Overview

What is kitsch? What is behind its appeal? More important, what is wrong with kitsch? Though cenral to our modern and postmodern culture, kitsch has not been seriously and comprehensively analysed; 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 judgements. 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.

Full Product Details

Author:   Thomas Kulka
Publisher:   Pennsylvania State University Press
Imprint:   Pennsylvania State University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.20cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.254kg
ISBN:  

9780271015941

ISBN 10:   0271015942
Pages:   168
Publication Date:   15 September 1996
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Tomas Kulka teaches philosophy and aesthetics at Tel Aviv University and at the Charles University of Prague.

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