Kitsch
Gaudy decorative objects
Kitsch is art, objects, or design considered tacky, garish, or in poor taste—often mass-produced items that aim for sentimentality or showiness rather than genuine aesthetic merit: plastic flamingos, velvet Elvis paintings, tourist souvenirs.
The term can be dismissive or affectionate, depending on context.
Some people collect kitsch ironically or celebrate it as camp: Her apartment was full of deliberate kitsch.
Vulgar or slightly sticky
- gaudyTastelessly ornate
- garishTastelessly showy
- schmaltzPoultry fat or sentimentality
- campTemporary outdoor shelter site
cheesy · tasteless · lowbrow · schlock · twee · corny · sentimental · overdone
Heritage artifacts or music
- retroEvoking recent past
- nostalgiaLonging for the past
- midcenturyAround the 1950s
- BavarianOf a German state
tourist trap · roadside · Vegas · Bollywood · telenovela · melodrama · Eurovision · karaoke
Temporary outdoor shelter site
- postmodernSkeptical of metanarratives
- hipsterAggressively alternative person
- intentionalDone on purpose
- self-awareConscious of own existence
appropriation · reclaimed · irony · parody · winking · meta · subversive · Warhol
Token from a trip
- tchotchkeSmall decorative trifle
- figurineSmall ornamental sculpture
- snowglobeSealed sphere with drifting flakes
- velvet paintingArt on napped cloth
lawn flamingo · garden gnome · lava lamp · bobblehead · tiki mug · matryoshka · commemorative plate · beer stein
Stout-champagne layered drink
- airbrushedEdited for artificial perfection
- mass-producedMade in large quantities
- reproductionCopying or procreation
- poster artGraphics for wall display
calendar art · paint-by-numbers · greeting card · collectible · decorative · Keane · department store
tacky
Vulgar or slightly sticky
camp · cheesy · tasteless · lowbrow · schlock · twee · corny · sentimental · overdone · flashy
Americana
Heritage artifacts or music
- retroEvoking recent past
- nostalgiaLonging for the past
- midcenturyAround the 1950s
Bavarian · tourist trap · roadside · Vegas · Bollywood · telenovela · melodrama · Eurovision · karaoke · theme park
camp
Temporary outdoor shelter site
- postmodernSkeptical of metanarratives
- hipsterAggressively alternative person
- intentionalDone on purpose
self-aware · appropriation · reclaimed · irony · parody · winking · meta · subversive · Warhol · pop art
souvenir
Token from a trip
- tchotchkeSmall decorative trifle
- figurineSmall ornamental sculpture
- snowglobeSealed sphere with drifting flakes
velvet painting · lawn flamingo · garden gnome · lava lamp · bobblehead · tiki mug · matryoshka · commemorative plate · beer stein · cuckoo clock
black velvet
Stout-champagne layered drink
- airbrushedEdited for artificial perfection
- mass-producedMade in large quantities
- reproductionCopying or procreation
poster art · calendar art · paint-by-numbers · greeting card · collectible · decorative · Keane · department store
Kitschrefined
Purified or cultured
elegant · tasteful · sophisticated · subtle · understated
Kitschhigh art
Culturally elevated creative works
fine art · art · avant-garde · masterpiece · authentic