kitsch - Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Summary

Podcast Summary: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day – "Kitsch"

Episode Details:

Title: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Host: Merriam-Webster
Episode: Kitsch
Release Date: April 11, 2025

Introduction to "Kitsch"

In the April 11th episode, Merriam-Webster delves into the word "kitsch", exploring its meaning, cultural significance, and historical origins. The episode aims to provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of how "kitsch" is perceived in modern language and society.

Definition and Meaning

Host 1 begins by clarifying the spelling and basic definition of "kitsch":

Host 1 [00:44]: "Kitsch is a noun. It refers to something that appeals to popular or lowbrow taste and is often cheap or tacky. Kitsch also refers to a tacky or lowbrow quality or condition."

This establishes "kitsch" as a term used to describe objects, art, or cultural items that may lack sophistication but hold a certain populist charm.

Cultural Examples of Kitsch

The podcast provides various instances where "kitsch" manifests in everyday life and popular culture:

Fashion: A sentence from Vogue illustrates how Y2K fashion can be both kitschy and appealing:

"If you were dressing yourself in the early 2000s, you might feel some kind of way about Y2K fashion ruling the runways and the sidewalks once again. But if you weren't, it's entirely understandable that mining the annals of recent fashion history and the vintage shops would hold a certain appeal."
Retail and Collectibles: Items commonly found in flea markets or thrift shops, such as fuzzy dice, plastic flamingos, and cartoon-themed plastic lunchboxes, are quintessential examples of kitsch—"various bits and bobs of popular culture" that enjoy widespread popularity but often lack cultural esteem.
Entertainment: The term extends to elements of the film industry, where cheesy movies, popcorn action flicks, and sentimental rom-coms—"that score big at the box office but are panned by critics"—are labeled as kitsch. Additionally, it applies to lowbrow art of all kinds, indicating a broad applicability of the term across different mediums.

Etymology and Historical Context

Host 1 traces the origins of "kitsch" back to the early 20th century, highlighting its German roots:

Host 1 [00:44]: "English users borrowed kitsch in the early 20th century from German. According to scholars, the word was popularized by Munich painters and art dealers in the 1860s and 70s who used it to refer to popular and cheap artwork."

The term originates from the German verb "kitchen", which meant:

To slap something together, akin to hastily creating a work of art.
To scrape up mud from the street, symbolizing something thrown together with little care or quality.

These "muddy origins" contribute to the disapproving tone often associated with the term "kitsch."

Contemporary Perception

Despite its somewhat negative connotations, "kitsch" has evolved in contemporary discourse:

Host 1 [00:44]: "Despite these muddy origins and the disapproving tone with which kitsch is often deployed, kitsch is not quite the dirty word it once was. Kitsch today is as likely to be celebrated as it is to be derided."

This shift indicates a nuanced appreciation for kitsch, where its charm and nostalgic value are recognized alongside its perceived lack of sophistication.

Conclusion

The episode wraps up by emphasizing the dual nature of "kitsch" in modern culture—simultaneously celebrated and criticized. By understanding the layers of its meaning and historical context, listeners gain a deeper appreciation for how "kitsch" fits into the broader tapestry of language and cultural expression.

Host 1 [00:44]: "Kitsch today is as likely to be celebrated as it is to be derided."

Additional Resources

At the episode's end, Peter Sokolowski encourages listeners to explore more about words and their meanings:

Peter Sokolowski [02:50]: "Visit Merriam Webster.com today for definitions, wordplay, and trending word lookups."

This episode of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day offers an insightful exploration of "kitsch," blending linguistic definition with cultural analysis to provide listeners with a well-rounded understanding of the term.

Transcript

Host 1 (0:00)

Foreign it's the Word of the Day podcast for April 11th.

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Host 1 (0:44)

Spelled K I T S C H, Kitsch is a noun. It refers to something that appeals to popular or low brow taste and is often cheap or tacky. Kitsch also refers to a tacky or low brow quality or condition. Here's the word used in a sentence from Vogue if you were dressing yourself in the early 2000s, you might feel some kind of way about Y2K fashion ruling the runways and the sidewalks once again. But if you weren't, it's entirely understandable that mining the annals of recent fashion history and the vintage shops would hold a certain appeal. But for all its kitsch and camp, Y2K fashion is full of some intriguing gems. Have you ever browsed through a flea market or thrift shop? If so, chances are you're well acquainted with kitsch the various bits and bobs of popular culture fuzzy dice, plastic flamingos, cartoon themed plastic lunchboxes, etc. That enjoyed widespread popularity but don't hold much cultural esteem. Or maybe you're a fan of what some might call cheesy movies, popcorn action movies and sentimental rom coms that score big at the box office but are panned by critics. Kitsch often applies to them, too, as well as to lowbrow art of all kinds. English users borrowed kitsch in the early 20th century from German. According to scholars, the word was popularized by Munich painters and art dealers in the 1860s and 70s who used it to refer to popular and cheap artwork. The word's earlier origins are found in the German verb kitchen, meaning to slap something, such as a work of art, together, as well as to scrape up mud from the street. Despite these muddy origins and the disapproving tone with which kitsch is often deployed, kitsch is not quite the dirty word it once was. Kitsch today is as likely to be celebrated as it is to be derided with your word of the day. I'm Peter Sokolowski.

Peter Sokolowski (2:50)

Visit Merriam Webster.com today for definitions wordplay and trending word lookups.