Kitsch

Being requested by lecturer Dr. Ray to find out what is Kitsch. All the way long i have researched about Kitsch, i totally don't understand what is it talking about. All my sources are found in the internet, some site said this some said that. Different sites have different meaning. The way of they explained are not really understanding or not clear enough. Might be my own problem for not understand the real hidden meaning.

Through out the research and my own understanding about Kitsch is a typically negative product that is a worthless copy of art of recognized value and it is purely for commercial purposes rather than works created as self- expression by an artist. For my own opinion and my own understanding, Kitsch can be said as copying other people famous artwork or anythings, and use it for commercial reasons or applied in our things.


Example of Kitsch:

Left: The transformation of the original plastic bags. Right: The original plastic bags.

As can that the plastic bags on the right are very well- known in China. Almost every household owned this plastic bags. This bag are very convenient, can be loaded with a lot of things, durable and sell with very low price. In Malaysia, this bag are mainly sell in night market and shops that sell bags. Although this bags are not expensive but well- known enough yet, i think it still applied Kitsch because it copy the original one or done some pattern on it and sell it commercially. People still can recognized which is the original ones.

Below: Original England flag.  Top Left & Right: iPhone casing and Polo Ralph Lauren shirt  

I found that the England national flags are used as a iPhone casing. Basically, iPhone casing that printed on England national flags are selling everywhere no matter in the shops, stalls or even night market in Malaysia. Other that the basic design of England national flag, there are casing that stick with fake diamonds, swarovski crystals and etc. As also can see the model wearing the shirt also printed with the England national flag. The shirt can be found at any Polo Ralph Lauren shops in Kuala Lumpur.

Left: Burj Al Arab, Dubai  Right: Telekom Tower, Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia Telekom Tower, Kuala Lumpur obviously looked similar with the Burj Al Arab, Dubai. Both of this tower have the similar shape that is a yacht. I think everyone will said that Burj Al Arab hotel is more suit to its concept or can be said as make sense because the building is build on the middle of the sea with the yacht but Telekom Tower  is at the middle of Kerinchi link, Petaling Jaya. Might be the latest trend of that time.

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References

- Polo Ralph Lauren. Retrieved at July 3, 2011. 

  http://www.blackpoloshirt.net/ralph-lauren-england-flag-polo-blue-1082-branded-polo-shirts-uk

- Merriam-webster. (2011). Retrieved at July 3, 2011.
  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kitsch

- Dictionary.com. (1979). Retrieved at July 3, 2011.
  http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/kitsch

- The University of Chicago. (2002). Retrieved at July 3, 2011.
  http://csmt.uchicago.edu/glossary2004/kitsch.htm

- Kitsch. (August 21, 2010). Retrieved at July 3, 2011.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsch