ABSTRACT
By relying on easily recognized art forms and icons, Kitsch reinforces notions of what and how life “should be.” Complex issues are radically simplified while the nuances of any given reality are ignored or dismissed. Kitsch has a ready political utility that other art forms, especially high ar t, must avoid. The time-honored myths and stereotypes that it condenses have been woven into the political discourse and, far too frequently, into public policies. The invocation of Kitsch legitimizes in the political arena what is commonly referred to as “common sense,” whether that be the status quo or something more repressive. Its political use is powerful, seductive, and warping, both for individuals who manufacture and consume it and societies.
