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American Kitsch 1940-1960

The Industrial Revolution brought with it an evolution in consumption. People from all social classes could now participate in mass consumption and objects d'art could now be mass-produced. Many high-minded members of the intelligentsia were distraught. And the term kitsch evolved to disparage mass culture. The word itself is derived from the German 'kitschen' which means to throw together a work of art.

In the fifties, people wanted change. The bleakness of the war years created a hunger for variety and experimentation. Many people could now afford non-essential items. And art began to evolve from elements of mass popular culture. A new industry of kitschdom arose.

Today kitsch has been reinstated as amusing, curious and ridiculous. In fact the very awfulness of kitsch is what is appealing. According to the director, John Waters, "In order to acquire bad taste one must first have very good taste."

An Introduction to American Kitsch http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/american_kitsch/29885#ixzz0ov6DUDzb

The birth of Kitsch brought about the first youth movement. The youth started to dress independent of adult fashion. They started to dress in practical, easy to wear work clothes like jeans and T-shirts.

The artists of the day took up this look which became the "Norm" for the creative radical.

This movement was represented by James Dean the American Film star.

James Dean (google images)

Poster from the movie Rebel Without A cause (google images)

This period also brought about both radical changes to mechanical designs as well as architecture. In air travel the DC-3 was the leader of all commercial airlines. With the roundness of the nose, it became inspirational for types of industrial products.