📘 Part 3: Beauty and aesthetics

This episode's vocabulary

Scenic spot (noun) – a place with beautiful natural views. → Tourists love visiting scenic spots in the mountains.

Atmosphere (noun) – the feeling or mood of a place. → The café had a cosy atmosphere.

Soak up (phrasal verb) – to enjoy and absorb an experience fully. → We sat by the beach to soak up the sun.

Flock to (phrasal verb) – to go to a place in large numbers. → Tourists flock to Paris every year.

Accessible (adjective) – easy to reach or use. → The museum is accessible by public transport.

Portable (adjective) – easy to carry or move. → A laptop is more portable than a desktop computer.

Prolonged (adjective) – lasting for a long time. → He was absent from work due to a prolonged illness.

Stare at (phrasal verb) – to look at something for a long time. → She stared at the painting in silence.

Ornamental (adjective) – designed to be decorative rather than useful. → The ornamental vase stood in the hallway.

Liven up (phrasal verb) – to make something more lively or interesting. → The decorations really livened up the party.

Reaction (noun) – a response to something. → His reaction to the news was surprising.

Awe-inspiring (adjective) – causing feelings of wonder or admiration. → The Grand Canyon is awe-inspiring.

Cliff (noun) – a high, steep rock face. → The waves crashed against the cliff.

Sunrise (noun) – the time when the sun appears in the morning. → We woke up early to watch the sunrise.

Cynical (adjective) – believing people are motivated by selfishness or doubt good intentions. → He gave a cynical laugh when he heard the promise.

Picturesque (adjective) – visually charming, like a painting. → The village looked picturesque with its old cottages.

Landmark (noun) – a famous or easily recognisable building or feature. → Big Ben is a well-known London landmark.

Serene (adjective) – calm, peaceful, and quiet. → The lake was serene at dawn.

Majestic (adjective) – grand and impressive in beauty or scale. → The majestic mountains rose above the valley.

Heritage site (noun) – a place recognised for cultural or natural importance. → The Pyramids are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Questions and Answers

Maria: Why do many people go to scenic spots in person instead of just reading about them in books?

Rory: Well, there's something to be said for being in the actual place and soaking up the atmosphere that just can't be conveyed in a book, I suppose. I can't really put my finger on it, but it's definitely something people talk about and believe in, since lots of people flock to these places rather than just reading about them.

Maria: Do people in your country prefer listening to music to appreciating paintings or literature?

Rory: Yes, although I'm not sure that's just people in my country. Music is more accessible, portable, and reliable than something like reading a book for a prolonged period or staring at a painting for hours on end, so it makes sense that more people would choose to do that.

Maria: Where do you think people usually come into contact with beautiful things?

Rory: Well, that's pretty subjective, to be honest. You know what people say about beauty being in the eye of the beholder. However, if we talk about things commonly considered to be nice to look at, then probably museums, since their collections are usually filled with ornamental objects. I think that's the main one.

Maria: Why do people create beautiful things?

Rory: I suppose they liven the place up. It would be a bit dull to walk into a room and have nothing to look at or discuss, and when we see something pretty, I imagine that creates some sort of reaction in the head that people would like to replicate.

Maria: What beautiful scenery spots are there in your country?

Rory: Well, I'd argue that the whole place is one big scenery spot, frankly. Although some places that stand out include the mountains in the north, both in terms of the view of them and the views from them, since they're both pretty awe-inspiring. And anywhere along the coast, there are cliffs and islands that make for some really nice sunset viewing or sunrise if you get up early enough.

Maria: Are there more beautiful things now than in the past?

Rory: Well, in absolute terms, I'd certainly say so. I know that there are more people making more things, so it makes sense that there would be more beauty in the world. A more cynical person might say that there are more people to mess up the place and make it uglier, but I think people are more inclined to appreciate and create beauty.