Lecture 42 - Excerpt 2

Prof: Suppose I said to you, “That’s a really kitschy shirt.” Did I give you a compliment? Yes, in the back.

S1: Uh, no, I don’t think so. Doesn’t kitschy mean, like, you know, cheesy or cheap? You wouldn’t want to wear something that was in, in bad taste.

Prof: No you wouldn’t…yes, over here?

S2: But can’t kitschy also mean something good, that’s, um, in style. Like I thought something nostalgic or retrograde could also be called kitsch.