Olivier, Bert2010-10-152010-10-152010-102003Olivier, B 2003, 'Kitsch and contemporary culture.' South African Journal of Art History, vol. 18, pp. 104-112.0258-3542http://hdl.handle.net/2263/15012Article digitised using: Suprascan 1000 RGB scanner, scanned at 400 dpi; 24-bit colour; 100% Image derivating - Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS3 - Image levels, crop, deskew Abbyy Fine Reader No.9 - Image manipulation + OCR Adobe Acrobat 9 (PDF)This paper addresses the question of kitsch by interpreting it as "bad" art of a particular kind. It draws mainly, but not exclusively, on Karsten Harries's phenomenological exploration of kitsch to provide a framework from which to approach kitsch in contemporary (postmodern) culture. It is shown that, by uncovering attributes of kitsch such as the self-enjoyment of the spectator and lack of reflective distance, Harries provides valuable pointers for assessing what is ultimately the anaesthetizing political function of kitsch in contemporary culture.9 pagesPdfenArt Historical Work Group of South AfricaArtContemporary cultureKitschPopular culturePostmodern cultureDecadence in artPostmodernityAestheticsArt and societyMass media and artArt -- HistoryArt and societyMass media and artDecadence in artKitschPostmodernismPopular cultureArt appreciationArticle