Week 4: Apply and Reflect

 

Jeff Koons,Michael and Bubbles, 1988


Jeff Koons' Michael Jackson and Bubbles 1988 is the purest form of kitsch art.  The artwork is tasteless, ugly and mocks true culture. Clement Greenberg gave the definition of kitsch as “popular, commercial art and literature with their chrometypes, magazine covers, illustration, ads, slick and pulp fiction, comics, tin Pan Alley music, tap dancing, Hollywood movies, etc...,etc..” (1) The symbols of Michael Jackson hit almost all of the check boxes of what kitsch art is.  Jackson is one of the most universally known artist to ever live and even in death is still recognized as one of the biggest stars. Which is why people need to pay more respect to this form of art and to the artist Jeff Koons. Koon prerogative is to push the edge of what tasteless art is. And shamelessly expressing the want to be famous and rich in doing so. Clement Greenberg essay “Avant-garde and Kitsch” explains why kitsch art such a low form of art. Kitsch art in Greenberg’s view is dumb, cheap, and only made for the purpose of making money.  Koons uses that definition and made himself a rich, tasteless artist proving Greenberg point.   Michael Jackson and Bubbles has all the making of being high art. The martial the sculptor is made of is porcelain. Porcelain is a luxurious martial that has ties with high society a symbol of their wealth. Only those in the higher realm of society could afford to have porcelain plates and cups. So, for Koon’s piece to made out of porcelain is mocking higher society. Greenberg argues that art is relegated to high society. Jeff Koon understands art traditions. The sculptor itself is a replica of a photograph of Michael Jackson and his pet monkey Bubbles. “Koons took artistic license with some of the details, shifting Jackson’s position slightly so that it echoed the historical art tradition of Madonna and child.” (2) Artist have borrowed positioning of subject to pay homage to or to show they know what art is and in doing so are creating art.  Koons know what he is doing and by doing so he is forcing the viewer to see his art fits into high society. Greenberg view on kitsch art is controversial and so is Jeff Koons. 

1.)Greenberg, Clement. “Avant-Garde and Kitsch.” Accessed 2020. http://sites.uci.edu/form/files/2015/01/Greenberg-Clement-Avant-Garde-and-Kitsch-copy.pdf.

2.)Sutton, Kate. “Jeff Koons' Controversial Michael Jackson Sculpture: The Story Behind It.” Billboard. Billboard, July 8, 2014. https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6150392/jeff-koons-controversial-michael-jackson-sculpture-the-story-behind-it. 

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Comments

  1. River MartinezSeptember 19, 2020 at 2:03 AM

    Rachel, I think your right about this piece being a perfect example of what Greenberg's describes Kitsch art to be. People either love it, or loathe it. Some people might enjoy this art just because it is of Michael Jackson and Bubbles, or maybe their just porcelain collectors sells. It would be interesting to know if Koons creates other images of celebrities in porcelain.

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  2. Allison BSeptember 20, 2020 at 9:39 PM

    Hi Rachel, you did a great job on your post. I thought about using Jeff Koons as well for this reflection but chose not to. I agree with you on how Koons is mocking higher society by choosing to make this piece out of porcelain and not some other cheaper medium. A question I have for you is were you able to find any other art works that are like Jeff Koons’s pieces that mocks higher society? Overall great work!

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