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Representing Race: AAAS 0834 / ENGL 0834 / HIST 834

This guide provides resources for representations of non-Western people and cultures in film, literature, scientific and legal writings, popular culture and artistic expression. What is behind this impulse to divide the world into "us" and "them"?

Scholarly, Popular, Trade? What's in a name?

When we talk about periodicals, we can usually divide these publications into three broad categories: scholarly, popular, and trade publications. Each category has a different purpose, author, and audience. See below for an explanation of each category or watch the Scholarly vs. Popular Periodicals video above.
Scholarly PeriodicalsPopular PeriodicalsTrade Periodicals
Purpose Informs and reports on original research done by scholars and experts in the field.  Published by professional organizations, university presses, and research institutes. Entertains and informs a general audience without providing in-depth analysis.  Published by commercial presses. Reports on industry trends and new products or techniques useful to people in a trade or business. Published by commercial presses or industry associations.
Authors Articles are written by subject specialists and experts in the field.  Reviewed by experts (peer review) not employed by the journal. Articles are written by journalists, freelance writers, or an editorial staff.  No peer-review process. Articles are written by specialists in a certain field or industry as well as journalists.  No peer-review process.
Audience Intended for a limited audience - researchers, scholars, and experts. Intended for a broad segment of the population, appealing to non-specialists. Intended for practitioners in a particular profession, business, or industry.
Examples

Journal of Biochemistry

American Historical Review

Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly

U.S. News and World Report

Reader's Digest

Rolling Stone

Broadcasting & Cable

Advertising Age

AutoWeek