Throwing a hissy fit over cheapjack thrift store gewgaws seems unwarranted to the authors of this profusely illustrated compendium of bad taste. Consumerism has produced myriad objects that display vulgarity or sentimentality—but the antique-picking Paytons contend appreciating kitsch shouldn’t be a criminal offense as its critics claim.
Really, what is wrong with corny ornaments? Granny cherished her cute little kitty knickknacks and she was a lovely person. Modernism, with its contempt for the pedestrian taste of the masses has worn out its welcome. Pop artists pointed out that commercial products can be graphically interesting. Postmodernists like Jeff Koons have blown up examples of commonplace products and sneaked them into galleries.
Occasionally junk shop items are not dissimilar to multimillion dollar art objects. Don’t bother Christie’s with your antique mall Jasper Johns lookalike flag painting. Just decorate your living room. Your friends will be shocked at your esthetic acumen and wonder where you came up with $40 million.
This 259-page collection is a banquet of flea market fare the cultivated consider tasteless. Some are esthetically indigestible. Kitsch is art’s junk food, but it contains palatable tidbits. Readers may find some entrees savory and become Hooked on Kitsch. After perusing these pages, you too may start trolling local flea markets for misrepresented, misunderstood and inexplicably toothsome memorabilia.
This is a highly original examination of the esthetics and politics of good and bad taste – and whether in fact these distinctions matter as much as they once did. The art world and academia’s zest for creating a hierarchy of all human expression may be dated. Truth be told, almost everyone is attracted to some form of kitsch. This book gives you permission, if not universal forgiveness.
The list price is $48.95 but Amazon frequently discounts it at a variable rate.
A PDF is available for $14.95 on Payhip.