The Australasian
Australasian National Illustrated Weekly;
Australasian (Melbourne)
1864
Melbourne
:
Hugh George
,
1864-1946
Z868440
1864
newspaper
(2313 issues)
'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)
'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)
'The Answerth family's mansion seems to deserve its nickname of Venom House - perhaps because of its forbidding setting, an island in the centre of a man-made lake, its treacherous waters studded by the skeletons of long-dead trees. Perhaps it's because of the unquiet ghosts of the Aboriginals slaughtered by the Answerth ancestors. Whatever the reason, most people are content to give Venom House and its occupants a wide berth... until a couple of corpses turn up in the lake. Inspector Bonaparte has a sudden urge to get to knows the Answerths and their charming home much better... ' (Publication summary)
