Understanding Art
Art is anything that people add to their 'output' which is not functionally necessary and is other than the default properties of that output. The word "art" has been derived from the Latin word 'ars', which, loosely translated, means "arrangement" or "to arrange". This is the only universal definition of art, that whatever it is was at some point arranged in some way. There are many other colloquial uses of the word, all with some relation to its etymological roots. This word comes from the Greek technic meaning art.
Art and science are usually treated diagonally opposite to each other. While science means some phenomenon resulting in truth, which is objective in nature. In other words, scientific findings can be repeated under the same set of circumstances anywhere in the world at any given point of time. The same cannot be said of art. Art, on the other hand is purely subjective in nature. Take for example, a painting - while one calls it a masterpiece, the same feelings cannot be expected from other individuals.
Art can roughly be divided into two, namely philosophical art and aesthetic art. The philosophical type of art involves human figures for some purposeful actions. In other words, philosophical art depicts human condition.
Aesthetic art, on the other hand, shows the perceived frame of mind. Two examples will help illustrate these two points of view - a Mona Lisa painting is philosophical art, while a demon being killed by a super human is aesthetic. These two categories are also called classical and modern art respectively.
There are other ways of classifying art - major among them being architecture, design, painting, music, drawing, literature, performing art, etc. While these have been (and still are) traditional forms of art performed by human kind, newer forms of art have emerged with the advent of technology. Some of the later era art forms are games, animation, movie, computer art, shooting, etc.
Two of the most researched areas of interest to artists, critiques and archaeologists has been the art movement (or art history) and art school. An art movement is a typical style or tendency in art with a specific common philosophy, followed by a group of artists during a restricted period of time (which ranges from a few months to years or decades). Art school is any educational institute offering education to its students on various forms of art.
The birth of art gave rise to another group of individuals - art critics. Art critics study and evaluate a piece of art. Their main purpose is to rationalize the evaluation of art, and ridding of any personal opinion affecting the work of art. Art criticism today deploys systematic and formal methods to evaluate the piece of art.
Museums are known to nurture and store work of arts across the world. Early era museums were patronized by the then kings and emperors. Today these are maintained by governments or private trusts with or without public money. Three major museum institutes are British Museum, Museum of Modern Art, New York and Galerie des Offices in France.
A clear distinction between art and science is that the latter is .
'Drawing' can be defined as a form of art.
An art movement is defined by its .
The period of time an art movement covers considerably.
An art critic different systems in their evaluations of art.
Museums today are sometimes financed by bodies.
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Question Focus: Synonym match - summary contrasts art and science, passage explains science as objective
Correct Answer: objective
Why this is correct: The summary says there is a clear distinction because science is something specific. The passage clearly explains that science results in truth which is objective, while art is subjective.
Passage Reference: Art and science are usually treated diagonally opposite to each other. While science means some phenomenon resulting in truth, which is objective in nature.
Common Mistake: Students may write scientific or true, but these are not the exact words used in the passage. You must copy the exact word. This is a synonym trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'objective in nature' = Summary: 'the latter is ___'
Tips: When the summary compares two ideas, look for contrast words like 'while' or 'on the other hand' in the passage.
Key Vocabulary:
- objective = not personal
- subjective = based on feelings
Question Focus: Classification - identifying type of art
Correct Answer: traditional
Passage Reference: There are other ways of classifying art - major among them being architecture, design, painting, music, drawing, literature, performing art, etc. While these have been (and still are) traditional forms of art performed by human kind,
Why this is correct: The passage lists drawing as one of the forms of art and then explains these are traditional forms performed by humankind. So drawing is a traditional form of art.
Common Mistake: Students may write classical, but the passage uses that word only for philosophical art. This is a wrong section trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'traditional forms of art' = Summary: 'a ___ form of art'
Tips: When a question asks for a definition, look for list explanations in the passage.
Key Vocabulary:
- traditional = old or long-established
- classifying = grouping
Question Focus: Definition detail - what defines an art movement
Correct Answer: philosophy
Passage Reference: An art movement is a typical style or tendency in art with a specific common philosophy, followed by a group of artists during a restricted period of time
Why this is correct: The passage says an art movement has a specific common philosophy followed by a group of artists. The summary shortens this to one defining word.
Common Mistake: Students may choose style, but the passage says style and philosophy together. The defining feature asked here is philosophy. This is a partial truth trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'specific common philosophy' = Summary: 'defined by its ___'
Tips: Pay attention to possessive words like 'its'. They usually signal a noun answer.
Key Vocabulary:
- philosophy = set of ideas
- movement = artistic trend
Question Focus: Detail match - time span description
Correct Answer: ranges
Passage Reference: restricted period of time (which ranges from a few months to years or decades).
Why this is correct: The passage explains that the period of an art movement ranges from a few months to decades. The summary paraphrases this idea.
Common Mistake: Students may write varies, which fits the meaning but is not the exact passage word. This is a synonym trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'ranges from a few months to years or decades' = Summary: 'covers ___ considerably'
Tips: For verb gaps, check subject-verb agreement carefully.
Key Vocabulary:
- range = vary
- period = length of time
Question Focus: Action description - what art critics do
Correct Answer: deploys
Passage Reference: Art criticism today deploys systematic and formal methods to evaluate the piece of art.
Why this is correct: The passage states that art criticism today deploys systematic and formal methods. The summary shortens this to say what an art critic does.
Common Mistake: Students may write uses, which is correct in meaning but not copied from the passage. This is a synonym trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'deploys systematic and formal methods' = Summary: '___ different systems'
Tips: Even if a simpler word fits, always copy the exact word from the passage.
Key Vocabulary:
- deploy = use
- evaluate = judge
Question Focus: Detail match - funding source
Correct Answer: public
Passage Reference: Today these are maintained by governments or private trusts with or without public money.
Why this is correct: The passage explains that museums today can be maintained with or without public money. The summary paraphrases this as being financed by public bodies.
Common Mistake: Students may write government, but the passage specifically mentions public money, not only governments. This is a partial truth trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'public money' = Summary: '___ bodies'
Tips: When money or funding is mentioned, copy the exact source named in the passage.
Key Vocabulary:
- public = government-funded
- maintained = supported
General Tips:
- Summary completion questions follow passage order. Use the previous gap to help you find the next answer.
- Always copy the exact word from the passage. Synonyms are marked wrong.
- Check grammar around the gap. Articles, verbs, and plurals give strong clues.
- Keep an eye on the word limit. Even one extra word is an automatic mistake.
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