Kitsch in Aesthetics and Art: Synthesis

The chapter aims to execute an analytical review and synthesis of the literature about aesthetic and artistic approaches to kitsch and provide reductionistic classifications of these concepts and views based on selected criteria. The research questions that will be answered through these analyses are the following: RQ1. What are the main theories on kitsch described in the literature on aesthetics and art? RQ2. Which methodologies were used in analysing kitsch in the literature on aesthetics and art? RQ3. What are the main disciplines focused on analysing kitsch in the literature? RQ4. How can approaches to kitsch be categorised, allowing us to understand the kitsch phenomenon from a phenomenological point of view? The primary research method applied in these analyses is the critical analysis of the literature. As the result of analyses, kitsch theories are first categorised into five main groups based on disciplinary focus: (1) aesthetic and formal, (2) psychological and emotional, (3) sociological and cultural, (4) philosophical and existential, (5) ethical and ideological, and then they are classified based on the substance of their interest: (1) descriptive focus on kitsch phenomenon versus kitsch artefact; (2) substantive character of descriptive narration: black-and-white versus grey-scale; (3) dynamics of the phenomenon: kitsch as a phenomenon (state) versus kitsch as an experience (process). Summing up all kitsch approaches and theories, three dichotomic classifications are made: (1) descriptive focus on kitsch phenomenon versus kitsch artefact; (2) substantive character of descriptive narration: black-and-white versus grey-scale; (3) dynamics of the phenomenon: kitsch as a phenomenon (state) versus kitsch as an experience (process).