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09:11 Nov 23, 2011
English to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting / Definition of art/arts
English term or phrase:art vs arts
I'm trying to find out if the term "art" refers to all of the visual and performing arts (including architecture, film, design, theatre) because I keep finding information stating that "arts" refers to academic studies including history, geography, etc... yet the wikipedia page says that "the arts" covers all of the visual and performing arts.
I need the proper word for printing on the cover of a cultural magazine, the catch phrase would be something like: covering the art/s and culture of XXXX. The magazine is written in British English, but is for international distribution.
To be more specific, the magazine is for a country and covers visual arts as well as theatre, film, a bit of archaeology and perhaps some history.
it's a really tricky distinction, but I'll have a go and see if I can work it out. The 'arts' do refer to a broad field of academic disciplines (as for example in Master of Arts - in my case linguistics). But more generally it refers to areas of creativity including painting, sculpture, drama, music etc etc.
'Art' can sometimes just refer to the visual arts - ie when talking about 'Art' as a subject at school for example. Or it can be a broader concept.
In the case of your catchphrase, I think I would use 'arts'. But the whole phrase might need some thinking about. Is 'xxxx' a country or city?
One might also argue that the 'culture' of 'art and culture' covers 'the arts'! Confusing... However, in the case below, Frieze is a magazine predominantly devoted to the visual arts, and I think this is conveyed by the description, which uses 'art':
Frieze www.frieze.com/frieze magazine was set up in 1991 and is the leading magazine of contemporary art and culture. frieze is published eight times a year and includes essays, ...
hope this helps
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 18 mins (2011-11-23 09:29:47 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
actually, looking at your question again - I'm not sure if you want a broad term or a term that just refers to visual art?
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 7 days (2011-11-30 21:14:46 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Hi Nikko, I think there are numerous possibilities and it would be really hard to nail the definitive strapline without really knowing the magazine, its content and its audience. In general terms I think 'arts' is better here - as in 'culture and the arts in xxxx'. But if this were my job, I would give it a lot of thought and perhaps consider alternatives such as 'XXX's cultural review/quarterly' etc etc. There are many considerations, which relate to linguistic rhythm, context, audience etc and only the translator can really make the call on this one. Good luck!
hire any one of the dozens of native English translators on this site who specialize in the areas covered by your magazine and works with your language for ONE hour? A better (and faster) answer is only a phone call away.
What fields are covered by your magazine? If it includes applied arts, such as architecture or industrial design, then you should avoid using the term "fine art".
Around here (Toronto, Canada), we do often use “the arts” (never just “arts”) but also “art and culture”, so I wouldn’t really say “art and culture” is redundant. But we don’t say “arts and culture”.
Is this a town, an association, or something else? In other words, is it from a particular point of view (such as a theatrical company), or is it a more general "what's on" about a place where things are staged?
No one would have the slightest difficulty recognizing "art" or "the arts" as refering to the fine arts in this case. In some contexts, "arts" could suggest the "liberal arts" to the reader, but not here.
As Lucy has written below, "art(s) and culture" may be confusingly redundant (if "culture" does not add any new information it should probably be left out).
I would suggest something along the lines of:
The Pregnant Oyster: The arts in Berlin [strongly implies all fine arts]
The Pregnant Oyster: Art in Berlin [strongly implies specifically visual art]
The Pregnant Oyster: Art and culture in Berlin [very inclusive]
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
11 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +2
art
Explanation: the wikipedia article is referring to academic subjects which are divided into arts and sciences in BrE.
both art and arts would work here but art and culture is very clear.
Michael Wise Local time: 21:50 Native speaker of: English
14 mins confidence:
why not using "fine arts"?
Explanation: By using "fine art(s)" there would be no place for ambiguity.
it's a really tricky distinction, but I'll have a go and see if I can work it out. The 'arts' do refer to a broad field of academic disciplines (as for example in Master of Arts - in my case linguistics). But more generally it refers to areas of creativity including painting, sculpture, drama, music etc etc.
'Art' can sometimes just refer to the visual arts - ie when talking about 'Art' as a subject at school for example. Or it can be a broader concept.
In the case of your catchphrase, I think I would use 'arts'. But the whole phrase might need some thinking about. Is 'xxxx' a country or city?
One might also argue that the 'culture' of 'art and culture' covers 'the arts'! Confusing... However, in the case below, Frieze is a magazine predominantly devoted to the visual arts, and I think this is conveyed by the description, which uses 'art':
Frieze www.frieze.com/frieze magazine was set up in 1991 and is the leading magazine of contemporary art and culture. frieze is published eight times a year and includes essays, ...
hope this helps
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 18 mins (2011-11-23 09:29:47 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
actually, looking at your question again - I'm not sure if you want a broad term or a term that just refers to visual art?
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 7 days (2011-11-30 21:14:46 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Hi Nikko, I think there are numerous possibilities and it would be really hard to nail the definitive strapline without really knowing the magazine, its content and its audience. In general terms I think 'arts' is better here - as in 'culture and the arts in xxxx'. But if this were my job, I would give it a lot of thought and perhaps consider alternatives such as 'XXX's cultural review/quarterly' etc etc. There are many considerations, which relate to linguistic rhythm, context, audience etc and only the translator can really make the call on this one. Good luck!
Lucy Phillips Local time: 20:50 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 4
I\'m trying to find out if the term \"art\" refers to all of the visual and performing arts (including architecture, film, design, theatre) because I keep finding information stating that \"arts\" refers to academic studies including history, geography, etc... yet the wikipedia page says that \"the arts\" covers all of the visual and performing arts.
I need the proper word for printing on the cover of a cultural magazine, the catch phrase would be something like: covering the art/s and culture of XXXX. The magazine is written in British English, but is for international distribution. => I\'m trying to find out if the term \"art\" refers to all of the visual and performing arts (including architecture, film, design, theatre) because I keep finding information stating that \"arts\" refers to academic studies including history, geography, etc... yet the wikipedia page says that \"the arts\" covers all of the visual and performing arts.
I need the proper word for printing on the cover of a cultural magazine, the catch phrase would be something like: covering the art/s and culture of XXXX. The magazine is written in British English, but is for international distribution.
To be more specific, the magazine is for a country and covers visual arts as well as theatre, film, a bit of archaeology and perhaps some history.
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +2
