kitsch etymology

Etymology

The word "kitsch" originates from the German verb "kitschen", meaning "to clean up carelessly". It was first used in the 19th century to describe tawdry or tasteless art and décor.

Meaning

Kitsch refers to art, objects, or styles that are considered lowbrow, sentimental, or lacking in originality and authenticity. It often evokes a sense of nostalgia, comfort, or irony.

Origin

The concept of kitsch emerged during the 19th century, as industrialization and mass production made it easier to produce cheap, mass-market goods. These goods often featured exaggerated or sentimental designs that appealed to the tastes of the newly affluent middle class.

Characteristics

Common characteristics of kitsch include:

  • Exaggerated or sentimental imagery
  • Use of bright colors and bold patterns
  • Lack of originality or authenticity
  • Appeal to nostalgia or childhood memories
  • Mass production
  • Association with lower social classes

Examples

Examples of kitsch objects or styles include:

  • Neon signs
  • Plastic figurines
  • Velvet paintings
  • Shaggy carpets
  • 1950s poodle skirts

kitsch relate terms

  • kitch

    Etymology The word kitchen comes from the Old English word cycen which means room

  • kitchen

    Etymology The word kitchen originates from the Old English word cycen meaning a pla

  • kitsch

    Etymology The word kitsch originates from the German verb kitschen meaning to clean

  • kitschy

    Etymology of Kitsch The term kitsch originated in the German language in the 19th cen

  • kitsch

    Etymology The word kitsch originates from the German verb kitschen meaning to clean

  • plain

    Etymology Plain derives from the Old French word plain which in turn comes from the

  • plain

    Etymology Plain derives from the Old French word plain which in turn comes from the

  • hearse

    Etymology The word hearse originates from the Middle English word herse which itsel

  • church

    Etymology The English word church originates from the Old English word cirice which

  • tacit

    Etymology From Latin tacitus meaning silent unspoken implied Meaning Tacit re

  • deadline

    Etymology deadline n early 1900s originally in journalism from dead adj line n