The Last Supper for the laptop generation

Level 2
1

Intermediate

Warmer: The Last Supper quiz

Choose the correct answers in teams. 1. What kind of painting is the Last Supper? an oil painting Leonardo da Vinci 1405 Venice 460 x 880 cm 11 12 a fresco Michelangelo a watercolour a mosaic Botticelli 1560 2. Who painted the Last Supper? Raphael between 1494 and 1498 Milan 1200 x 400 cm 3. When was it painted? between 1600 and 1603 Rome The Vatican City 80 x 80 cm 13 14 46 x 80 cm 4. Where is the painting? 5. How big is the painting? 6. How many people are depicted in the painting?

Key words

Write the key words from the article into the sentences below. dignitaries authorities blaspheme masterpiece refectory permission enthusiasm one-off performance vandalism sacred

1. When you get ____________________, somebody in authority gives you the right to do something. 2. A ____________________ is an excellent painting, book, piece of music etc, or the best work of art that a particular artist, writer, musician etc has ever produced.

3. Local officials, government workers and departments are often called the ____________________. 4. A ____________________ is a large communal food hall. 5. Something that is ____________________ is considered to be holy or connected with God in a special way. 6. ____________________ is the act of deliberately damaging or destroying something. 7. A _____________________________ is a show that will never be repeated. 8. When someone does this they curse or say offensive things about religious beliefs: ____________________. 9. ____________________ are people who have an important official position, e.g. mayor or government minister. 10. ____________________ is the feeling of being very interested in something or excited by it.
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Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008 NEWS LESSONS / The Last Supper for the laptop generation / Intermediate

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The Last Supper for the laptop generation

Level 2 Intermediate
6
Permission was finally granted late last month by the Italian government in Rome. Greenaway was only allowed to stage the show for one night to a select group of Milanese dignitaries, art experts and monks. But despite the small audience, there was a feeling that Greenaways show could become a turning point in the paintings history. If Leonardo was alive now he wouldnt just be interested in film-making, he would be using high-definition cameras and would be experimenting with holograms, said Greenaway. He would be fascinated by modern technology. I am sure that he would support what we are doing. This painting belongs to the world in general; it belongs to the laptop generation as much as it does to academics and we want to demonstrate that. After the performance, the audience responded with enthusiasm. I saw things that I have never seen before, said Francesca Fiore, 41, a manager with Vodafone Italia. It was incredible, said Pierre Demarani, a publisher. There is a new light, a new colour and a new vision. Greenaway plans to repeat the performance on Las Meninas by Velzquez, Picassos Guernica, Monets Waterlilies and a Jackson Pollock in New York. His greatest ambition, though, is to work with Michelangelos Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.
Guardian News & Media 2008 First published in The Guardian, 02/07/08

Greenaways hi-tech gadgetry highlights da Vinci for the laptop generation

Robert Booth in Milan July 2, 2008 1 Leonardo da Vincis The Last Supper burst into
new life on Monday night after Peter Greenaway finally got permission to reinvent the 510-year-old masterpiece as a sound and light show.

2 In a remarkable victory for the British film director,

the Italian authorities allowed Greenaway to take projectors, computers and speakers into the usually quiet and air-sealed refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where the image of Christ and his twelve apostles decorates an end wall. Inside the refectory, Greenaway unveiled his vision of one of Christianitys most sacred and fragile paintings, re-imagined for the laptop generation.

3 To the sound of modern opera, he used modern

technical tricks to make Leonardos Christ appear like a three-dimensional hologram while the sun rose and set over his head. He turned the original colourful painting red, grey and black; dawn broke, dusk fell and by the end of the performance the apostles were behind the shadow of prison-like bars.

4 At least one of the worlds experts on da

Vinci thought Greenaways work was cultural vandalism. But others think it may have saved The Last Suppers reputation from The Da Vinci Code, Dan Browns blockbuster novel.

5 Mondays one-off performance almost did not

happen. For 18 months the authorities refused permission as they were worried about possible damage to the painting and that Greenaway might blaspheme.

Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008 NEWS LESSONS / The Last Supper for the laptop generation / Intermediate

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The Last Supper for the laptop generation

Level 2
3

Intermediate

Comprehension check

According to the article are these sentences True (T) or False (F)? 1. The Last Supper has been reinvented as a sound and light show by a British film director. 2. The Last Supper can be seen in a dining hall in Milan. 3. Greenaways Last Supper performance will be shown again in the Sistine Chapel. 4. Greenaway thinks the painting should belong to everyone. 5. The audience thought the performance was blasphemous. 6. Da Vinci painted the last supper in red, grey and black. 7. Peter Greenaway wrote the blockbuster novel, The Da Vinci Code. 8. Greenaway thinks da Vinci would have supported the new show.

4 Vocabulary
1. Complete these sentences with morning or evening. a) The sun rises in the _____________________ and sets in the _____________________. b) Dusk usually falls in the _____________________. c) Dawn breaks in the _____________________. 2. How many words can you add to the word wheels?

e.g

.s

r un

ise e

t gh ow i l h . .g s

sun

light

3. Describe dawn and dusk. ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................

Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008 NEWS LESSONS / The Last Supper for the laptop generation / Intermediate
N T O FR BE C O DO O M W P W N IA EB LO B SI A L TE DE E D

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The Last Supper for the laptop generation

Level 2 Intermediate
5 Webquest
Watch a two-minute video of the installation by following this link: http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/news/story/0,,2288367,00.html Alternatively, go to www.youtube.com and type in Peter Greenaway last supper installation.

6 Discussion: But is it art?

How do you feel about Peter Greenaways installation / show? What is art for you? Do you have a favourite piece of art?

Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008 NEWS LESSONS / The Last Supper for the laptop generation / Intermediate

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The Last Supper for the laptop generation Addiction to Internet is an illness
Level 2 KEY
1 Warmer: The Last Supper quiz
Teachers tip: award each team two points for a correct answer or if there are no correct answers, give one point to the team with the closest answer.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. a fresco (although many call it a false fresco as it was painted on a dry wall) Leonardo da Vinci between 1494 and 1498 In a refectory adjoining the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. 460 x 880 cm 13: Jesus and his 12 apostles

Intermediate

4 Vocabulary
1. a) morning / evening b) evening (note: sometimes late afternoon) c) morning

Teachers notes: If possible, watch the video via the Guardian website or YouTube before teaching this lesson. Integrate the video into your lesson if you can. Copy and print out (or show on screen) the seven photos which are found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/ gallery/2008/jul/02/art?picture=335404629 Either as an additional starter or as an extension, ask the students to talk about what they see on each photo. Set an extra task for homework: ask the students to find out how they would go about booking tickets to see the Last Supper. Where and how would they buy them? How much do they cost? When can you go and see the Last Supper (every day or only at special times)? etc.

2 Key words
1. permission 2. masterpiece 3. authorities 4. refectory 5. sacred 6. vandalism 7. one-off performance 8. blaspheme 9. dignitaries 10. enthusiasm

3 Comprehension check
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. True True False True False False False True

Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008 NEWS LESSONS / The Last Supper for the laptop generation / Intermediate

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