# Culture
### 1. What "culture" means

- **High culture:** theatre, opera, ballet, classical music, fine arts, literature.
- **Popular (pop) culture:** films, pop / rock music, TV shows, computer games, social media.
- **Folk culture:** traditions, folk songs, customs, regional festivals.

### 2. Types of cultural events

- **Performing arts:** play, musical, ballet, opera, dance performance, comedy show.
- **Music:** rock / pop / jazz / classical / hip-hop concert, music festival, DJ set.
- **Visual arts:** art exhibition, gallery opening, light show.
- **Film:** premiere, screening, film festival.
- **Literature:** poetry reading, book launch, author lecture.

### 3. Venues

- **Theatre (BrE) / theater (AmE)** – stage with live actors.
- **Cinema (BrE) / movie theater (AmE)** – screens films.
- **Concert hall / stadium / arena / festival grounds.**
- **Art gallery / museum / lecture hall / bookshop (BrE) / bookstore (AmE).**

### 4. People in culture

- **Performers:** actor / actress, dancer, musician, singer, rapper, DJ, comedian, conductor, painter, sculptor, photographer.
- **Creators / crew:** director, choreographer, composer, screenwriter, costume / set / lighting designer, stagehand, producer.
- **Audience:** crowd, fans, audience, critics.

### 5. Czech culture

- **Composers:** Antonín Dvořák (New World Symphony), Bedřich Smetana (Má Vlast), Leoš Janáček.
- **Writers:** Karel Čapek (R.U.R. – coined "robot"), Milan Kundera, Bohumil Hrabal, Franz Kafka (German-speaking Prague Jew), Jaroslav Hašek.
- **Film:** Miloš Forman (Oscar winner – *Amadeus*, *One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest*), Jiří Menzel.
- **Art:** Alfons Mucha (Art Nouveau), David Černý (provocative sculptures).
- **Festivals:** Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Prague Spring (music), Colours of Ostrava.

### 6. Anglo-American culture

- **UK literature:** Shakespeare, Dickens, Jane Austen, J.K. Rowling, Tolkien.
- **UK music:** The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Adele, Ed Sheeran.
- **US literature:** Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Mark Twain, Stephen King.
- **US film industry:** Hollywood, Oscars, blockbusters, streaming (Netflix, Disney+).
- **US music:** jazz (New Orleans), rock & roll (Elvis), hip-hop, country.

### 7. My own habits

- *I’m (not) a fan of… / I prefer… / About once a month I go to…*
- *My favourite cinema / venue is… / My favourite actor / director / musician is… because…*
- *I’ve seen all of their films / them perform live X times.*

### 8. Making plans with someone

- *Are you free on Friday? / Do you have plans tonight?*
- *Would you like to…? / How about going to…? / Why don’t we go to…?*
- *What time does it start? / How much does it cost? / What should I wear?*
- *Let’s meet at… / I’ll meet you at…*

### 9. Culture in Liberec / your region

- **Divadlo F. X. Šaldy** – main theatre in Liberec.
- **Severočeské muzeum** – regional museum.
- **Oblastní galerie Lázně** – art gallery.
- **Naivní divadlo** – puppet theatre.
- **Cinemas:** CineStar, Kino Varšava (alternative).

### 10. Useful verbs

- to act, to play a part, to star (in / as), to perform, to direct, to compose, to paint, to sculpt, to take photos, to clap / applaud, to cheer, to give a standing ovation, to encore.

### 11. Speaking strategy

Define culture (high / pop / folk), give types of events and venues. Talk about your favourite area (films / music / books). Mention 1–2 Czech and 1–2 Anglo-American figures. Finish with the last event you attended and your impression.