2025/02/25 by Riccardo Carli · 1 voice
Computer Science · Neuroscience · Psychology · #Digital Media and Philosophy #Embodied and Extended Cognition #Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy
paper · pdf · doi:10.1093/aesthj/ayaf005
openalex publication_date 2025/02/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Abstract In response to the twentieth-century tradition of harsh criticism of the phenomenon of kitsch, in the last few decades, ever more scholarly voices have been raised to unearth the positive features of such a ubiquitous phenomenon of modernity. In this paper, I offer my contribution to this discussion, arguing that some everyday kitsch objects have the potential to redeem themselves and, with time, acquire a specific existential value for the person who engages with them. This conclusion will be supported by considering some well-established characteristics of kitsch—like its parasitic nature and effortless identifiability—by criticizing others—its alleged lack of incongruities and critical layers—and by drawing the consequences of some others that are traditionally disregarded, in particular, the fundamental feature of displacement that is present in kitsch in general and the trait of unpretentiousness and lack of beautification that is typical of many forms of everyday kitsch.