An article addressing the 'artification' of larp and the 'reactionary' view of kitschy larps.
Note to foreigners and a sort of preface:
Note that Norwegian painter Odd Nerdrum has advocated the term 'kitsch' as an opposition to 'art'. His paintings are made in a style best described as renaissance, even if the contents are decisively modern - "Pissing woman" and a self-portrait where the painter lifts his gown showing his erect penis. Nerdrums ambition with calling his paintings kitsch is to distance him self from the mainstream of painting. The 'mainstream' is sometimes erroneously perceived as those that paint fishing-boats and mountains in naturalised styles, but actually the 'mainstream of painting' are those that splash a pint of red on a white board and calls it art. Nerdrum has come to the conclusion that is futile trying to re-establish the term 'art' as something noble and/or something that takes efforts and skills as well as inspiration. Thus he terms his works kitsch and separates himself from the 'art-world', but in actuality becomes one of Norway's most important and indeed sought after painters.
Kitsch does have a meaning of it own as being cheap poster-reproductions of naturalistic sceneries or in interior design as being things such as large-flower-patterned wallpaper in garish colours. Yes, the 70s are definitely kitschy! I believe the origins of the term is 'something so simple it maye have been made in the kitchen'. Either way you perceive the term, it's usual connotation is a 'lowly' form of art sometimes 'playing' to the people's basest desires', rather than attempting to provoke or cause other forms of intense reactions. Travelling Circus' are generally perceived as kitsch, whilst performance artists are perceived as art.
My reason for introducing the term 'kitsch' upon the larp-scene is a feeling that things have taken a parallel turn in larp as it has in what we can broadly call the 'world of artistic expressions'. Increasingly leading larp-theorists are concerned with larp as art, as serious art that needs to fight its way into recognition as something as rare as a 'new' form of art. Seriousness, thoughtfulness and innovative ability are the watchwords, whilst fun, elation and old-fashion style is viewed as inferior or passé. Attempts are even being made at turning the whole larp-scene towards an artistic understanding of itself, attempts that aim at 'uplifting' how we perceive our own activity. The dominant trend and 'slang' of Knutepunkt and sundry 'high-browed' publications and web-sites are examples of this evolution.
Throughout my time as a larper, I have considered larp as being about creating, and the creation is a thing that when it's good stirs the hearts and minds, and when it's bad inspires to do better. Larp has never (in my mind) been perceived as base because it emulates or re-creates clichés. It is the desire to actually experience some of the repeating clichés of the literature, movies or other forms of story-telling that has been my impetus for larping. Even if I'm now looking for 'deepened' experiences I still also seek out the 'kitsch' larps. This attitude is (naturally) joined to the attitudes I display in The Armanian Platform.
Having a basic perception of larp as a creative process allows for acceptance of every one of larps many facets - or indeed, plants. In 'my world' there is no significant difference between larpers striving to earn acceptance as being 'artists' by The Rest of the World and those that make larps for the fun of it. Both groups create something that stirs emotions and intellects, even if they sometimes speak to different audiences.
Ok, so there is no difference between art and kitsch then. Is that it?
Oh no, there are differences, but only superficial, and only in the perception of those involved, not in the process or the result as such. Kitsch or art is in other words mostly a question of perspective. If you as player or organiser, as artist or gamer consider what you do in a certain fashion, then that is a correct perception in so far as it works for you and gives you what you're looking for. Thus larpers can be either artist or kitschers, depending upon their own viewpoint.
But it is possible to make some distinctions between larps as to whether they are kitsch or larp.
Language is one 'peg' that may be used to define a larp within either context: Writers of larp-material makes a semi-conscious choice when they describe the setting they wish to emulate or create, choices that can be seen in language. Easy language, using slang from various sources (table-top rpg, sub-cultures, fantastic or pulp literature) is usually a strong indication that you're dealing with a kitsch-larp. If the language most of all looks like a doctoral treatise or a 'new poetry' textbook, then you're most likely going to an 'art-larp'. Simply put; Dragons appear in kitsch-larp and Empathy (with a capital E) appears in art-larp.
Thankfully organisers of any larp usually puts a lot of effort into presenting their project to potential participants, and in this material it is possible to find clues as to whether you are dealing with kitsch or art. Any web-site featuring swords, dragons, maps, fantastic Imagery and effects is bound to be kitsch. If the material refers to movies such as LoTR, books such as Lovecraft and pictures such as Geiger, odds are that this is kitsch-larp. When you find blurred black-and-white collages on a web-site, or when there is a multi-syllable word in the larp's name or if the design of flyers or web-sites is minimalistic and strict, then you're probably en route to a art-larp.
During the larp, you will also find 'markers' that makes the larp appear as kitsch or art.
Indications of art: Thoroughly unexpected events. Tables being turned up side down and referred to as an 'inverted dining-platform'. A naked player covering himself in jellyfish. A random, Real World, trashcan is brought into the larp and the contents treated as treasured items. Participants are given 'characters' referred to as 'idioms'.
Indications of kitsch: There is an Inn serving mead at the larp. Participants live in ramshackle military tents somewhere out in the woods. The night is spent 'on watch' for attacks from monsters. Crazy self-invented lettering appears on signs and papers. Latex is to be found everywhere, mostly on or upon people's heads.
As it is with every normative texts outlining categories or extremes, most elements that falls within the scope of the texts falls between the extremes. As it is in this case. Most larps and most larpers can not be termed only art or only kitsch. They fall along an axis between the two, just as the table-top game 'Risk' and a six days fantasy-larp falls towards either end of an axis between symbolic and realistic simulation of reality.
Some would say that an attitude of accepting every kind of standpoint causes insignificance. Some say that only through clearly defined antagonism with absolutist standpoints true evolution happens. I disagree. Antagonism between for instance artistically inclined larpers and those more kitschily inclined would only cause an disjoining of the 'scene' as a whole and both sides would loose.
It may by now be obvious that I for my part, mostly attend and create 'kitsch-larp'. However, I wish to stress that I respect larp-creators of all stripes equally. Without experimental and innovative larps and without the traditional and 'straight-forward' larps, we may not be able to realise the full potential of larp as a way of 'human betterment' (which includes making people feel good, giving people food for thought and touching peoples hearts and minds equally).
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