kitsch
UK: kɪtʃ | US: kɪtʃ
n. Art, objects, or design considered to be in poor taste due to excessive garishness or sentimentality, but sometimes appreciated ironically.
adj. Characterized by vulgar or pretentious artistry, often appealing to popular or undiscriminating taste.
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The word "kitsch" originates from the German kitsch, meaning "gaudy trash" or "vulgar sentimentalism." It emerged in the mid-19th century Munich art markets, where it described cheap, mass-produced artworks catering to popular taste. The term may derive from the German dialect verb kitschen ("to smear" or "to slap together"), reflecting its association with hastily made, low-quality creations. Over time, "kitsch" evolved to describe culturally tacky yet nostalgically or ironically valued aesthetics.
The souvenir shop was filled with kitschy neon signs and plastic statues.
She collects kitschy postcards from the 1950s as a hobby.
Critics dismissed the film as kitschy melodrama, but audiences loved its over-the-top emotions.
His apartment was decorated with kitschy thrift store paintings.
The restaurant’s decor was deliberately kitschy, featuring neon palm trees and leopard-print booths.