Presentation Transcript

1. Kitsch

3. Stupid F***king Cat • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxhgP6xsrsY

4. Kitsch and Art • The following information comes from the book Kitsch and Art • By Tomas Kulka • Published 1996

5. Definition of Kitsch • During the second part of the 19th century art critics began to discuss what they called kitsch. • Most commentators when discussed it said that it was bad art but understood that it had enormous appeal to people. • However, Kulka doesn't believe that we should think of it as art. • He argues Kitsch can be defined in a way that will separate it from genuine art. • There are three inherent characteristics that are necessary for Kitsch to be kitsch.

6. Kitsch Characteristic 1: Emotionally Charged Subject Matter • The subject matter must be emotionally charged • It must evoke a quick an and strong emotion out of the viewer • However, the emotion cannot be a thoughtful response • The emotions are collective, non private emotions • Example: crying child (cute child with a sweet look) • Cute kittens (not a cat)

8. Kitsch Characteristic #2: The subject is easy to identify • Cubism and surrealism are the anti-kitsch • Both are examples of art that are not realistic or easily identifiable.

9. Kitsch Characteristic #3: it does not transform or enrich the way that you think about the world. • The last necessary condition of kitsch is that it does not transform or enrich the way that you think about the world. • In this way it tones down advancements in art and society. • Does not exploit the artistic possibilities of structural elaboration.

10. How Kitsch Differs from Art • 1. Kitsch is parasitic • 2. Kitsch lacks aesthetic intensity • 3. Kitsch is a transparent symbol

11. Kitsch is Parasitic • Kitsch does not create beauty of its own • Its appeal isn't generated by the aesthetic merit of the work itself but by the emotional appeal of the depicted object • Parasitic on its referent (subject matter)

12. Kitsch Lacks Aesthetic Intensity • Kitsch lacks aesthetic Intensity whereas it has emotional intensity • In separating good from bad art we need to focus on intensity • kitsch consists of a special kind of redundancy • they are more or less freely exchangeable with a wide range of alternatives • kitsch gives you stereotypes of a crying child where as good art would give you specific features • in great artwork each element will contribute to the greatness of the artwork whereas the elements in kitsch don't matter

14. Kitsch is a transparent symbol • Kitsch acts as a substitute for the thing it shows us • The "what" overshadows the “how” • The focus is on the subject and the art is only there to look through and see the meaning • Viewer dwells on the referent rather than artistic signs • The audience for kitsch is not focused on the formal or technical features of the work as art • Looks through the kitsch work to a subject-matter, normally something sentimental or morally edifying.

15. Examples of Kitsch • Mini glass puppy figurines • This is kitsch because it evokes a communal emotionally charged response of “Aaw How cute.” • The subject of the puppy is easily identifiable • It also doesn’t change the way you think • Mini replica of the Statue of Liberty • It is not like most kitsch that gives off a quick emotional charge • it is parasitic on the aura of fame of the artwork • many of the replicas are ugly but people who buy it don't know or don't care because they are not thinking about the art work itself • It is easily identifiable. • It does not change your thinking.

16. Kundera on Kitsch: group strong emotion + community = kitsch • Kitsch is art aimed at creating a “categorical agreement with being.” • Meaning that Kitsch is an art that reassures us that the author of Genesis was right and that the “world was created properly, and that human existence is good, and that we are therefore entitled to multiply.” • “Kitsch is the absolute denial of shit, in both the literal and the figurative senses of the word; kitsch excludes everything from its purview which is essentially unacceptable in human existence.” (p. 248) • Kitsch can only exist on based on images which are engraved in memories of the i.e. happy family opening presents on Christmas, first love, death of a family dog

17. What Makes this Kitsch?

18. What Makes this Kitsch? • Gentle son of G-d • Bathed in a colorful golden aura • Giving love to the world • Appeal directly to the heart • This is a Jesus who did not crap, suffer, love, feel, burp, fart

19. Look at the Photo…

20. When Looking at Kitsch Two Single Tears will be Shed… • “The first tear says: How nice to see children running on the grass. The second tear says: How nice to be moved, together with all mankind, by children running on the grass! The second tear makes kitsch kitsch.” There is a sense of self-congratulation in that second tear, but also an enjoyment of the fact of universality. So when Bambi appears on screen, and everyone sighs, “Awaaah,” part of the appeal of the event is the recognition that everybody’s awaahing at the same time. “Since the purpose of kitsch,” Kulka says, “is to please the greatest possible number of people, it always plays on the most common denominators.”