kitsch
KITCH
/kɪtʃ/
Art, decorative objects, or design considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimental cheapness.
Appeals to superficial, predictable mass emotion rather than deep artistic thought.
The story behind the word. Coined in 1870s Munich art markets from the German verb 'kitschen' (to scrape up mud or assemble cheap knickknacks). It originally denoted cheap, sentimental paintings produced quickly for tourists.
Word relationships
- schmaltzy: 'Schmaltzy' highlights overly syrupy sentimentality, while 'kitsch' implies cheap, mass-produced visual bad taste.
- tacky: 'Tacky' is generic bad taste, whereas 'kitsch' specifically references sentimental lowbrow artistic objects.
- masterpiece: A work of outstanding artistic craft, original vision, and intellectual depth.
- refinement: Elegance and subtle adherence to high aesthetic standards.
Commonly confused with
- camp: 'Camp' involves deliberate, theatrical irony, whereas 'kitsch' is often naively sincere in its sentimental cheapness.
Word family
- kitschy (adjective): Having the garish or cheaply sentimental qualities of kitsch.
Collocations
- pure kitsch
- bordering on kitsch
- kitsch aesthetic
- commercial kitsch
Example sentences
- "The souvenir store was packed with glowing snow globes and plastic statues, the very definition of commercial kitsch." Cultural criticism
- "While some critics condemned the painting as unmitigated kitsch, others celebrated its playful nostalgia." Art commentary
Memory hook
It belongs in the KITCHen trash can because it is gaudy, cheap, and tacky! Sentimental lowbrow trash
When not to use
Do not use for art that is merely simple, minimalist, or rustic.
Fun facts
- Czech author Milan Kundera famously declared in 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' that kitsch is the absolute denial of human suffering and messiness.
Related words
Explore more words
sentimental, pretentious, gauche, quirky, outlandish, nostalgia
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