Kitsch and Art by Thomas Kulka

Kitsch and Art by Thomas Kulka

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Kitsch and Art by Thomas Kulka

What is kitsch? What is behind its appeal? More important, what is wrong with kitsch? Though central to our modern and postmodern culture, kitsch has not been seriously and comprehensively analyzed; its aesthetic worthlessness has been generally assumed but seldom explained. Kitsch and Art seeks to give this phenomenon its due by exploring the basis of artistic evaluation and aesthetic value judgments. Tomas Kulka examines kitsch in the visual arts, literature, music, and architecture. To distinguish kitsch from art, Kulka proposes that kitsch depicts instantly identifiable, emotionally charged objects or themes, but that it does not substantially enrich our associations relating to the depicted objects or themes. He then addresses the deceptive nature of kitsch by examining the makeup of its artistic and aesthetic worthlessness. Ultimately Kulka argues that the mass appeal of kitsch cannot be regarded as aesthetic appeal, but that its analysis can illuminate the nature of art appreciation.

Tomas Kulka teaches philosophy and aesthetics at Tel Aviv University and at the Charles University of Prague.

SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9780271015941
ISBN 10 0271015942
Title Kitsch and Art
Author Thomas Kulka
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Paperback
Publisher Pennsylvania State University Press
Year published 1996-09-15
Number of pages 168
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.