Kitsch or art? The shadow of nostalgia in the heart of Munich!

Kitsch or art? The shadow of nostalgia in the heart of Munich!

In the next edition of “aspekte”, which will be broadcast on ZDF on Friday, November 8th, 2024 at 11:30 p.m., presenter Katty Salié will deal with the phenomenon of kitsch. In times when everyday life is often characterized by gloomy news, kitsch is enjoying unexpected popularity - whether it is perceived as deceptive or pleasant remains questionable.

Kitsch is often viewed as the exact opposite of “real” art. But who sets these boundaries? The show asks the interesting question of whether there isn't a certain snobbish thinking in the devaluation of kitsch. To do this, Salié visits Munich, a city that is considered one of the most romantic in Germany in numerous rankings, and sets out to meet the author Jovana Reisinger, who has published a manifesto called “Pleasure” about glamor and kitsch. Featuring a magnificent carriage decorated with flowers, it shows that kitsch is admired and embraced by many, while despised by others.

Kitsch and its exciting duality

Kitsch has the ability to provide a sense of refuge in difficult times. He manages to evoke familiar emotions through stereotypical depictions, such as the romantic evening atmosphere on the beach or sweet big googly eyes. But as harmless as kitsch may seem, it also has its dark side. The show addresses how autocratic regimes not only indulge in the magnificent aesthetics of kitsch, but have also exploited its propagandistic effect. The American political and cultural scientist Justin Patch notes that Donald Trump can also be characterized by his penchant for the kitschy.

A particularly sensitive topic that the show takes up is art under National Socialism. Salié visits the controversial “Haus der Kunst” in Munich, known for its connections to Nazi propaganda. There, the head of the archive, Sabine Brantl, explains that for her, art becomes kitsch when it stages a supposedly false reality. This problem raises the question of the extent to which not only Nazi art, but also many other works could be suspected of kitsch.

The post-war period is considered to be the height of kitsch, especially in the form of the Heimatfilm, which often tried to cover up the cruel realities of the time. Films set in the Alps have since been suspected of being kitsch, and even popular ZDF series such as “The Mountain Doctor” are repeatedly discussed in this context. In “aspects”, actor Hans Sigl describes how he tries to counteract the romanticized image of the Heimatfilm and convey a realistic image.

Art and irony

Another aspect of kitsch is its capacity for irony. Kitsch is regularly quoted and parodied in contemporary art, and thus often transformed into true art. Artists like Jeff Koons and the Berlin painter Martin Eder show that deeper levels of meaning can lurk behind kitschy motifs like cute kittens and colorful rainbows. Eder uses seemingly harmless motifs in his works to convey an unspoken horror, while Scottish media artist Rachel Maclean addresses similar themes and plays with the darkness beneath a colorful surface.

The eagerly awaited episode of “aspekte” will therefore be a multi-faceted examination of kitsch, art and the diverse meanings that shape both the present and the past. Viewers can look forward to an interesting journey through the emotions that this often underestimated art style can evoke.