UNIT 6 PERSPECTIVES

1 BEFORE YOU WATCH

a Read the quotes from British street artist Banksy. Do you agree with them? Why / Why not?

Graffiti is one of the few tools you have

Imagine a city where graffiti wasn’t illegal, a city where if you have almost nothing.
everybody could draw whatever they liked. Where every
street was awash with a million colours and little phrases.
Where standing at a bus stop was never boring. A city that
felt like a party where everyone was invited, not just the
estate agents and barons of big business. People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and
childish … but that’s only if it’s done properly.

Street art in the Wynwood District of Miami Beach, Florida

b Compare your ideas with a partner.

c Think about graffiti or street art where you live or in a city you know. Answer the questions. Make notes.
1 What are some examples of graffiti or street art?
2 What effect do you think it has on the city?

d Compare your answers with a partner.

2 WHILE YOU WATCH

a Watch the video about street art. Answer the questions.
1 What places does the video focus on?
2 What effect does street art have on these places?
3 Which murals do you like? Why?

b Watch again. Complete the notes with information in the video.

Wynwood District in Miami Beach, Florida
Before:
Now:

Quinta do Mocho District in Lisbon, Portugal

Before:
Beginning of change:
Number of murals and artists:
Themes of the murals:
Residents’ attitudes:
Specific improvements:

Empower Second Edition C1 Video Worksheets © Cambridge University Press 2022 11

UNIT 6 PERSPECTIVES
c Complete the sentences with the words in the box. Some words are not used.
abandoned advertises boasts bothered exclusion isolation plagued
puzzling restoration resurrection run-down thought-provoking

1 ‘Cities in Chile, Egypt, Russia and elsewhere have seen the effect of street art on the prosperity of
formerly neighbourhoods.’
2 ‘ by violence, crime and unemployment, even taxis refused to come here.’
3 ‘… the social and geographical of its residents was a major cause of the area’s problems.’
4 ‘Since then, the event has taken place every year, and the neighbourhood now more than 120 murals.’
5 ‘The street art has contributed to the of Quinta do Mocho by attracting tourists.’
6 ‘Sometimes controversial and often , it can provide a community with a story …’

d Watch again and check your answers.

3 AFTER YOU WATCH

a Imagine you are on a committee to select murals for buildings in your local district. Look at the pictures of six different
murals. Choose a mural (A–F) for each building (1–3) and give reasons for your three choices.
1 a library and community centre
2 a sports centre
3 a new apartment block of social housing

A B C

D E F

b Work in small groups. Take turns to talk about your mural choices and reasons. As a group, decide on three murals
for the buildings. Tell the class your final choices.

Empower Second Edition C1 Video Worksheets © Cambridge University Press 2022 12