Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Kitsch - ugly? or cool?


As an aspect of postmodernity, I chose the term, Kitsch. Kitsch can be found in technically developed contemporary artworks or mass-produced merchandises. As referred in Glossary of Postmodern Terms, Kitsch can be defined by the specific scenario, ‘it’s good because it’s bad’. If the product is just trashy, there is no necessity that it is called Kitsch. When it is very trashy, therefore attracted and has unique presence, it is Kitsch. In addition, Kitsch includes the element, ‘recycling the past’ at the same time.
The product in the picture above was named the Kevin Cuckoo Clock and released by Melbourne-based design team Gin & Tonic (Georgie and Tom Campbell). The Kevin looks like a traditional Black Forest cuckoo clock which firstly created between 1740 and 1750 in Germany, except it's painted electric pink and its pine cone pendulum is made of plastic.
This clock looks not only ugly but artistic because it can fuse tradition and trashy elements as Kitsch. And also, this product can be defined as ‘the death of originality’ by being based on the existent element. Other designer Koen De Winter explains one of the original characteristics of kitsch; "I guess what makes kitsch now more acceptable is . . . a certain level of humor. So to me, cool-kitsch would have one or more extra dimensions beyond tasteless or ugly”. Unexpected and unthinkable combination engenders freshness and humor. To be usual means the lack of aesthetic value as Kitsch in postmodernity.

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