CRITICAL ARTS

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.

(Special

issue: South African Cinema)

March 1960 Vol J No I

by a radical perspective

theoretical

in nature.

leaning will be towards semiotics.

of South Africa's media institutions

the first issue of Critical Arts:

in the study of media and the arts in South Africa.

theatre. music. press etc.) and media in the Mcluhanesque

A Journal for Media Sdudies. marks a
It is the only
The journal
on the arts (eg. fil_. radio.
sense.
in a Third World context. while
Critical Arts
It will seek to stimulate the serious studf of
neglected areas such as the role of radio in apartheid society.
for the investigation
of theatre.
will not perpetuate an elitist
of the mass media - it will be
of the media and the arts prir.rarilyfrOll

EDITORIAL
This.
milestone
journal devoted entirely to this area of study in this country.
will be characterized
television.
Concern ~ill be with media and communication
the journal's
will be polemical
previously
to esta)lish
relevant critical frameworks
filQ and television etc.
This publication
notion of the arts Or bourgeois conceptions
concerr.ed ~ith the interpretation
the point of view of popular culture.
In short. the illlnediateaim of Critical Arts will be to generate discussion
and dialogue between academics and the world at large. and to challenge the
existing
social structures and social relations which govern the status quo
orientation
This inauguration
issue carries a special edition on South African cinema.
The study of South African film has hitherto been considered beneath the
in South Africa.
dignity of most media specialists
The papers published
here go a long waf in establishing
the social importance of a study of
this country's cin~.
in terms of its sociological base.
particularly
Most of the contributing
authors have been involved in a study of local
cinema over the last decade. but this is the first time that the seriousness
and significance
Future editions of Critical Arts will concentrate
theatre and drama. radio. television.
advertising
The Editors would like to thank all those who contributed
publication
the Jor.annesburg press for pub1icising
makers ~~o gave pen;ission for the screening
in the r.itty gritty of administration
typist. Judi Latter.

in any way to the
the staff of the Performing Arts Centre.
the individual film-
of their films and those involved
Finally. thanks to our

our film shows;
and production.

of their work has been recognized academically.

in specific areas such as
etc

of this first issue:

NEXT ISSUE:
DRAMA AND THEATRE

CONTENTS
MAJOR ARTICLES

Vol I

No I March 1980

Reflections in South African

1.

2.
3.

4••

5.•

-

-

Keyan G Tomaselli

"Class and Ideology:
Cinema"
"An Approach to Afrikaans Film"
"De Voortrekkers
Conventions"
-
'No God, No Morality, No History':
John A f van lyl
Fi1m" -
'
'Sensua1 ••• But not too far from Innocence':
of Sexism in Advertising"
Tessa Wolf

(I9I6):
Hannes van Zyl

-

Robert J Greig

Some Stereotypes and Narrative

South African Ethnographic

A critical Theory
Charlene Frenkel, Mark Orkin and

14
25

32

38

51
54
56

57

"Follow That Rainbow:

Operation Update"

-

Keyan G Tomaselli

Johan Bruwer

"Angsst - Same Time, Same Place.

-

John A F van Zyl

FOCUS ON CRITICISM
6.
7•• Oie Hoord"
8.
BOOK REVIEW
9. ,"On Reading

-

The South}frican

Film Industry"

-

Richard Harvey

Johannesburg.

HOTES ON THE CONTRIBUTORS
Keyan G Tomaselli teaches film and television in the School of Dramatic Art,
University of the Witwatersrand,
Robert J Greig was formally fil. and theatre critic for The Star
Hannes van Zy1 was fonnally a lecturer in the Dept. of Conmunication at
the Universi ty of South Africa
John A F van Zyl is Senior lecturer 1n film, television and drama 1n the
School of Dramatic art, University of the Witwatersrand.
Charlene Frenkel and Tessa Wolf are graduate students in the Dept. of Sociology,
University of the Witwatersrand.
Department
Johan Bruwer is Arts critic for Rap~rt
Richard Harvey was formally a lecturer 1n English at the University of the
Witwatersrand.

Mark Orkin is Senior lecturer in the same
.. 'l. --~,

He is presently running a Farm School in the Transvaal.

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