The enduring power of kitsch
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The enduring power of kitsch
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Re: The enduring power of kitsch
#2The notion of kitsch is ultimately an expression of disdain by the elite and the artisan classes that serve them towards common man.
The principle reason that the phenomena of kitsch -did not- occur in earlier eras (where we certainly had elites and servant artisan classes - painters, architects, musicians, ..) is that their yet existed a shared cultural context (in the widest sense including religious and ~metaphysical beliefs) between the ruling and subject classes. For example, Michelangelo's David afforded everyone access at some level to the work.
As the elite and the common man diverged in their existential outlook, this manifested (naturally) in the high culture artifacts. There has been a great deal of effort over the years to herd the unwashed :) to appreciating the art of the new masters but the peasants at most have acquiesced to respectfully holding their caps as they silently march through the galleries.
So it is important to have this periodic 'shaming' articles.
Re: The enduring power of kitsch
#3Osbert Lancaster managed to sum up kitsch interior decor well in his cartoon book "pillar to post"
Of all people, Barry Humphries "dame edna" wrote about great Australian Kitsch: sauce bottles shaped like koalas climbing branches, the innumerable kangaroo and boomerang mantel shelf decorations, and of course the "big things"
https://louellakerrbooks.com.au/book/barry-humphries-treasur...
Re: The enduring power of kitsch
#4The notion of kitsch is ultimately an expression of disdain by the elite and the artisan classes that serve them towards common man. The principle reason that the phenomena of kitsch -did not- occur in earlier eras (where we certainly had elites and servant artisan classes - painters, architects, musicians, ..) is that their yet existed a shared cultural context (in the widest sense including religious and ~metaphysi…
Mate, everyone's gran wants a China kitten washing its face be they a coal miner or a coal magnate. If you think kitsch is a tool of working class oppression you haven't spent enough time in the China collections of the museum.
The commoditisation of art is personified by "bubbles" by John Everertt Millais and "Monarch of the Glen" by Edwin Landseer. The first is in the Lady lever collection at Port sunlight across from Liverpool, along with most of the pre raphelites, and the latter is in the Scottish National Gallery. Both were distributed widely to the peoples of the empire, tuppence coloured penny plain, and according to my sister adorn Turkish walls as a carpet, far too good to walk on.
Also.. "Chinese Girl" by Vladimir Tretchikoff..
Re: The enduring power of kitsch
#5The notion of kitsch is ultimately an expression of disdain by the elite and the artisan classes that serve them towards common man. The principle reason that the phenomena of kitsch -did not- occur in earlier eras (where we certainly had elites and servant artisan classes - painters, architects, musicians, ..) is that their yet existed a shared cultural context (in the widest sense including religious and ~metaphysi…
We are quick to admit that people take bad financial decisions because of lack of education. Same with art and interior design/decoration, I think.
Re: The enduring power of kitsch
#6Is GenAI art kitsch taken to its logical extreme ? I would think so especially given the backlash by artists.
Re: The enduring power of kitsch
#7The notion of kitsch is ultimately an expression of disdain by the elite and the artisan classes that serve them towards common man. The principle reason that the phenomena of kitsch -did not- occur in earlier eras (where we certainly had elites and servant artisan classes - painters, architects, musicians, ..) is that their yet existed a shared cultural context (in the widest sense including religious and ~metaphysi…
We are quick to admit that people take bad financial decisions because of lack of education. Same with art and interior design/decoration, I think.
But the actual art market is nonsense - it's speculators using greater fool theory. It is in this sense that Jeff Koons is arguably a genius, or at the very least someone capable of playing the game as it exists to near perfection.
Re: The enduring power of kitsch
#8The notion of kitsch is ultimately an expression of disdain by the elite and the artisan classes that serve them towards common man. The principle reason that the phenomena of kitsch -did not- occur in earlier eras (where we certainly had elites and servant artisan classes - painters, architects, musicians, ..) is that their yet existed a shared cultural context (in the widest sense including religious and ~metaphysi…
We are quick to admit that people take bad financial decisions because of lack of education. Same with art and interior design/decoration, I think.
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Re: The enduring power of kitsch
#9Is GenAI art kitsch taken to its logical extreme ? I would think so especially given the backlash by artists.
I’d happily put it with ms paint art. If anything it’ll make it more palatable. I just don’t like the junk food aspect. At first glance it’s neat and a second longer you question what dimension the subjects came from
Re: The enduring power of kitsch
#10The notion of kitsch is ultimately an expression of disdain by the elite and the artisan classes that serve them towards common man. The principle reason that the phenomena of kitsch -did not- occur in earlier eras (where we certainly had elites and servant artisan classes - painters, architects, musicians, ..) is that their yet existed a shared cultural context (in the widest sense including religious and ~metaphysi…
We are quick to admit that people take bad financial decisions because of lack of education. Same with art and interior design/decoration, I think.
Art is a matter of taste, financial advice much less so. I can't imagine education in art affecting what you like, unless you only care about what others think of your taste.