Abstract Expressionism (Listening)

1) What is the lecture mainly about?

A) The influences on and goals of an art movement.
B) The impact of abstract expressionism on the USA.
C) The importance of New York City to the art world.
D) The most famous abstract expressionist artists.


2) Which of the following movements were mentioned as a key influence on abstract expressionism? (Choose two answers)

A) Impressionism
B) Surrealism
C) Realism
D) German Expressionism


3) What was the main goal of the movement?

A) Spreading nihilistic ideals across the United States
B) Promoting Pollock's action painting
C) Constricting social freedom
D) Encouraging escape from all forms of limitation


4) The speaker says that the abstract expressionist painters felt strongly about the importance of freedom because

A) it was this American ideal that had attracted the artists in the first place.
B) they disliked the work of their predecessors.
C) they were forced to leave their home countries during World War II.
D) most of them wanted to avoid a political interpretation of their art.


5) For each of the following statements mark either A (for Action Painting), C (for Colour Field Painting) or B for (Both)

A) Newman was a member of this/these movement(s).

B) Emphasis was placed on the artist's movement or brush strokes.

C) It was heavily influenced by a number of philosophers. 

D) Pollock was a member of this/these movement(s).

E)  Emphasis was placed on unifying a painting through colour.

F) Avoidance of real world representations was essential.