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Pollak Library

Art: Article Types

This guide can help you find resources to help you in your academic writing about art, your work on your artist's statement, and your studio practice.

Recognize Scholarly Journals, Trade Journals, and Magazines

Types of Art Periodicals and Their Uses

Scholarly Journals Trade Journals Magazines
Written for

Researchers, professors, & students

 Professionals within that field

 General public
Written by

Researchers, often college professors

 Professionals within that field

Professional writers
Appearance

Covers: Simpler, may use few colors
Advertisements: very few
Contains: Research results, charts, graphs, statistics, maybe a few examples of artwork
Published by: Universities or professional associations

Covers: Glossy with great photos
Advertisements:  Many
Contains: Practical information, lots of advertisements useful to working professionals
Published by: Professional associations

Covers: Glossy with great photos Advertisements: Many
Contains: Entertaining information for the people who read it for pleasure.
Published by: Commercial publishers
Articles

* are always signed.
* written in scholarly language
* are long, eight or more pages
* report research
* will be fully cited
* have detailed bibliography
* reviewed by an editorial board

* might be signed.
* easy to read.
* report on trends, news or practical information for art professionals.
* will be short, 1 paragraph to a couple of pages.
* likely to be illustrated.

* might be signed.
* are easy to read.
* are read for pleasure.
* include lots of photographs
* report on current topics and events.
* articles tend to be short.
Used for

Journals report scholarly research and are read by scholars and college students.  They are often the basis for further scholarly research done by researchers and are used by college students doing research.

Trade journals inform working professionals on practical information, current trends, products, and advertise conferences & workshops. They might be used in college research.  Check with your professor.

Popular magazines are written primarily for the pleasure of the general public but they can also inform and educate.  They are not used college-level research papers.
Cost

Remarkably expensive, starts about $500.per year, obtain from a university.

Cost varies, less expensive, part of a professional membership.

Comparatively reasonable, subscriptions bring the cost down.
Sample Titles

Art Journal
Art Criticism
Nineteenth-Century Art
   Worldwide
The Art Bulletin

Art Education
Art Forum International
Graphis

In Style
Newsweek
Time
Artforum