Announcing: Symposium on Christianity and Kitsch

Don’t miss this, ’cause its gonna be awesome!  Next week (6 – 11 Feb.), Transpositions is hosting a full week of posts all about the relationship between Christianity and Kitsch.

Wikipedia defines kitsch as a “form of art that is considered an inferior, tasteless copy of an extant style of art or a worthless imitation of art of recognized value.”  As this quote suggests, kitsch is often defined in opposition to the modern concept of ‘fine art.’ Kitsch is also defined as incorporating parody or sentimentality. Jean  Baudrillard mused, that “to the aesthetics of beauty and originality, kitsch opposes its aesthetics of simulation: it everywhere reproduces objects smaller or larger than life; it imitates materials (in plaster, plastic, etc.); it apes forms or combines them discordantly; it repeats fashion without having been part of the experience of fashion” [1].  As such,  the concept ‘kitsch’ inevitably carries social, economic and political dimensions.

But why stop there?  Kitsch is also loaded with religious and theological import.  It is this dimension of kitsch that we aim to explore in the symposium next week.  To do so, we have brought together a number of excellent scholars and writers to engage with the subject.  We also hope to provide you with examples of the sentimental, the banal and the embarrassing that will satisfy your hunger for kitsch.  At the risk of over-sensationalizing a symposium on kitsch, we must say that you, dear reader, will not be disappointed.

Here is our fantastic line-up for the week:

  • Monday, Feb 6: Betty Spackman, “Wounded for Our Visual Transgressions.”  Spackman is the author of A Profound Weakness: Christians and Kitsch.
  • Tuesday, Feb 7: Drew Dixon, “Wearing out the Faith.”  Dixon writes for Christ and Pop Culture.
  • Wednesday, Feb 8: Timothy Gorringe, “Kitsch: Feeling Good about Ourselves while Evil Goes Unchecked.”  Gorringe is St Luke’s Professor of Theology at the University of Exeter.
  • Thursday, Feb 9: Taylor Worley, “Robert Gober: Troubling the Banal.”  Worley is Assistant Professor of Christian Thought and Tradition and Associate Dean for Spiritual Life at Union University.
  • Friday, Feb 10: Bex Lewis, “Keep Calm and Pray On.” Lewis is Blended Learning Project Manager, CODEC, St John’s College, University of Durham.
  • Saturday, Feb 11: Matthew Paul Turner, title TBD. Turner is the creator of the popular and often controversial blog, Jesus Needs New PR.

We look forward to your comments and discussion!

Image Credit

[1] Baudrillard, Jean. The Consumer Society: Myths and Structures. London: Sage, 1998, 111.

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3 Comments

  1. says: Jim Watkins

    Hi Brian, this is actually an online symposium. So while it isn’t taking place anywhere in particular, one might also say that it is taking place everywhere in general. Ah, the internet… It sure is a strange thing. I hope you enjoy reading the posts, and please feel free to make comments and ask questions!

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