S2 C1-C2 FROM CONSUMER TO CREATOR: WHY ALL ART MATTERS

to render sth obsolete

to make sth no longer useful or needed

ultra-processed images

images heavily edited or altered

stupefying

causing a loss of clear thinking

informed by sth

influenced or shaped by sth

to pump sth out

to produce sth quickly and in large amounts

deluge of slop

an overwhelming amount of low-quality content

to abound

to exist in large numbers

hallmark of sth

a key feature or sign of sth

to leach sth out of sth

to remove sth from sth over time

succulent brain

a brain seen as soft, passive, or easy to influence

pervasive

spreading widely throughout

sinister

suggesting harm or danger

internet-clogging junk

low-quality content that fills online spaces

incendiary posts

posts that cause strong anger or conflict

eminently consumable short-form videos

short videos that are extremely easy to engage with

to eliminate cognitive resistance

to remove mental effort

to toil

to work very hard

grist for group chats

material that can be used for discussion in chats

to conflate sth with sth

to mix up two things as if they are the same

to portend sth

to be a sign that sth will happen

devoid of sth

completely lacking sth

to erode sth

to gradually weaken or destroy sth

influx of synthetic junk

a large arrival of artificial low-quality content

to beckon people to do sth

to attract or invite people to do sth

to hijack sth

to take control of sth for a different purpose

unfathomable

impossible to fully understand

to supercharge human potential

to greatly increase human ability

ineffable

too great or complex to describe in words

umpteenth post (inf)

one of many repeated posts, so many that they are no longer special or noticeable

abundance of information

a very large amount of information

to retrieve gems

to find and rediscover valuable or meaningful pieces that you had stored for later use

confined within sth

limited or kept inside sth

to usher sth in

to introduce or bring sth into a new stage

the ebbs and flows of sth

the natural rises and falls of sth over time

omniscient

knowing everything

fallible

capable of making mistakes

relegated to sth

placed into a lower or less important position

to roam around

to move without a fixed direction

conventional

following common or traditional ways

far removed from superficial consumption

very different from shallow or quick use of content

immediacy

the quality of happening or being available instantly

to deflect collective conversation

to redirect public discussion away from a topic

discerning way to store everything

a careful and selective method of organizing information

to keep sth at your fingertips

to have sth easily available

to tend to one’s garden

to care for one’s garden

under the watchful eye of productivity-driven algorithms

controlled or observed by systems focused on efficiency

access is fenced off by sth

access is restricted or blocked by sth

to cultivate a digital garden

to slowly build systems for collecting and organizing information over time

explosion of hobbies

a rapid increase in the number of hobbies

to commodify sth

to turn sth into a product for sale

swept up by the algorithm

strongly influenced or controlled by algorithmic systems

extracurriculars

activities done outside main work or study

to foster trends

to encourage or help trends grow

relentless chase of the latest thing

a constant effort to follow new trends

fatigued with trends

feeling tired of following trends

to flaunt sth online

to show sth publicly online to impress others

jaded

feeling tired, bored, cynical or no longer impressed

to engage in hobbies at surface-level

to take part in hobbies without deep involvement

dedicated to one’s craft

showing strong commitment to developing a skill

to gain social currency on TikTok

to gain status or approval on TikTok

framed in a certain narrative

presented in a specific way or story

to revel in sth

to take great pleasure in sth

to pick up a hobby

to start doing a hobby

regurgitations of trend culture

repeated ideas from trends without originality

to lean into hobbies

to actively focus on and invest in hobbies

cost of living crisis

a situation where basic living expenses become very high

clutter

a collection of unnecessary or messy items

derivative of sth

based on sth else and lacking originality

nourishment

sth that provides support, growth, or development

to flock to museums

to go in large numbers to museums

to ascribe a purpose to art

to give art a specific meaning or function

to slip into despair

to gradually fall into deep sadness

emblem of hope

a symbol that represents hope

misplaced worry

worry directed at the wrong thing

sombre works of art

serious and dark artworks

part of the human condition

a natural and universal aspect of human life

to aggravate sadness

to make sadness more intense or exacerbate it

to be moved by sth

to feel strong emotion because of sth

to long for sth

to feel a deep desire for sth

suffused with sth

filled or spread with sth completely

to stifle pain

to suppress or hold back pain

to counter the effects of sth

to reduce or oppose the effects of sth

vital

extremely important or necessary

rounded

having a balanced and well-developed character

to neglect sth

fail to give enough care, attention, or effort to sb or sth

to broaden one’s horizons

to expand one’s knowledge or experience

to attract reverence and mystique

to gain deep respect and a sense of mystery

stiff

lacking natural movement or expression, inflexible, rigid

to do sth on a whim

to do sth suddenly without planning

to have some merit to it

to have some value or good quality

to inspire novelty in one’s life

to bring newness or fresh experiences into life

tangible

sth real that can be touched

daunting

causing fear or difficulty

emulation

the act of copying or imitating sth

reminiscent of sth

reminding sb of sth

mashup of sth

a combination of different things

to inhibit creativity

to limit or block creativity

to work in erratic bursts

to work in irregular and uneven periods

immersed in sth

deeply involved in sth

to write fervently

to write with strong passion or energy