| aesthetic /iːsˈθetɪk/ | connected with beauty and how things look | The café has a cool, minimalist aesthetic. |
| portrayal /pɔːˈtreɪəl/ | the way someone is shown in a film, book or picture | Her portrayal of the queen won an Oscar. |
| genre /ˈʒɒnrə/ | a type of film, book or music | Science fiction is my favourite genre. |
| narrative /ˈnærətɪv/ | a story, or the way it is told | The game has a powerful narrative that keeps you playing. |
| critique /krɪˈtiːk/ | a detailed judgement of a work of art | The magazine published a harsh critique of the new album. |
| motif /məʊˈtiːf/ | an image or idea that is repeated in a work | Water is a recurring motif in the film. |
| protagonist /prəˈtæɡənɪst/ | the main character in a story | The protagonist is a 15-year-old girl who can talk to animals. |
| juxtaposition /ˌdʒʌkstəpəˈzɪʃn/ | putting two very different things side by side | The photo shows a juxtaposition of old buildings and modern skyscrapers. |
| masterpiece /ˈmɑːstəpiːs/ | an extremely good work of art | Many consider the Mona Lisa a masterpiece. |
| exhibition /ˌeksɪˈbɪʃn/ | a public show of art or objects | We saw an exhibition of Frida Kahlo's paintings. |