Kitsch

[Walter]

(Filed under stuff I didn't know but suspected)

Kitsch:

kitsch   /kɪtʃ/ [kich]

–noun
something of tawdry design, appearance, or content created to appeal to popular or undiscriminating taste.

Origin:
1925–30; < G, deriv. of kitschen to throw together (a work of art)

—Related forms
kitschy, adjective


"... kitsch is said to be a gesture imitative of the superficial appearances of art. It is often said that kitsch relies on merely repeating convention and formula, lacking the sense of creativity and originality displayed in genuine art."
~ http://www.artandpopularculture.com/Kitsch


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V. Tretchikoff
Unbeknown to many, Tretchikoff was the first artist to make and sell reproductions of his work, making it affordable and accessible to all.

http://www.vladimirtretchikoff.com/

http://shop.vladimirtretchikoff.com/index.php

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http://www.artandpopularculture.com/Kitsch

Camp
"An affectation or appreciation of manners and tastes commonly thought to be outlandish, vulgar, or banal."
~ American Heritage Dictionary
from:
The dark side of camp - analysis of camp style and society - Cover Story
Washington Monthly, Sept, 1995 by Gareth Cook

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1316/is_n9_v27/ai_17292791/

"[t]he difference between kitsch and camp is often hard to establish, partly because camp could be said to be in the eye of the beholder. Camp could be called a self-conscious kitsch and that self-consciousness can, indeed, exist on the part of viewer rather than the producer of the otherwise kitsch product."
--Professor D.F. Felluga

http://www.artandpopularculture.com/Camp

"Many things in the world have not been named; and many things, even if they have been named, have never been described. One of these is the sensibility - unmistakably modern, a variant of sophistication but hardly identical with it - that goes by the cult name of "Camp."
--Susan Sontag, Notes on Camp, 1964

http://www.artandpopularculture.com/Notes_on_Camp

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w00t!

[Terri]

That brought a chuckle. Thank you! :)

[Walter]

What stood out to me was

"... content created to appeal to popular or undiscriminating taste."

&

"... merely repeating convention and formula, ..."

Yep. Worth a chuckle.

[Matt Needham]

What is the context here?

My dad was reading this book when I got my first kitten: http://www.amazon.com/Kitsch-world-taste-Gillo-Dorfles/dp/0876631065 He named her Kitscha.

http://www.ululating-undulating-ungulate.com/2010/01/whats-kitsch/

Hopefully we're discussing kitsch in an affectionate manner, because IMO it's an extremely rare photograph that doesn't fall within the definition of kitsch. :)

[Fox Paw]

I don't think such categories get you far. It's a matter of degree. If you aim primarily to appeal to popular taste, you'll probably never do anything interesting. If you ignore it altogether, you may fail to communicate.

[Walter]

... because IMO it's an extremely rare photograph that doesn't fall within the definition of kitsch. :)

That's pretty much what I was thinking. There's some really cool images that are 'kitsch' though. Maybe it's just the times we live in. Thinking back on growing up, we only had one picture (other than family portraits/photos) on our wall--An original painting by my great uncle of an Indiana autumn. It was(is) exceptional. It always seemed to be enough. Now days we have a few original floral acrylics and a still life oil done by my wife's friends and uncle as well as a few of my photos--other than a couple maps in my office, no mass production

I don't think such categories get you far. It's a matter of degree. If you aim primarily to appeal to popular taste, you'll probably never do anything interesting. If you ignore it altogether, you may fail to communicate.

Yeah--

I lost track though. In my desparation I decided to try submitting some work to a stock photography --- whatever. Out of ten submitted, ten were rejected. Next month, when they allow me to resubmit (that'll teach me), I'll send them ten shots from an earlier period in my development.

Or not. Whatever it is I've been doing is what I like to do, so I'll just keep it up. It's fun looking into the different areas/genres of art/photography. I'm easily inspired. I feel so cheap :)

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