Beginning with criticism: An analysis of the first four volumes of Art South Africa
Date
2008-08-20T10:42:54Z
Authors
Snapper, Clarissa J.
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Abstract
Art South Africa is currently the leading, professionally published art magazine in South
Africa. The magazine plays an important role in the dissemination of art discourse and art
news and is the only ongoing, printed forum devoted exclusively to South African
contemporary art. In this paper I will be looking at Art South Africa to describe the type
of art texts it presents and the particular position it has taken in the contemporary art
world of South Africa. In doing this I will be analysing the magazine to register the types
of writing and other information in formats such as art news, exhibition reviews, artist
bios, interviews and even advertising. This paper will also be analysing selected texts to
determine the key issues that are represented and the way those issues have been
represented with a critical position. Looking at Art South Africa from many angles will
show that criticality is one of the magazine’s ideological aims and though the magazine’s
format changes over time, it has continually sought to engage its readers in critical
discourse.
Description
Keywords
Art criticism, Art criticism- South Africa, Art South Africa (Journal Title)