What? Clotheslines and Popbeads Aren't Trashy Anymore?: Teaching about Kitsch

In this article, we explore changing definitions of kitsch and simultaneously examine the relevance of kitsch to contemporary society. Using a number of examples, including a focus on kitsch related to September 11, 2001, we explore the current popularity of kitsch in society. We analyze the growth and influence of kitsch in everyday life and in the art world. We argue that kitsch makes our pluralism visible and that kitsch is a means to resist cultural and aesthetic hegemony and power. Implications for art education are provided