IELTS Writing Task 2 – Some people claim that public museums and art galleries
Some people claim that public museums and art galleries will not be needed
because people can see historical objects and works of art by using a computer.
Do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
You should write at least 250 words.
IELTS Writing Task 2/ IELTS Essay Sample
Sample Answer 1:
It is irrefutable that nowadays, because of technology, arm-chair tourism through
which we can see historical objects and works of art on a computer, has gained
popularity. However, I disagree, that public museums and art galleries will no longer
be needed. In fact, I believe that their popularity will grow even further.
First of all, computers can never replace real public museums and art galleries. No
matter how real and vivid computer images are, they are only images and can never
be likened to the historical objects and works of art that we see in real or even might
be allowed to touch with our fingertips. The difference can be compared to seeing the
picture of a mango rather than actually eating it.
Secondly, visiting real museums and art galleries is a rewarding experience in many
respects. For one thing, it is a good exercise. While we are making the trip to a
museum or art gallery and then strolling about on site, we get some exercise which
does a lot of good to our health. We generally go with family and friends and enjoy a
lot. We also learn about the culture and tradition of the place. All this broadens our
horizons which can never be done by the passive activity of seeing something on the
computer screen.
Finally, I believe that after seeing these objects and museums, our craving to actually
see these increases even more and so we make efforts to go and see these places. This
can be proved by the overwhelming number of tourists to these places that has been
increasing year after year. At certain times, especially when it is temporarily
impossible for us to visit museums and art galleries in person, we can get a rough
picture of what are on display on site. However, what we see from a computer screen
is, after all, not exactly the same as what we see and feel with our own eyes on site.
In conclusion, arm-chair tourism is there today but museums and art galleries will still
be needed
Model Answer 2:
The view of shutting down of Public art galleries and museums in wake of advances in Information technology seems to be an absurd idea to me. These places play a great role in sensitizing the masses about history, civilization and other aspects to which they are devoted. From my perspective, the technology can only supplement them and not replace them.
Admittedly, the advances in the computer and internet have revolutionised the way people work and access various things. Using this wonder, man can access any information electronically from the remote location and even view the exhibits displayed in the art galleries and museums from his bedroom. Nevertheless, viewing them on screen is certainly different from seeing them in person from the convenience of one’s home. On screen, one can feel the exhibit through only one sense that is vision, however, at the actual place he can employ his other senses, like touch, too to make it more rewarding and memorable experience; which is very hard to get on screen. Learning about a mummy electronically is not the same as knowing about them by paying visit to Pyramids of Egypt or British National Museum.
Besides, archives and Art galleries help the visitors to get the feel by organizing various activities requiring their participation. Some times the skill sessions are organised to help the visitors learn the art. As it is said that ‘A picture is worth thousand words’, In the similar fashion it can be concluded that actual object is no match to the image/video on screen.
It can be summarised that computers may offer the convenient way of getting the information on rare objects or art forms but the can never be a substitute of exhibition halls and art galleries.
Model Answer 3:
It is sometimes argued whether the powerful computer science and internet could replace public museums and art galleries. I believe new technologies could only work as supplements as appose to replacements.
I believe people who would like to appreciate historical objects and art works online usually find it is convenient to do so. Firstly, one can search for an object by just typing a few characters, and the result would come out automatically. Secondly, unlike museums and art galleries whose opening hours are fixed, people can access the information online at anytime they want. Thirdly, with the scanning technology developing, now we can see more details of a historical object or an art work. For instance, people can zoom in or zoom out a picture to see the texture of a piece of painting which sometimes is even hard for naked eyes to see.
However, I also believe that all the benefits of the computer and the internet cannot diminish the necessity of public museums and art galleries. In order to help visitors learn more about their exhibits, museums and galleries would hold various activities, such as hiring musicians to play music with the instruments which are in display. In addition, since the computer screen size is limited, seeing an item in its original size in person is a totally different experience from seeing it on screen. Also, sometimes the museums and galleries would allow visitors to touch a certain exhibit or a replica so that people could not only see the texture but also feel it by themselves.
In conclusion, my view is that new computer technologies are not substitutive for public museum and art galleries.
Sample answer 4:
I tend be at variance with the opinion of doing away with the Museums and art galleries and to acquire the information online. As I opine the advocates of this view seems to have exaggerated the abilities of computers and undermined that of archives and exhibition halls.
The museums preserve objects of historical, scientific or artistic importance and act as repository for the people to learn about them. Most of the times, the exhibits are rare and hard to find in the day to day life and to learn about them people often pay visit to such places. Besides offering them with the relevant information such visits not only break their monotony of life and rejuvenates them but promote the place, where it is situated, as tourist destination thereby benefiting both the locals and authorities. These benefits would fade away if these are done away with.
Though using tools of information technology all the information can be remotely obtained from the convenience of home. Nevertheless, viewing onscreen can never match the feel that one can have by visiting such places in person. On screen one can only use his sense of vision, but in the exhibition hall other senses can also be employed to get the better insight into other aspects of the exhibit.
As it is well said that ‘Walking a mile is worth reading thousand books’, in the same way museums and art galleries provide the rich and rewarding experience that can not be secured by passive activity of surfing the internet.
Eventually, it can be concluded that computers can certainly be used to know about rare objects or various art forms but it is going to be hard nut to crack for computers to replace these place. Indeed, they can only compliment the museums and art galleries and not take their place.
Sample Answer 5:
We live in the age of computer and Information Technology and with the tap of our fingers we can get virtually any information we need. The recent 3D presentations and 360 degree views of museums, art galleries, streets, oceans, hills and virtually any place of the world are quite fascinating. This fire up the debate whether we really need to have public places like museum, art galleries or establishments like these as people can easily view and know about historic objects and art works using a computer. Personally I quite disagree with the given notion and believe that online information can never replace the needs of having real museums and art galleries.
First of all, only when we have museums, at galleries, exhibitions, or collection of historic objects and art works, we can present them online. Without the existence of museums and galleries, online collection of historic objects or works would never have existed. Second, museums and art galleries preserve the real objects while online presentation has nothing to do about preserving those invaluable works and objects. Moreover, museums and galleries are maintained by a group of experts who knows which objects or works are historically important and decide to preserve them. On the contrary, websites and online resources are often run by ordinary people and maintaining online authenticity is not always possible.
Again, museums and art galleries offer first-hand experience to the audiences and viewers and represent the history, tradition and important art works of a country. The computer based information of an important historic work or object can never do the same. Online information about any particular art work or historic object is a great way to learn about it but it can never be compared with human experience of observing them personally.
Finally, museums and art galleries have great attractions among tourists and their online version can never actually generate a huge revenue that a real museums or art gallery would do. Children of schools might enjoy learning about arts, history etc online but unless they personally witness those, they will never become enthusiastic about history and art.
In conclusion, online presentation of historic and art work is a good way of letting people learn more about them but it is quite unrealistic that they would replace the real establishment of museums or art galleries around the world.
Model Answer 6:
Undoubtedly, museums and art galleries have great role to play to connect the masses to their past or know about their culture, tradition or other aspects to which the place is dedicated and hence are indispensable. The view of using the computer in place of them sound like ludicrous/ preposterous thought to me.
I have reasons to believe so. Firstly, such places offer tremendous features that passive activity of computing can not offer. Museums and art galleries, offer a rich and gratifying experience to the person that is hard nut to crack for electronic forms. The feel that a person can have by interacting with the curator of the museums/gallery, touching sculpture, observing the intrinsic details of the exhibit can not be secured electronically. Such visits often put an indelible impression on one’s mind and the information so acquired tend to be more detailed and long lasting.
In addition to providing details about the exhibits, such places help the individual to come out of his hectic schedule and have some time for himself, family and friends thus serving as social and recreational activity too. Further, such places develop as tourist destinations; that promote the local business and thereby benefiting both locals and authorities.
Finally, it can be summarised that though computers can provide the required information without stepping out of your study(room) but still they can not replicate the physical museum and art galleries rather can supplement them.
Model Answer 7:
There is a view that because of the rising of computer technology, it is not necessary for public museums and art galleries to afford objects and works to citizens. Personally, I can hardly agree with this opinion.
It is understandable that establishing a museum or an art gallery needs costly expenditure, such as spending on constructions, employees and facilities. Excessive consumption of social resources leads to the increase in the pressure of country and government. Obviously, being able to use the computer science to show up the exhibitions and art works makes government throw into other areas to develop.
However, admitting the possible effects of this policy is not the same as supporting the entire argument. In fact, inside the modern society, museums and galleries take center stage. They provide a unique interactive experience for people to close to the things only see in the books, on the websites or televisions. Undoubtedly, the perception you get of something from a second-hand source is completely different from the one you get when you see something with your own eyes. In addition, museums and galleries play a significant role in attracting tourists and therefore are instrumental in helping the local economy in terms of tourism revenue and offering local people employments. What’s more, visiting to the museum and gallery is more reasonable than their computer counterparts because of the reliability. There has been an increase in the number of web-based information that will feed misleading things. By contrast, looking round in a real place will bring you authority and realness.
By way conclusion, with the importance of the museum and galleries, computers cannot totally instead of their role and function.
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