Issue Details: First known date: 2023... 2023 Art in the Barbershop : Visual Arts, Audiences and Australasian Post
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'This article analyses coverage of the visual arts in the Australian “barbershop” magazine Australasian Post. It traces the function and position of art history and the visual arts in the magazine, exploring how they were communicated to audiences by a publication that self-consciously negotiated a delicate balance between “highbrow” and “lowbrow” content and style. The article focuses on the contributions of the magazine’s most significant art critics, including Alan McCulloch in the mid-1940s and, in most detail, Arnold Shore in the early 1950s. It considers how the visual arts articles changed in style over this period and the multiple ways the magazine addressed its audiences. By analysing other features of the magazine, especially its letters from readers, I make clear that not only were audiences engaged with the arts content, but they also sought to influence its approach. In this way, Australasian Post provides a case study for how the arts have been presented to broad audiences and how art-historical knowledge can be communicated to increase audiences’ understanding and visual literacy. With recent sector research showing that the arts are still perceived as elitist for significant portions of Australian society, understanding accessible communication strategies is more important than ever.' (Publication abstract)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Journal of Australian Studies vol. 47 no. 1 2023 25966087 2023 periodical issue

    'Welcome to the first issue of the Journal of Australian Studies for 2023. As you will see, this is a robust first quarter featuring five general articles and a special section relating to the history of illustrated magazines in Australia, edited by Anna Johnston and Paolo Magagnoli from The University of Queensland. This collection of fascinating articles collectively demonstrates the strength of contemporary scholarship that addresses the intersections between media and culture, and the themed section makes clear that illustrated magazines—as complex, multifaceted objects—provide a unique window on Australia’s recent history. We are delighted to showcase these significant interventions in a growing field, which is finally beginning to attract the sustained attention it deserves.' (Emily Potter and Brigid Magner : Editorial introduction)

    2023
    pg. 71-90
Last amended 28 Mar 2023 08:13:27
71-90 Art in the Barbershop : Visual Arts, Audiences and Australasian Postsmall AustLit logo Journal of Australian Studies
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