Monaco describes a ‘spectrum of the arts’ to mean a differentiation between different art forms and effect it has on the viewer. The spectrum includes performance arts (which happen in real time), representational arts (to convey information to the observer) and recording arts (which provide a more direct path between subject and observer). 

An example of performing arts is theatre, Monaco seperated this type of art from into the ‘pictorial-dramatic-narrative’ section of the spectrum, this is because theatre creates a ‘real time’ image in order to convey a story and experience to the viewer. Monaco also describe art to be a human endeavour that is more of an attitude than activity.  

An example of representational art is literature, Monaco depicts how representational art establishes the conventions of language, this is important in understanding how representational art, such as novels and poetry falls between the ‘dramatic-narrative’ subsection of the spectrum. 

The last type of art form Monaco explores in the recording arts, an example of this could be music. Music has an emotional and narrative effect on the listener as much as it does any other type of art form. To thoroughly understand Music as a type of recording arts, Monaco depicts music to be in the musical section of the spectrum of arts.