kitschとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

From German Kitsch, from dialectal kitschen (“to coat, to smear”); the word and concept were popularized in the 1930s by several critics who contrasted it with avant garde art.

発音

• (英国発音, 米国発音) enPR: kĭch, IPA^(key): /kɪt͡ʃ/
• 韻: -ɪtʃ
• Homophone: Kizh

名詞

kitsch (usually uncountable, 複数形 kitsches)

1. Art, decorative objects, and other forms of representation of questionable artistic or aesthetic value; a representation that is excessively sentimental, overdone, or vulgar.
   • 1939, Clement Greenberg, “Avant Garde and Kitsch”, in The Partisan Review‎^[1]:

     Because it can be turned out mechanically, kitsch has become an integral part of our productive system in a way in which true culture could never be, except accidentally.

同意語

派生語

形容詞

kitsch (comparative kitscher または more kitsch, superlative kitschest または most kitsch)

1. Of art and decor: of questionable aesthetic value; excessively sentimental, overdone or vulgar.
   • 1989, Graham Greene, Yours etc: Letters to the Press 1945-1989, page 243:

     […] a picture of lemur-eyed children of the sort one sees in the kitscher sort of Italian restaurant […]

   • June/July 1996, Robert Silberman, “The stuff of art: Judy Onofrio”, in American Craft, page 40-45:

     Abe Lincoln, Paul Bunyan and kitsch souvenir coconut heads come across as icons of masculinity.

   • spring 2005, Ronald Frame, “Critical Paranoia”, in Michigan Quarterly Review, page 285:

     I recognized her at once even though she wasn't wearing the tweed hunting outfit and the kitsch headwear.

使用する際の注意点

• Although the forms kitscher and kitschest are attested, those formed on kitschy are more common, particularly for the comparative.

同意語

• corny

アナグラム

• schtik, shtick, skitch, thicks