The capital, Muzaffarabad, a hilly, smoky town of about a hundred thousand that spills across bluffs at the intersection of the Jhelum and Neelum Rivers, presents a strange blend of commercial flair, kitschy decorations, and a culture of Islamic martyrdom.
There are no dominant logos, kitschy decorations or unusual silhouettes.
The problem for Mr. Brezhnev is that in today's Russia, nostalgia for the Soviet Union is more likely to be manifested in the kitschy decoration of a theme restaurant than in the foundation of a political movement.
On one hand kitschy decoration, like Capodimonte knockoffs of refined Meissen floral porcelains — themselves inspired by great Chinese models — Ai's bouquets also offer genuine respect for the deep human suffering that still reverberates through these tattered rooms.
The Hungry Heron, 2330 Palm Ridge Road, Sanibel, (941) 395-2300, has a noisy, child-friendly ambience, complete with kitschy nautical decorations and a huge Greek-diner-style menu.
The store's inventory, mainly produced by local independent artists, is highly eclectic, ranging from kitschy home decorations like rainbow disco balls (500 rupees, or $11 at 46 rupees to the dollar) to sophisticated denim bags made by Art Oxygen, a Mumbai artists' organization (500 rupees).
Gerwig's directorial expertise shines as she negotiates the conventions of a film like this – an outsider's flirtation with popularity, kitschy prom decorations, and the ambivalence of leaving a reluctantly beloved hometown to move where the culture is – effortlessly, expertly pacing her film so as to cover all the key senior-year milestones, never rushed but never dwelling too long.
No kitschy mugs decorated with pirates here.
The show is still overly generous in its embrace of kitschy illustration and decoration, but the presence of works by historically important figures like Brown and Johnson as well as by Hale Woodruff, Bob Thompson, Norman Lewis and others gives it some redeeming gravitas.
From the 1970s, there are intriguing examples like the artist Bruce Houston, known for kitschy assemblages made from cake decorations and plastic toys, and Connie Zehr, a Minimalist installation artist who has often worked with sand and silk.
To most foreigners, its faux-diamond ornamentation is egregiously kitschy.
