ceecee on thu 15 oct 98
I'm a BFA student at the University of Florida. My work deals with my
love for all the kitchy objects owned by my grand mother and what they
mean to me. I choose to make my work functional yet sculptural. I do
this by showing scenes of lower class or "white trash" America. The fact
that they function is a metaphor for how I perceive this part of our
culture as being practical. Their primary function is that of southern
food containers like a grits serving set. Is the fact that they are
derived from a part of our culture that is kitch crazy make them a
lesser art form? What is your definition of kitch? Denise
Pam Myam on fri 16 oct 98
Diane,
I think of kitsch as things that are not necessarily perceived of as
"tasteful," whether it is according to some set of aesthetic standards,
prejudice, or snobbishness, and that have become popular with people who deem
them amusing in a condescending kind of way. They are "kitsch" by designation
more than by definition. They are "kitsch" to the people who perceive them as
such, not because they are. They might be mass-produced items that are poorly
made, and not intended to be durable or long-lasting. They might be souvenir
type items. On the other hand, there are objects that are technically well-
made and costly that I might consider kitsch. Peace symbols and happy faces
have become kitsch. Tie-dye seems to have become kitsch. There is an element
of superficial appropriation of the objects taken out of context and without
their original intent.
I would be interested in hearing your definition of "kitsch." I am not quite
clear whether you think 'kitsch" derives from the "lower class" and "white
trash," or whether it is appropriated by them. Is it a class issue? What
kind of objects are you calling kitsch? What objects inspired a grits-serving
set? (Is there actually such a thing and I've missed it? I am trying to
picture what a grits serving set would look like that would define it as
such.)
"Is the fact that they are derived from a part of our culture that is kitch
crazy make them a
lesser art form?" I don't see why it would have any bearing one way or the
other, even it kitsch were confined to any one portion of our culture, and I
think that it is not. It is what you do with your idea that will count, not
the idea itself and where it comes from.
How is it that depicting scenes makes your work functional and sculptural?
Could you give more of description? While I see that function might refer to
practicality and vice versa, I do not think of a segment of the population as
being practical or not, and the metaphor is a bit obscure to me. I am
probably missing the point.
Pam
===
In a message dated 10/15/98 9:42:43 AM Eastern Daylight Time, ceecee@ufl.edu
writes:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I'm a BFA student at the University of Florida. My work deals with my
> love for all the kitchy objects owned by my grand mother and what they
> mean to me. I choose to make my work functional yet sculptural. I do
> this by showing scenes of lower class or "white trash" America. The fact
> that they function is a metaphor for how I perceive this part of our
> culture as being practical. Their primary function is that of southern
> food containers like a grits serving set. Is the fact that they are
> derived from a part of our culture that is kitch crazy make them a
> lesser art form? What is your definition of kitch? Denise
Donn Buchfinck on fri 16 oct 98
Sounds like you are getting it right on the head
do not listen to anyone else out there
stand by your work
just make sure that the work is real good
if the work realy works then the message will come thrue loud and clear
and just remember that the teachers you have are just people who are older
than you
and that they are dealing with the same issues that you are on some level
being an artist means you have the licence to make what you want/like and it
is art
just keep on making the stuff and get it out there
good luck
Donn Buchfinck
Earl Brunner on fri 16 oct 98
The fact that they are made out of clay would make them a "lesser" art form to
many "fine artists." Why worry about it? Skill and craftsmanship aside, do
what YOU want to do, what gives you satisfaction in your dance with clay.
It's similar to being worried about what we are wearing and whether or not we
were being accepted when we were in High School. If that's what drives us we
will never be/feel secure, and probably not be very happy either.
Jonathan Kaplan on sat 17 oct 98
In fact, a wonderful definition of kitsch is "the art of bad taste."
Whether one chooses to see kitsch as high art or not is purely a matter of
perspective and reference. Kitsch provides a barometer of our culture at a
specific time, and is constantly changing as our culture evolves, or
"de-volves."
The cultural reference, vis a vis kitsch as high art. low art, (arthur?)
IMHO is particulary necessary in any discourse.
Jonathan
Jonathan Kaplan, president jonathan@csn.net
http://www.sni.net/ceramicdesign/
Ceramic Design Group Ltd./Production Services
PO Box 775112
Steamboat Springs CO 80477
(USPS deliveries only)
Plant Location
1280 13th Street Unit 13
Steamboat Springs CO 80487
( UPS, courier, and common carrier deliveries)
(970) 879-9139*voice and fax
http://www.sni.net/ceramicdesign/
http://digitalfire.com/education/clay/kaplan1.htm
Randall Moody on sun 18 oct 98
-----Original Message-----
From: ceecee
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Thursday, October 15, 1998 8:43 AM
Subject: is kitch high art?
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I'm a BFA student at the University of Florida. My work deals with my
>love for all the kitchy objects owned by my grand mother and what they
>mean to me. I choose to make my work functional yet sculptural. I do
>this by showing scenes of lower class or "white trash" America. The fact
>that they function is a metaphor for how I perceive this part of our
>culture as being practical. Their primary function is that of southern
>food containers like a grits serving set. Is the fact that they are
>derived from a part of our culture that is kitch crazy make them a
>lesser art form? What is your definition of kitch? Denise
As a fellow BFA student I would have to say that being kitsch is not a
lesser art form. Look at all of the pop art in the world! Warhol,
Liechtenstein and the like are VERY kitsch. If you want to look at a
contemporary in the clay world look to Mark Burns of UNLV. He embraces pop
culture. I believe that our "heritage" is just as important as the much
imbraced oriental influence in ceramics. In fact I recently came to the
conclusion that as a 6'4" WASP from the south I have no connection with the
tea bowl whatsoever! :)
Ray Carlton on sun 18 oct 98
there are plenty of "kitchy" middle class and upper class people as well
{by the way which class do you belong to denise}...check out most american
tv programes and that to me defines kitch very well.....kitch is not
necessarily the domain of the working class or as you so so eloquently put
it, "lower class white trash america" "Kitch" "High Art" call it what you
will, art is in the eye of the beholder. The only arbiter of art is time.
We will never know what art of this era will be held in high regard as that
will not become clear for another century or so. Great Art knows no social
boundaries and while the masters of society may be able to afford to buy
expensive art to decorate their mansions and enhance the investment
portfolio it does not preclude the "great unwashed" from being able tp
appreciate a truly great work of art. By extension, members of the "lower
class white trash" are not precluded from creating great art, and they do,
have done, and always will do. So, I guess what I am trying to say Denise
is forget about all the academic claptrap and just get on with making your
art and let it speak from your heart not your head.."A lesser art form" is
a contradiction in terms. If it comes from your heart who will dare to call
it lesser??
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I'm a BFA student at the University of Florida. My work deals with my
>love for all the kitchy objects owned by my grand mother and what they
>mean to me. I choose to make my work functional yet sculptural. I do
>this by showing scenes of lower class or "white trash" America. The fact
>that they function is a metaphor for how I perceive this part of our
>culture as being practical. Their primary function is that of southern
>food containers like a grits serving set. Is the fact that they are
>derived from a part of our culture that is kitch crazy make them a
>lesser art form? What is your definition of kitch? Denise
>
cheers Ray Carlton
McMahons Creek Victoria Australia
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