Cease Quote by Denis Dutton
“Once kitsch is interpreted ironically, it ceases to be kitsch”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Art of the Novel, Denis Dutton, 1995
Irony transforms kitsch from shallow aesthetic into critical commentary, stripping it of its original sentimental value.
In simple terms: Irony changes kitsch’s meaning.
Key Takeaway
Use irony to critique superficiality.
Themes
art
irony
culture
aesthetics
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- advertising
- fashion design
- pop art exhibitions
- media criticism
Key Concepts
postmodernism
critical theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does irony alter perception of lowbrow art?
- When does irony become cynicism?
A Different Perspective
Irony may be misread as mockery, diluting the critique.
![“[Art] would have helped us survive in the Pleistocene - in the period, say, 1.6 million years ago until fairly recently. The kind of imaginative abilities that artists have and that we all have in the appreciation of art - to appreciate Jane Austen, the late quartets of Beethoven.” quote by Denis Dutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4f8/denis-dutton-31778_ability_art-would-have-helped-us-survive-in-the_2609177.jpg)
