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The 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
by ursamin 2y ago
The 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.
- ggm 2y agoMate, 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..
- ursamin 2y ago[flagged]
- edgarvaldes 2y agoWe are quick to admit that people take bad financial decisions because of lack of education. Same with art and interior design/decoration, I think.
- fidotron 2y agoBut 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.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- torlok 2y agoArt 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.
- Tade0 2y agoYou mean to tell me you don't believe in acquired taste? A person who spent years studying art was necessarily introduced to much more of it than someone who didn't.
- hansjorg 2y agoMany people would say that coffee is an acquired taste. Are you saying that people who don't like coffee are in the wrong?
- ursamin 2y agoNo no no. I am -not- pinning this on "education". Note: a divergence between the world views (in a comprehensive sense) between elites and those who cater to their cultural consumption and the rest.
- ninalanyon 2y agoOdd Nerdrum, a famous Norwegian painter, has described his own work as kitsch. Nonetheless it hangs in prestigious galleries around the world.