Street Art That Washes Away in the Rain

2023.08.12

In this lesson, you are going to watch a BBC video about David Zinn, a self-taught artist, sharing his opinion about art and creativity.

Level: intermediate
Keywords: street art, drawing, creativity


A) Before you watch

Can you see any form of street art in the place where you live? What is your opinion about it? Do you think it is a real form of art or rather vandalism? Explain your answer.





B) Watch for main idea

Now, watch the video and choose the statement that best expresses David Zinn's opinion about art and creativity:

  1. Everyone is good at drawing under the age of five, but then most people lose their skill.
  2. Everyone can and should do some form of art that makes them happy.
  3. In real life, science is more useful than art.

C) Vocabulary

Below you can see two lists of words (1-10 and a-j) in bold from the video you have watched. Match them so that they would form collocations.

1. creative
2. regular
3. sheer
4. sugar
5. to cope with
6. to do something
7. to make
8. to solve
9. to take
10. to tell

a. art
b. cube
c. problems
d. problems
e. life
f. a joke
g. a long time
h. joy
i. expression
j. wrong


D) Watch for details

Watch the video again and answer the questions below based on what you hear:

  1. What is young children's relationship with art and why does it change later?
  2. Why did David start drawing on the pavement in the street?
  3. What is a big advantage of street art compared to other forms of art?
  4. What is the purpose of creative expression?
  5. How do science and art approach problems?
  6. Why does David personally feel the need to create art?

E) After you watch

David's art is inspired by random objects in the street. Here are some photos of his drawings. What objects did involve in them?

brick wall; crack; log; manhole cover; pipe; post

a. ......................................................................................

b. ......................................................................................

c. .......................................................................................

d. .....................................................................................

e. ......................................................................................

f. .......................................................................................


Think about these questions for a minute and answer them:

  • Has this video changed your opinion about street art?
  • Why do you think David uses chalk for drawing?
  • Why do you think he doesn't mind his drawings being washed away in the rain?

Sources