Art vs The Arts – The Difference – Useful Vocabulary – Model Answers

What is the difference between Art and The Arts? A common IELTS topics – see useful vocabulary, questions and model answers. Art and the Arts appear in IELTS Speaking Part 1, part 2 and part 3. They also appear in IELTS Writing Task 2. Most people struggle to know the difference between the two words. Below you will find the meaning and a useful vocabulary list to help you talk about and writing about this topic. Also, find some model answers.

What’s the difference between Art and The Arts?

Art 

The word art refers to the creative forms that you often learn in school. For example, painting, drawing, sculpture, and pottery. These mediums are most often used to evoke emotion, to illustrate beauty, to reflect an aspect of nature or the world we live in, to tell a story or to express an opinion.

The Arts

However, the word the arts, as you can see, is plural. This means the arts involves a more diverse range of artistic and creative works and outlets. These can involve the performing arts, such as theatre and films. It can include literature as well. People can be creative in all kinds of ways. It covers a broad range of subjects, skills and interests under the main heading: the arts. Please note, that grammatically, when referring to the arts, you must always use the article “the”.

Question for you:

Below you will find a list of subjects, which of them are not found in the arts? The answer is at the bottom of the page.

1. fashion design
2. drama
3. opera
4. calligraphy
5. poetry
6. ballet
7. film making
8. reading literature
9. photography
10. jewellery making

Visual, Literature and Performing Arts

The Visual Arts

• appealing to the eye
• to stimulate visual experience
• to expressing ideas, messages and emotions through visual means
• to provoke feeling
• it relies on the manipulation of form, colour, texture, and space
• traditional mediums: paintings, sculptures, ceramics
• modern mediums: photography, film, graphic design
• other mediums: jewellery, textiles, interior design, fashion design
• visual arts can be decorative
• some architecture can fall within this classification

The Performing Arts

• these are creative arts irequiring body, time, space, energy and movement.
• they encompass theatre, dance, drama, stand-up comedy, circus arts, and music.
• expression comes from the movements of the body or through the voice
• dance involves rhythmic and choreographed movements
• dance could be classical ballet or contemporary dance
• for performing arts, the artists body, voice and their presence are the tools
• performing arts are designed, scripted, stage managed, often with the use of lighting and sometimes cast support

Literature

• a form of creative expression using writing
• it evokes emotion / it convey ideas and messages
• genres include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, plays
• it is a way to explore human experiences
• the written word can portray characters, vivid scenes and interesting settings
• it can perserve cultural values
• through literature we can learn about our past, our present and our potential future
• calligraphy blurs the lines between written communication and visual artistry

IELTS Speaking Questions: Art & The Arts

Questions with some model answers. However, please note, there are many ways these questions can be answered. The examples below illustrate the range of language possible, typical length of answers and technique for the IELTS Speaking Test.

• Did you learn art at school when you were younger?
  • Most of my art lessons were focused on drawing and painting. It wasn’t very inspiring. I wish I’d had a chance to learn more interesting art such as pottery and sculpture.
• What can someone gain from art?
  • So many things. At the very least, art can help them relax and enjoy life. But with deeper reflection, it can inspire people to achieve greater things in life. It can enlighten them, bringing insight or meditative calm. Art can also challenge people’s values and their perspectives. And it can educate  people through ideas, messages and beliefs.
• Why do some people spend so much money on art?
  • Well, I think you’d have to ask each individual person because their motives probably differ widely. I suppose some people buy art as a status symbol, and others spend money on it for pure enjoyment.
• Describe a piece of art you like.
  • I don’t have one single piece of art that I prefer. But generally, I like art that helps me enter a meditative state of being, such as some Japanese block prints that depict beautiful temples in the snow or in the rain. I like the imagery of aesthetically pleasing buildings that blend into and compliment the surrounding nature. I think the Japanese do this incredibly well. It definitely helps you feel at one with the world around you.
• Which of the arts do you enjoy the most?
  • I think that’s a really tricky question because it depends on the occasion and my mood. If I feel like relaxing, I’d probably go for some classical visual arts, such as paintings and sculptures, which help me take my mind of things. But if I want enterainment, I might prefer the performing arts because I really do enjoy the cinema or going to the theatre.
• Do you think the arts are important for society?
  • There is no doubt they are essential. Since the early days of man, we have used visual arts as a way to record our history, our culture and our experiences. Since then, we have developed more sophisticated art forms, such as film, graphic design, literature and others, which help us make sense of our lives. It is an essential form of our expression as human beings.
• Do you think the government should support the arts and provide more funding for struggling artists?
  • Yes, because I think the arts and artists play a very important role in a country’s history and culture so they need to be supported by the government. Many artists scrape by on a pittance so being supported financially by the government is the only way they can do their work.
• Do you think the arts should be censored?
  • This is a tough question because in an ideal world, the answer would be no. But in our current world today, I would say yes. Art can portray ideas and messages, and evoke emotions. If these ideas and emotions incite violent or prejudice, then they need to be controlled. So, a degree of cencorship is necessary.
• What can people and society gain from the arts?
  • I think one of the main things is a sense of identity. We can identify as a community or a nation through national art forms. Nearly all countries have traditional music, traditional dress and traditional art forms. It helps us feel connected to our country and each other. I think national pride stems from such things.
• Do you think there is a downside to the arts?
  • If there is one, I can’t think of it. I really see the arts are offering so much, whether it be in the form of appreciation, pleasure and enjoyment, or education and cultural identity.

Note: when you read the model answers above, I want you to note the language used, and also the natural way the questions are answered. The speaking test is 100% informal. It is a chat with the examiner.

 Writing Task 2 Essay Questions: art and the arts?

The Writing Task 2 essay questions on this topic are similar to the speaking questions above. If you prepare ideas and vocabulary for the questions listed above, you can adapt those ideas for your essay. However, you can find some essay questions about art on this page: ART ESSAY QUESTIONS

ANSWER

Which of the list given above weren’t part of The Arts?

Answers

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