M.A. (Communication Studies) / The purpose of this study is to investigate the relatively undeveloped field of art journalism in South Africa through in depth research focusing on one aspect within this field namely the art review. In researching this topic attention was initially given to the entertainment sections of popular publications in general in order to determine which sub sections occur in these entertainment sections} as well as the amount of space given to each sub section. Hereby a rich field of future research in art journalism has been established. The focus was then moved to the art review as a critical evaluative report of the arts. Although not much space is generally given to the art review in the entertainment section, it is still an indispensable part of this section of art journalism. A theoretical study has been conducted on the nature, function and requirements of the art review as (1) a report on the arts, (2) as a component of journalism and therefore subject to the general principles of the functioning of the press, (3) as a message subject to semantic and semiotic processes within the communications model...