Date: 22 Aug 1995 16:26:36 -0500
Subject: RE: Serbian avantgarde



>A few years ago there was a Slovenian group called NSK (Neue Slowienische
>Kunst) which begat, among other things, the music group Laibach (old name for
>Ljubljana). They published a handsome book of their artwork in 1990 or 1991
(US >release) but had been around at least since the early '80s. The general
>aesthetic seemed to center around the kitschy trappings of fascism.
   
I have always wondered to what extent the NSK was an actual group instead of a
front for Laibach.  Nevertheless, I love the "fascism as kitsch" aspect.
Although the utter seriousness of it makes me wonder to what extent they are
being ironic about it - although I suppose that's intentional on Laibach's
part.

Along a similar line, I just saw the film "Burnt by the Sun" the other day. 
Its a Russian film set during the early reign of Stalin.  Although it has a
rather depressing ending, there is a great deal of nostalgia for the time
period - young pioneers, gas attack drills, balloons carrying Stalin's
portrait.  It makes totalitarianism seem so wholesome.  As with Laibach, I
wonder how sentimental the director is being about the communist party;
especially in relation to the rest of the film.  Arguably the same can be said
about what is considered kitsch/nostalgia in the United States when McCarthy,
Civil Rights and the Atomic Bomb are taken into account.  But its still an
interesting contrast.  I'd like to see more examples of Eastern Bloc kitsch.

John




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