Abstract
M.A. (Communication Studies)
The purpose of this study is to investigate the relatively undeveloped field of art
journalism in South Africa through in depth research focusing on one aspect
within this field namely the art review.
In researching this topic attention was initially given to the entertainment
sections of popular publications in general in order to determine which sub
sections occur in these entertainment sections} as well as the amount of space
given to each sub section. Hereby a rich field of future research in art journalism
has been established.
The focus was then moved to the art review as a critical evaluative report of the
arts. Although not much space is generally given to the art review in the
entertainment section, it is still an indispensable part of this section of art
journalism. A theoretical study has been conducted on the nature, function and
requirements of the art review as (1) a report on the arts, (2) as a component of
journalism and therefore subject to the general principles of the functioning of
the press, (3) as a message subject to semantic and semiotic processes within
the communications model...