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Scholarly vs. Popular: Finding Resources for Art Research

John M. Flaxman Library�flaxman@saic.edu | saic.edu/library

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What are some different types of articles?

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Articles

Two main categories: �Popular/Trade OR Scholarly

  • Website Articles
  • Journal Articles
  • Newspaper Articles
  • Magazine Articles

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Close Look: Vogue

Vogue�March 2021�Pages 100-101

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Close Look: Art History

Art History�Volume 44, Issue 2�April 2021�Pages 258-259

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What are the differences or similarities?

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Close Look: ARTnews

ARTnews�October/November 2021�Pages 16-17

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What are the differences or similarities?

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Popular / Trade

What are the differences?

Scholarly

  • Inform / entertain
  • Target general public
  • Authored by writers / journalists
  • Informal / conversational
  • Use common vernacular
  • Editors
  • Quick publication schedule

Magazines + Newspapers

  • Present new research / findings
  • Target scholars and professionals
  • Authored by experts in field
  • Structured style/format
  • Use specialized / technical terminology
  • Peer-reviewed
  • Long publication schedule

Journals

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Reminder

Just because something is popular does not remove its value to research. Keep the context of your research and the use of the source in mind when evaluating what’s best for you.

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Let’s Find Articles!

saic.edu/library

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Your Turn!

[activity link]

8 Minutes

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Books for Art History

Academic Presses + Exhibition Catalogs

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Academic Presses

How do I know it’s academic?

  • Check the publisher
    • Is it an academic publisher? Is it a university or other higher education or research institution?�
  • Google the author
    • Are they currently working as a scholar in the field (professor, researcher, etc.)? Are they affiliated with a higher education institution?

Useful for academic research, entering the scholarly conversation, and diving deeper into a topic.

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Close Look: Academic Press

A Decade of Negative Thinking: Essays on Art, Politics, and Daily Life�Duke University Press, 2009

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Exhibition Catalogs

How do I know it’s a museum or exhibition catalog?

  • Check the publisher
    • Is it a gallery, museum, or academic organization?�
  • Look at the first few pages
    • Does it note dates of an exhibition? Are curators listed? Does it specify that this book is showcasing items from a collection?�
  • Find author / editor information
    • Does it list an author or editor? If so, does it include their credentials? Are they museum staff, historians, critics or artists?

Useful for specific essays or interviews around that exhibition or collection, images often not on Google, finding more critical discussion from art professionals across the field.

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Close Look: Exhibition Catalog

Thinking of You�The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, 1999

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Close Look: Exhibition Catalog

Thinking of You�The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, 1999

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Close Look: Exhibition Catalog

Thinking of You�The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, 1999

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Let’s Find Books!

saic.edu/library

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Your Turn!

[activity link]

8 Minutes

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Need More Help?

Stop by or email:

flaxman@saic.edu