Basic English Institute
"I'm surprised to see you here, old man. What is he surprised to do ? He is surprised to see him there. I had no idea that you were interested in art." What is he interested in ? He is interested in art. What idea did he have ? He had no idea that he was interested in art. "I'm not. Never was. What is he not and never interested in ? He is not and never interested in art. My daughter made me come. Who made him come ? His daughter made him come. She said the pictures on view here were the latest thing. What are the latest thing. The pictures on view here are the latest thing. What did she say ? She said that pictures on view here were the latest thing. One has to keep in touch with what's going on, doesn't one ? " What one has to keep in touch with ? One has to keep in touch with what's going on. "Quite right. What does he say ? He says, "Quite right." But different persons have different tastes. What tastes do different persons have ? They have different tastes. To me, some of these things seem very beautiful, . . . How beautiful do they seem ? They seem very beautiful. Who do they seem very beautiful to ? To him they seem very beautiful. . . . but you may not have the same feeling about them. What feeling may he not have ? He may not have the same feeling. What may he not have the same feeling about ? He may not have the same feeling about them. Let's have a look at them together. What does he suggest him to do ? He suggest him to have a look at them together. I'll be interested in seeing what your opinion is." What will he be interested in doing ? He'll be interested in seeing what his opinion is. " Good. …" What does he say ? He says, "Good." You're an expert on this sort of thing, . . . What is he ? He is an expert. What is he an expert on ? He is an expert on that sort of thing. . . . and, judging by what I've seen, I'll be needing a guide before I have got very far. What is he judging by ? He is judging by what he has seen. Who will he be needing ? He'll be needing a guide. How far has he got ? He has got very far. When will he be needing a guide ? He'll be needing a guide before he has got very far. How will he be needing a guide before he has got very far ? Judging by what he has seen, he'll be needing a guide before he has got very far. What, for example, is that a picture of ? What does he say ? He says, "What, for example, is that a picture of ?" I've been looking at it for quite a long time . . . What has he been looking at ? He has been looking at it. How long has he been looking at it? He has been looking at it for quite a long time. . . . but I'm quite unable to say what it is. What is he unable to say ? He is unable to say what it is. This blue is possibly the sky, though even that is not certain. What is possibly the sky ? That blue is possibly the sky. How is that not ? It is not certain. In spite of what condition is that blue possibly the sky ? It is possibly the sky though even that is not certain. I've never seen the sky such a dark blue. What has he never seen ? He has never seen the sky such a dark blue. If it is, then the orange circle may be the sun, . . . What may be the sun ? The orange circle may be the sun. In what condition may it be the sun ? If that blue is the sky, it may be the sun. . . .and the yellow one is probably the moon . . . What is probably the moon ? The yellow one is probably the moon. . . .and the brown one the earth. What is the earth ? The brown one is the earth. But what are these lines ? Are they representative of the attraction between the sun and the earth and the moon ? What does he say ? He says, "But what are these lines ? Are they representative of the attraction between the sun and the earth and the moon ?" "You are starting with a wrong question. What is he starting with ? He is starting with a wrong question. This painting isn't a picture of anything. What isn't it ? It isn't a picture of anything. It is a complex design made by putting together simple forms such as circles and lines." What is it ? It is a complex design. What is it a complex design made by doing ? It is a complex design made by putting together simple forms such as circles and lines. "But there's nothing in it. What is there ? There's nothing. Where is there nothing ? There's nothing in it. It might have been done by a little boy with the help of a box of instruments." Who might it have been done by ? It might have been done by a little boy. What might a little boy have done it with ? It might be done by a little boy with the help of a box of instruments. "It's not as simple as it seems. How does it seem ? It seems simple. How simple is it not ? It's not as simple as it seems. Certainly little boys make circles and lines on paper, . . . What do they make ? They make circles and lines. Where do they make them ? They make them on paper. How do they make them ? Certainly they make them on paper. . . . but the effect produced is generally not very beautiful. What is the effect produced ? It is not very beautiful. How is it not very beautiful ? It is generally not very beautiful. The attraction of this is in the relation between the forms and the colors, don't you see ? " What is the attraction of this ? It is in the relation between the forms and the colors. "No, I don't see. What does he say ? He says, "No, I don't see." There's no art in a picture of this sort. What is there ? There's no art. Where is there no art ? There's no art in a picture of that sort. It's a waste of paint and canvas to do such things." What is it ? It's a waste of paint and canvas. What is it a waste of paint and canvas to do ? It's a waste of paint and canvas to do such things. " Didn't I say that tastes were different ? What does he say ? He says, "Didn't I say that tastes were different ?" The trouble is that you are not looking for the right things in these pictures. What is he not looking for ? He is not looking for the right things. Where is he not looking for the right things ? He is not looking for the right things in these pictures. What is that he is not looking for the right things in these pictures ? The trouble is that he is not looking for the right things in these pictures. Your idea is that a picture has to be ' natural ', or representative. How does a picture have to be ? A picture has to be natural or representative. What is that a picture has to be natural or representative ? His idea is that a picture has to be natural or representative. For you, the important thing is to give a name to what you see, . . . What is to give a name to what he sees ? The important thing is to give a name to what he sees. For who is the important thing to give a name to what he see ? For him, the important thing is to give a name to what he sees. . . . and if you aren't able to do this the picture has no value. What isn't he able to do ? He isn't able to do that. (give a name to what you see) What has no value ? The picture has no value. In what condition does the picture have no value ? If he isn't able to do that the picture has no value. 'That is a picture of a country road,' you say. What does he say ? He says, 'That is a picture of a country road." ' An old man with a red nose is pushing a small cart with firewood in it. What is he pushing ? He is pushing a small cart with firewood in it. A young man is in a carriage pulled by two black horses. Where is he ? He is in a carriage. What is the carriage pulled by ? It is pulled by two back horses. What carriage is he in ? He is in a carriage pulled by two black horses. He is not very expert at driving. How expert is he ? He is not very expert. What is he not very expert at ? He is not very expert at driving. He is putting on the brake and using the whip at the same time. What is he putting on ? He is putting on the brake. What is he using ? He is using the whip. When is he using the whip ? He is using the whip at the same time that he is putting on the brake. A boy is getting water from a pump at the roadside. What is he getting ? He is getting water. What is he getting water from ? He is getting water from a pump at the road side. And the more natural the picture is, or, in other words, the more like it is in every detail to what you yourself have seen or might see on a country road, the better you are pleased. What does he say ? He says, "And the more natural the picture is, or, in other words, the more like it is in every detail to what you yourself have seen or might see on a country road, the better you are pleased." Isn't that so ? What does he say ? He says, "Isn't that so ?" "Certainly. What does he say ? He says, 'Certainly." When a man does a painting, he is attempting to make a picture of something, . . . What does the man do ? He does a painting. What is he attempting to do ? He is attempting to make a picture of something. When is he attempting to make a picture of something ? When he does a painting, he is attempting to make a picture of something, . . .and it is only when the painter isn't expert enough to make a good copy of what he sees that he says he wasn't attempting to do this at all but something quite different. What isn't the painter expert enough to do ? He isn't expert enough to make a good copy of what he sees. What wasn't he attempting to do ? He says he wasn't attempting to do that at all but something quite different. What is it when the painter isn't expert enough to do ? It is only when the painter isn't expert enough to make a good copy of what he sees that he says he wasn't attempting to do that at all but something quite different. Let me give you an example. What does he say ? He says, "Let me give you an example." My daughter has a painting of a horse. What does she have ? She has a painting of a horse. It's no more like a horse than I am. What is it no more like ? It is no more like a horse. What is it no more like a horse than ? It is no more like a horse than he is. The painter clearly had no knowledge of the structure of the animal. What did the painter not have ? He had no knowledge of the structure of the animal. How did he have no knowledge of the structure of the animal ? He clearly had no knowledge of the structure of the animal. Its bones and muscles are all wrong. How are its bones and muscles ? They are all wrong. My daughter says he was painting the rhythm of motion, . . . What was he painting ? He was painting the rhythm of motion. What does she say ? She says he was painting the rhythm of motion. . . . but it's simply a bad picture of a horse." What is it ? It's simply a bad picture of a horse. I take the opposite view. What does he take ? He takes the opposite view. If art is no more than expert copying, it seems to me that painters are wasting their time. What is art ? Art is no more than expert copying. What are painters wasting ? They are wasting their time. To who does it seem that painters are wasting their time ? It seems to him that painters are wasting their time. In what condition does it seem to him that painters are wasting their time ? If art is no more than expert copying, it seems to him that painters are wasting their time. Why not let the camera do it ? What does he say ? He says, "Why not let the camera do it ?" But there's more in it than that. What is there ? There's more. What is there more than ? There's more than that. Art is a process of selection. What is art ? It is a process of selection. A good painter never puts into his pictures simply what the camera sees. What does he never put ? He never puts simply what the camera sees. Where does he never put simply what the camera sees ? He never puts into his pictures simply what the camera sees. He makes use of a selection for the purpose of producing a certain effect he has in mind. What does he make use of a selection for the purpose of doing ? He makes use of a selection for the purpose of producing a certain effect he has in mind. " A picture of this sort isn't a selection from anything the painter has seen. … What has the painter seen ? He has seen anything. What isn't it a selection from ? It isn't a selection from anything the painter has seen. … It's an invention." What is it ? It's an invention. "That's where you are wrong. What does he say ? He says, "That's where you are wrong." Let us say that a painter sees a young woman's arm. What does he say ? He says, "Let us say that a painter sees a young woman's arm." He sees something beautiful. What does he see ? He sees something beautiful. But what is beautiful ? What does he say ? He says, "But what is beautiful ?" You would no doubt say it was the young woman's arm, . . . What was it ? It was the young woman's arm. What would he no doubt say ? He would no doubt say it was the young woman's arm. . . .but the painter might say, ' No, it isn't the arm as an arm. It is this curve, this angle, this effect of light on the skin.' What might the painter say ? He might say, " No, it isn't the arm as an arm. It is this curve, this angle, this effect of light on the skin." And these things might give him an idea for a picture which wasn't a picture of the arm at all. What do those things give him an idea for ? They give him an idea for a picture which wasn't a picture of the arm at all. From a selection of the qualities of the arm which seemed to him most beautiful he would make a new design. What seemed to him most beautiful ? The qualities of the arm seemed to him most beautiful. What would he make ? He would make a new design. What qualities would he make a new design from ? From a selection of the qualities of the arm which seemed to him most beautiful he would make a new design. " This discussion is getting a little deep for me. How deep is it getting ? It is getting a little deep. Who is it getting a little deep for ? It is getting a little deep for him. I don't give much attention to theories of art. What doesn't he give much attention to ? He doesn't give much attention to theories of art. My views are based on common sense." What are his views based on ? They are based on commons sense. " What's ' common sense ' but a name for another theory ? However, don't let's have another argument about that. You came here to see the pictures. Here's another one. What's your feeling about this one ? " What does he say ? He says, " What's ' common sense ' but a name for another theory ? However, don't let's have another argument about that. You came here to see the pictures. Here's another one. What's your feeling about this one ? " "That ! What does he say ? He says, "That !" Disgust that such a thing is put on public view. What is put on public view ? Such a thing is put on public view. What is disgusting ? It is disgusting that such a thing is put on public view. It isn't a picture ; What isn't it ? It isn't a picture. It's a trick to get the attention of the art experts. What is it a trick to do ? It's a trick to get the attention of the art experts. How is it possible to make anything beautiful by pasting buttons and old newspapers and bits of copper and tin and cloth on cardboard ? What does he say ? He says, "How is it possible to make anything beautiful by pasting buttons and old newspapers and bits of copper and tin and cloth on cardboard ?" There's a place for everything and the place for waste is most certainly not inside a frame. What is there ? There's a place for everything. What is the place for waste ? It is not inside a frame. How is it not inside a frame ? It is most certainly not inside a frame. It's dustman's art." What is it ? It's dustman's art. " Is the value of a work of art so dependent on what it's made of? What does he say ? He says, "Is the value of a work of art so dependent on what it's made of?" Much of the paint used in pictures is only a special sort of earth, . . . What is only a special sort of earth ? Much of the paint used in pictures is only a special sort of earth. . . . but you are not disgusted by that fact. What is he not disgusted by ? He is not disgusted by that fact. We are looking at the picture from the wrong angle . . . What are they looking at ? They are looking at the picture. What are they looking at the picture from ? They are looking at the picture from the wrong angle. . . . and there is not quite enough distance between us and it. What is there not ? There is not quite enough distance. Where is there not quite enough distance ? There is not quite enough distance between them and it. It wasn't made to be viewed from so near. How wasn't it made ? It wasn't made to be viewed from so near. But come here. What does he say ? He says, "But come here." At this distance one doesn't see what it is made of. What doesn't one see ? One doesn't see what it is made of. At what distance doesn't one see what it is made of ? At that (far) distance one doesn't see what it is made of. It's more an ornament than a picture. What is it ? It's an ornament. What is it more an ornament than ? It is more an ornament than a picture. Isn't it quite a pleasing design ? " What does he say ? He says, "Isn't it quite a pleasing design ? " " No, I'm stil1 disgusted by it, . . . How is he disgusted ? He is still disgusted. What is he still disgusted by ? He is still disgusted by it. . . . and if this is the sort of ornament we are to have in our houses in the future I have no regrets that I am an old man and will probably be dead before such things are seen about everywhere. What sort of ornament is that ? It is the sort of ornament they are to have in their houses in their future. What regrets does he have ? He has no regrets that he is an old man and will probably be dead before such things are seen about everywhere. In what condition does he have no regrets that he is an old man and will probably be dead before such things are seen about everywhere ? If that is the sort of ornament they are to have in their houses in the future he has no regrets that he is an old man and will probably be dead before such things are seen about everywhere. Are all the rest of the pictures like this ? " What does he say ? He says, "Are all the rest of the pictures like this ? " " No. There are some things in the second room which you may be more interested in. What are there ? There are some things. Where are there some things ? There are some things in the second room. What may he be interested In ? He may be interested in some things. How may he be interested in some things ? He may be more interested in some things. What things are there in the second room ? There are some things in the second room which you may be more interested in. Let's go and have a look at that great picture on the end wall, for example. " What does he say ? He says, "Let's go and have a look at that great picture on the end wall, for example. " " The one with the stage in front of it ? " What does he say ? He says, " The one with the stage in front of it ? " "Yes. What does he say ? He says. "Yes." The stage is there because the painter is doing something to the sky. Where is the stage ? It is there. What is the painter doing ? He is doing something. Where is he doing something ? He is doing something to the sky. Why is the stage there ? Because he is doing something to the sky. He is painting some flowers in it. What is he painting ? He is painting some flowers. Where is he painting them ? He is painting them in it, the sky. The picture is a little surprising." How surprising is it ? It is a little surprising. " How strange ! Flowers in the sky and pots and tins with wings ! A man with a mass of green jelly in the place of a head and two bits of sugar for eyes ! And he is walking on water ! Is the water solid ? " What does he say ? He says, "How strange ! Flowers in the sky and pots and tins with wings ! A man with a mass of green jelly in the place of a head and two bits of sugar for eyes ! And he is walking on water ! Is the water solid ? " " No. What does he say ? He says, "No." The painter got the idea out of the Bible." What did he get ? He got the idea out of the Bible. "But what is the picture about ? What does he say ? He says, "But what is the picture about ?" I'm completely at a loss." How is he ? He is at a loss. How is he at a loss. He is completely at a loss. "The pictures you are used to are produced by the conscious mind. What pictures are produced by the conscious mind ? The pictures he is used to are produced by the conscious mind. This is, or is said to be, the art of the unconscious mind. What is it said to be ? It is said to be the art of the unconscious mind. It's the sort of thing a man sees in his sleep. What does a man see ? He sees the thing. How does he see it.? He sees it in his sleep. What is it ? It is the sort of thing. What sort of thing is it ? It is the sort of thing a man sees in his sleep. Interesting, isn't it ? " What does he say ? He says, "Interesting, isn't it ?" "Is it ? What does he say ? He says, "Is it ?" I have another word for it ! What does he have ? He has another word for it. If that had been produced by my unconscious mind, I'd say that I was going off my head. What had it been produced by ? It had been produced by his unconscious mind. What was he going off ? He was going off his head. What would he say ? He'd say that he was going off his head. What is your opinion of it ? " What does he say ? He says, "What is your opinion of it ? " "It seems to me a step in the wrong direction. What does it seem ? It seems a step in the wrong direction. To who does it seem a step in the wrong direction ? It seems to him a step in the wrong direction. The painter is less interested in pleasing the eye than in shocking the mind. What is he interested in doing ? He is interested in shocking the mind. What is he less interested in pleasing ? He is less interested in pleasing the eye than in shocking the mind. It's a picture of ideas, like those pictures which are stories in paint. What is it ? It's a picture of ideas. What are those pictures ? They are stories in paint. How is it a picture of ideas ? It's a picture of ideas, like those pictures which are stories in paint. You've got one in your house of a man who has done a violent crime in a wood and is looking with fear at the blood on his knife. What has he got ? He has got one of a man. Where has he got one of a man He has got one of a man in his house. What has a man done ? He has done a violent crime. Where has he done a violent crime. He has done a violent crime in a wood. What is he looking at ? He is looking at the blood on his knife. How is he looking at the blood on his knife ? He is looking with fear at the blood on his knife. What one has he got in his house of ? He has got one in his house of a man who has done a violent crime in a wood and is looking with fear at the blood on his knife. Stories and ideas may be put into words. What may be put into words ? Stories and ideas may be put into words. The sounds and senses of words are the instruments of the writer's art, not the painter's. What are sounds and words ? They are the instruments of the writer's art, not the painter's. His business is with form and color, which are outside the range of words. " What is it with ? It is with form and color. What are outside the range of words. Form and color are outside the range of words. What is his business with ? It is with form and color, which are outside the range of words. "Theories again ! What does he say ? He says, "Theories again !" They get us nowhere. Where do they get them ? They get them nowhere. This disgusting picture has nothing in common with any picture in my house. What does it have in common ? It has nothing in common with any pictures in his house. What's wrong with a picture which gives a story ? What does he say ? He says, "What's wrong with a picture which gives a story ?" It makes it more interesting." How interesting does it make ? It makes it more interesting. " I don't seem to be of much help as a guide, do I ? I'm only making you angry. What does he say ? He says, "I don't seem to be of much help as a guide, do I ? I'm only making you angry." You might get more pleasure from the pictures if you saw them by yourself." What pleasure might he get ? He might get more pleasure. What might he get more pleasure from ? He might get more pleasure from the pictures. What did he see ? He saw them. How did he see them ? He saw them by himself. In what condition might he get more pleasure from the pictures. He might get more pleasure from the pictures if he saw them by himself." " No. What does he say ? He says, "No." It was kind of you to take me round . . . What was it kind of him to do ? It was kind of him to take him round. . . . but I've seen quite enough. What has he done ? He has seen quite enough. I'm going now, . . . What is he doing ? He is going now. . . . and you may be certain that it will be a long time before my daughter sends me to see any pictures again." What time will it be ? It will be a long time. What does she send him to do ? She sends him to see pictures . When will it be a long time ? It will be a long time before his daughter sends him to see any pictures again. What may he be certain ? He may be certain that it will be a long time before his daughter sends him to see any pictures again.
Saburo Terada
Saitama Prefecture