time

    “Street art is often ephemeral, wiped away or painted over within days.”

15. 15

    avant-gardeadjective / noun/ˌævɑ̃ˈɡɑːd/

    experimental or innovative art that breaks with tradition; people or works that are pioneering in style

    “The festival showcases avant‑garde theatre from around the world.”

16. 16

    connoisseurnoun/ˌkɒnəˈsɜːr/

    an expert judge of the best in a particular field, especially in art or food or wine

    “A true connoisseur of ceramics can often identify the region of origin at a glance.”

17. 17

    iconographynoun/ˌaɪkəˈnɒɡrəfi/

    the study or use of images and symbols in art and what they mean

    “The lecture covered Christian iconography in medieval manuscripts.”

18. 18

    kitschnoun / adjective/kɪtʃ/

    art or objects considered to be in poor taste because of excessive sentimentality or garishness, sometimes appreciated ironically

    “The shop sold bright, mass‑produced kitsch to tourists.”

19. 19

    fresconoun/ˈfrɛs.kəʊ/

    a painting done on wet plaster on a wall or ceiling, or the technique of doing such paintings

    “Michelangelo's ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel are world famous.”

20. 20

    mosaicnoun/məʊˈzeɪ.ɪk/

    an artwork made from small pieces of stone, glass, or tile arranged to form a picture or pattern

    “The church floor is decorated with an intricate mosaic.”