In trying to increase their audiences, legitimacy, and support bases

Question

In trying to increase their audiences, legitimacy, and support bases, arts institutions increasingly emulate purveyors of popular culture... if the arts have something unique and vital to offer, given their nonprofit status and their orientation as a public good, then it is important not only to arts communities but also to society that this trend be reversed ...

.. the arts have functioned in the nonprofit arena-which indicates that the arts serve a larger social purpose. If this larger social purpose is not being fulfilled arts institutions will find themselves attempting to attract participation and interest by imitating, and competing with, popular culture.

Although the boundaries between the arts and popular culture appear porous, the two rest on entirely different economic models. Popular culture has been market-based and profit-oriented since the late nineteenth century; the arts have functioned in the nonprofit arena-which indicates that the arts serve a larger social purpose. If this larger social purpose is not being fulfilled-whether because of insufficient corporate and patron funding or because of failures by the arts to demonstrate their value to legislators and to the public-arts institutions will find themselves attempting to attract participation and interest by imitating, and competing with, popular culture.   1 
Given the case made in the passage concerning the larger social purpose served by the arts, which of the following would the author be LEAST likely to regard as an instance of the arts fulfilling that purpose?

A. A new film that embodies innovative cinematic techniques and was highly praised by eminent reviewers earns gross revenue that significantly exceeds the total production costs.
B. As part of a branding campaign, portraits of a company's founders are commissioned by the company for placement in the entrance lobby of the company's headquarters.
C. An educational foundation sponsors a program to have songwriters visit schools and work with children to show them how to write their own songs.
D. A nation's most revered poet writes a series of poems to celebrate the nation's commitment to diversity and equality.
E. A government initiates a scheme to award tax-free stipends that will allow promising artists, musicians, and writers to pursue their creative endeavors.

2  
The primary purpose of the passage is to

A. explain the ways in which various marketing approaches affect what is produced by the arts
B. recommend a particular marketing approach in order to increase funding for the arts
C. argue that a type of marketing recently used for the arts may clash with an older conception of their value and social purpose
D. compare the marketing techniques of the arts with those of popular culture
E. explore the way in which the societal functions of the arts have evolved since the nineteenth century

3  
Which of the following would, if true, most strengthen the argument attributed by the highlighted phrase?

A. Marketing the arts with the same techniques currently used to market popular culture does not necessarily undermine the uniqueness of artistic products.
B. One consequence of the goal of maximizing sales, inherent in popular-culture marketing techniques, is frequently a certain homogenization of what is marketed.
C. If use of sophisticated marketing techniques would help make most arts events profitable, the arts would not necessarily be abandoning their societal mission.
D. It is generally agreed that communities that foster the arts can derive significant economic benefits from doing so.
E. The arts can thrive while preserving their core values if they strive to compete directly with popular culture.

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m7runner · Answer

SergejK  thanks for this passage. Could you highlight the phrase for question 3? Couldn’t really answer this question.

SergejK · Answer

Hi m7runner, the marked part is in the first para: "Somme commentators argue that". I also marked it in the passage.

Ankit__7182 · Answer

KarishmaB   GMATNinja   MartyMurray  - Please help with question 1 and 3. Thank you.

Raman109 · Answer

Q1 - Given the case made in the passage concerning the larger social purpose served by the arts, which of the following would the author be LEAST likely to regard as an instance of the arts fulfilling that purpose?

A. A new film that embodies innovative cinematic techniques and was highly praised by eminent reviewers earns gross revenue that significantly exceeds the total production costs. - "innovative cinematic techniques" may stand for increasing the art value.  
 
B. As part of a branding campaign, portraits of a company's founders are commissioned by the company for placement in the entrance lobby of the company's headquarters. - not related to the social purpose of arts.  
 
C. An educational foundation sponsors a program to have songwriters visit schools and work with children to show them how to write their own songs. - related to the purpose of arts.  
 
D. A nation's most revered poet writes a series of poems to celebrate the nation's commitment to diversity and equality. - related to the purpose of arts.  
 
E. A government initiates a scheme to award tax-free stipends that will allow promising artists, musicians, and writers to pursue their creative endeavors. - related to the purpose of arts.

Q3 -  Which of the following would, if true, most strengthen the argument attributed by the highlighted phrase?

A. Marketing the arts with the same techniques currently used to market popular culture does not necessarily undermine the uniqueness of artistic products. - weakener.  
 
B. One consequence of the goal of maximizing sales, inherent in popular-culture marketing techniques, is frequently a certain homogenization of what is marketed. - yes. It looses the uniqueness of the art.  
 
C. If use of sophisticated marketing techniques would help make most arts events profitable, the arts would not necessarily be abandoning their societal mission. - weakener.  
 
D. It is generally agreed that communities that foster the arts can derive significant economic benefits from doing so. - out of scope.  
 
E. The arts can thrive while preserving their core values if they strive to compete directly with popular culture - the argument of the others and not of the highlighted. Out of scope.

KarishmaB · Answer

Question 1 Given the case made in the passage concerning the larger social purpose served by the arts, which of the following would the author be LEAST likely to regard as an instance of the arts fulfilling that purpose? A. A new film that embodies innovative cinematic techniques and was highly praised by eminent reviewers earns gross revenue that significantly exceeds the total production costs. B. As part of a branding campaign, portraits of a company's founders are commissioned by the company for placement in the entrance lobby of the company's headquarters. C. An educational foundation sponsors a program to have songwriters visit schools and work with children to show them how to write their own songs. D. A nation's most revered poet writes a series of poems to celebrate the nation's commitment to diversity and equality. E. A government initiates a scheme to award tax-free stipends that will allow promising artists, musicians, and writers to pursue their creative endeavors. Extrapolatory Question larger social purpose served by the arts - arts have something unique and vital to offer, orientation as a public good, unique qualities of the arts A. A new film that embodies innovative cinematic techniques and was highly praised by eminent reviewers earns gross revenue that significantly exceeds the total production costs. The film embodies innovative techniques so it serves the larger social purpose B. As part of a branding campaign, portraits of a company's founders are commissioned by the company for placement in the entrance lobby of the company's headquarters. The portraits of the founder are a branding campaign. Nothing unique, vital, public good qualities C. An educational foundation sponsors a program to have songwriters visit schools and work with children to show them how to write their own songs. Songwriters visiting schools serves public good. D. A nation's most revered poet writes a series of poems to celebrate the nation's commitment to diversity and equality. Poems serve public good by encouraging diversity and equality E. A government initiates a scheme to award tax-free stipends that will allow promising artists, musicians, and writers to pursue their creative endeavors. The scheme supports public good. Artists, musicians and writers pursue their creative endeavors - serve the 'unique' purpose Answer (B) Question 2 The primary purpose of the passage is to A. explain the ways in which various marketing approaches affect what is produced by the arts B. recommend a particular marketing approach in order to increase funding for the arts C. argue that a type of marketing recently used for the arts may clash with an older conception of their value and social purpose D. compare the marketing techniques of the arts with those of popular culture E. explore the way in which the societal functions of the arts have evolved since the nineteenth century Universal question Given in the passage: In trying to increase their audiences, legitimacy, and support bases, arts institutions increasingly emulate purveyors of popular culture... if the arts have something unique and vital to offer, given their nonprofit status and their orientation as a public good, then it is important not only to arts communities but also to society that this trend be reversed ... .. the arts have functioned in the nonprofit arena-which indicates that the arts serve a larger social purpose. If this larger social purpose is not being fulfilled arts institutions will find themselves attempting to attract participation and interest by imitating, and competing with, popular culture. The whole point of the passage is that due to lack to funds, art is going the pop culture way but it has inherently been unique, non profit and for social good. So (C) argue that a type of marketing recently used for the arts may clash with an older conception of their value and social purpose Answer (C) Question 3 Which of the following would, if true, most strengthen the argument attributed by the highlighted phrase? A. Marketing the arts with the same techniques currently used to market popular culture does not necessarily undermine the uniqueness of artistic products. B. One consequence of the goal of maximizing sales, inherent in popular-culture marketing techniques, is frequently a certain homogenization of what is marketed. C. If use of sophisticated marketing techniques would help make most arts events profitable, the arts would not necessarily be abandoning their societal mission. D. It is generally agreed that communities that foster the arts can derive significant economic benefits from doing so. E. The arts can thrive while preserving their core values if they strive to compete directly with popular culture. Inferred Idea Question Argument: Some commentators argue that if the arts have something unique and vital to offer, given their nonprofit status and their orientation as a public good, then it is important not only to arts communities but also to society that this trend be reversed so that the unique qualities of the arts are retained and made available to all. The argument says that if arts have something unique, this marketing trend needs to be reversed. What will strengthen this? (B) One consequence of the goal of maximizing sales, inherent in popular-culture marketing techniques, is frequently a certain homogenization of what is marketed. If the marketing trend is not reversed, the uniqueness of art will go away. The consequence of this marketing technique is that the product becomes homogenised (all same, not unique). Hence the uniqueness of art will be lost if this trend continues. Answer (B) RC Types of Questions are discussed here: https://youtu.be/L-C8urqQP6k

sherlocked221B · Answer

In Question 2, the primary purpose of the passage -

The passage is not arguing about the marketing techniques, right? It is only discussing or commenting about it. I felt "Argue" word seems too harsh to select that option.

KarishmaB  , could you please comment on how to avoid eliminating this option looking at "argue" in the options?

Thank you!

KarishmaB · Answer

The word "argue" has multiple meanings but in formal academic usage, it pretty much means "present points in favour or against". 
He argued in favour of ....
She argued against ...

It doesn't mean he was being unpleasant.

BigBacBrother333 · Answer

Hi  KarishmaB ! I was stuck between A and C when answering this question but crossed out C because I didn't see how the passage was talking about one type of marketing even though the rest of that sentence made sense to me.

Can you please explain? Thank you!

KarishmaB · Answer

The type of marketing option (C) is talking about is the 'marketing done by popular culture.' Hence (C) does make sense.

(A) is certainly incorrect
 A. explain the ways in which various marketing approaches affect what is produced by the arts 
 The passage does not discuss any influence on what is produced by the arts by any marketing approach.  
 The whole passage simply talks about why the 'marketing done by popular culture' is not the right approach for arts. 
 
Look at the first sentences of first and second paras:

In trying to increase their audiences, legitimacy, and support bases, arts institutions increasingly emulate purveyors of popular culture by using sophisticated marketing techniques.

Although the boundaries between the arts and popular culture appear porous, the two rest on entirely different economic models.

In trying to increase their audiences, legitimacy, and support bases

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In trying to increase their audiences, legitimacy, and support bases

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