MetaFilter posts tagged with kitsch

a vague nostalgia for a benevolent, quasi-modernist English bureaucratic aesthetic

RogerB — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:06:28 -0800

Lash Out and Cover Up: Owen Hatherley in Radical Philosophy on "Keep Calm and Carry On," manufactured nostalgia for austerity, and modernist kitsch, in its authoritarian and ironically adapted forms. (Previous calm-keeping and on-carrying and Owen Hatherley.)

Hold still!

Blazecock Pileon — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:21:44 -0800

From the same wicked awesome site that brought you the totally unofficial Ren and Stimpy soundtrack, Kirk Demarais gets nostalgic, drawing family portraits of cult-famous families of the last three decades. Take a stroll down memory lane with the Torrances, the Lundegaardes, the Griswolds, and other infamous families. Part of a larger art exhibit, Demarais' work and other kitsch can be found here.

The dead hand of neo-traditionalism

acb — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:39:49 -0800

Controversy has erupted in Britain after it emerged that Prince Charles used his personal influence with Qatari royalty to sack modernist architect Richard Rogers from a development in London. Charles has been an outspoken critic of modern architecture and advocate of neo-traditionalist styles, and even created a model village to showcase his ideas about "proper" architecture. Charles' preferred replacement for Rogers is Quinlan Terry, known for his neo-classicist leanings. There is more at stake than the question of Charles' architectural tastes. For one, Britain's constitutional monarchy is meant to refrain from exercising powers over the day-to-day business of government, and the possibility of the future king having used his influence to bend the planning process to his tastes raises a troubling precedent. Some are saying that such interventions on his part are specifically unconstitutional.

A while ago, Michael Jackson...

acb — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:08:01 -0800

Photos from the Neverland Ranch auction A while ago, Michael Jackson was short of cash, and decided to auction off the contents of Neverland Ranch, his combined palace/fun park, down to the last vanity painting and statue. A guy named Paul Scheer went along with a camera, took photos of some of the more peculiar items and put them online. It's certainly a unique collection.

Yum, tofutti!

idiopath — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:15:56 -0800

Get your Daily Dose of '80s kitsch.

superwoobinda

vronsky — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:07:08 -0800

b!k!n! m a c h i n e s

Frauenzimmer

chillmost — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:55:34 -0800

Brothels in Germany (pics): Photographer Patric Fouad's book, Frauenzimmer, takes a look at the insides of German brothels. (mostly SFW unless you are offended by the occasional sex toy hanging on the wall and blurry porn in the background)

Oleo Lord

LeeJay — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:15:56 -0800

To the congregation of the Solid RockChurch, he's known as the King of Kings. But others who have witnessed his glory have other names for him: MC 62ft Jesus, Touchdown Jesus, and perhaps most famously, as immortalized by Heywood Banks, Big Butter Jesus. And he's been a very busy boy. Built by sculptor James Lynch, he was manufactured in Florida and trucked in pieces to Monroe, Ohio where he's become something of a conversation piece (he even made the New York Times). Unfortunately, not much is know about Lynch but judging by the photo on his home page, he's no stranger to, er, dramatic religious pieces. At six-stories tall and weighing eight tons, the King of Kings is reportedly the largest statue of Jesus in the United States. Some members of the congregation believe he watches over the local freeway as well as the town. As one member of the church puts it, "Can't too much go wrong next to a big statue of Jesus."

Just Squirrels

Huplescat — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:59:46 -0800

Kamikase Squirrels / Mission Impossible Squirrel / Pope Squirrel / Twirl a Squirrel / Drunk Squirrel / Dead Squirrel

Give me convenient bacon or give me death

Blazecock Pileon — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 01:36:21 -0800

Hi-fi spheres, bacon toasters, translated Pravda on demand, and other changes to come in 1975 A.D. [ via Bostworld ]

Handmade Rock'N'Roll Patisseries To Die For

stinkycheese — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:55:26 -0800

Deadlicious is an English language blog from France focusing on weird and kitschy art of all kinds. Online since May, the last few weeks alone have featured vintage monster model kits, Nazi sex paperback covers, lots of crazy comics (including King Kong) and bizarre action magazines, Hammer vampire posters, old motorbike helmets, Japanese plastic toys, UFO zines from the 1950s and 60s, French art from 1910 depicting the year 2000, as well as some pictures of famed Mexican masked wrestler Santo I'd never seen before. Plus there's over 300 more features in the archives.

big-eyed

nickyskye — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 13:13:38 -0800

Big-eyed kitsch art, paintings of waifs and sad eyes, pity kitty and pity puppy. Among this group of painters, Margaret Keane's story is quite interesting. For many years her ex-husband stole the credit for her paintings, she sued and won. Contemporary artists who include the big-eyed theme in their work: the amazing Mark Ryden. The hilarious [nsfw] and dark work of Colin and Sas Christian; Megan Besmirched and her Big Eyed Art Bonanza.

La idea inicia su proceso de superación del objeto y establece una descontextualización Dadá.

amberglow — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 13:21:32 -0800

Chema Madoz -- photos

I wanna be Snow White, and my bf will be Prince Charming, and we'll be married by the Evil Queen!

amberglow — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 10:59:01 -0800

Fairy Tale Weddings for all -- Disney, under fire for discriminating at its parks, opens up its popular (and expensive!) Fairy Tale Weddings and Honeymoons to same-sex couples.

Santa's Sackfull of Obscure Christmas Music

jonson — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 17:25:17 -0800

So you're in the mood for some Christmas music, but you're tired of all the old standards. Not to worry, the web has you covered courtesy of several vinyl sharing blogs. First off, there's Check the Cool Wax, with the soundtrack to Rankin/Bass's Night Before Christmas, Pee-Wee's Christmas Special, Yuletide Disco, Western Christmas Songs & Exciting Christmas Stories featuring Batman, Superman & Wonder Woman. Much, much more inside.

1970s Dept Store Catalogs

jonson — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 15:31:45 -0800

Since April of this year, the blogger over at PlaidStallions has been dutifully scanning the most interesting/unique pages from 1970's department store catalogs (among other things) and posting the images online with commentary.

I feel stupid and contagious

BackwardsCity — Wed, 24 May 2006 22:34:48 -0800

Here we are now, entertain us. An all-ukulele cover of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" from the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. From their Web site, "Sugar Plum Fairy" [mp3]. But can UOGB hold a candle to "While My Ukulele Gently Weeps," discussed previously?

Prepare for the home-made invasion!

Robot Johnny — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 11:23:49 -0800

Robots, rockets, and rayguns, oh my!

"This One's For You, Walt!"

maryh — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 12:27:44 -0800

Thomas Kinkade, Painter of LightTM, seeks to "to touch people of all faiths, to bring peace, and joy into their lives through the images he creates." Not all of his side ventures have been considered successful. But now the Christian-themed artist is accused of ruthless business tactics and seamy personal conduct, including drunkenly heckling Siegfried & Roy and, um, wantonly marking his territory. Perhaps Kinkade hopes to follow in the footsteps of Jack the Dripper?

The Kingdom (of Heaven) is inside you and it is outside you

anastasiav — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 21:02:41 -0800

Jesus of the Week (dot com)

It's INCREDIBLE!

punilux — Fri, 22 Jul 2005 11:43:57 -0800

Picking up girls can be as easy as opening a beer! The pick up system no girl can resist, apparently.

Unusual Cards

sciurus — Wed, 25 May 2005 11:20:50 -0800

Unusual Cards

For the Love of Retro

peacay — Fri, 20 May 2005 12:58:18 -0800

For the Love of Retro...

Early 1900's advertisements, 70's decor,
computers, unisex haircuts &c
[via] retro-MeFi

Tony's Rap

TimothyMason — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 10:24:58 -0800

Tony's rap. Blair, Bush, Blunkett and co, with a little help from Michael Jackson. By way of Counterpunch, where Alexander Coburn has unearthed a woodpecker conspiracy. Someone is being kept out of the news, he says, because it doesn't make a good story to have an extinct bird discovered by a member of the NRA.

"Sock it to me!"

breezeway — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 11:56:33 -0800

"Man, I DO love a good album cover!" -- Dana Countryman