KITSCH AND MORALITY

• Authors: Alfailakawi Aziz
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Throughout the realm of aesthetics there is the general sentiment that kitsch is inherently immoral. Although kitsch itself is a relatively ambiguous term, objects falling into this category are charged with a negative ethical stigma due to their being sentimental and manipulative. In this paper, I articulate the shakiness of the claim that kitsch is immoral by first comparing three accounts of kitsch to demonstrate how the term “kitsch” can be applied (or denied) to various aesthetic objects. Then I argue that the charges of sentimentality and manipulation create further ambiguities regarding kitsch. I conclude that although certain objects can be kitsch, to categorically denounce kitsch on an ethical basis is too strong a claim.

Keywords

EN

KITSCH; MORALITY; ETHICS; AESTHETICS; MANIPULATION

• Publisher: Society for Aesthetics in Slovakia ad Institute of Aesthetics and Art Culture
• Journal: ESPES
• Year: 2024
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 24 - 36

Contributors

author

Alfailakawi Aziz

• Loyola University Chicago, Philosophy Department, 1032 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL, 60660, United States of America

Identifiers

DOI

10.5281/zenodo.14762349