poshlost

Poshlost is a Russian word that has no direct English translation, but it is often described as a form of cheap, vulgar, or pretentious tastelessness. It refers to something that is considered kitsch, gaudy, or overly sentimental, often with an underlying superficiality or falseness. The concept was popularized by Vladimir Nabokov, who used it to describe a particular kind of artistic or aesthetic offense.

Nabokov defined poshlost as "the false, the spurious, the vamps, the flics, the fakes, the fards, the frauds, the fakirs, the fakirs of art and letters." He saw it as an all-encompassing term for anything that is intellectually or artistically shallow, yet attempts to present itself as profound or sophisticated. This can manifest in various forms, including literature, art, fashion, and even personal behavior.

Examples of poshlost might include overly dramatic or sentimental poetry, brightly colored reproductions of famous paintings, or self-help books that promise easy answers to complex problems. It is often associated with a desire to appear cultured or insightful without possessing genuine depth or understanding. Poshlost appeals to a facile, uncritical taste and thrives on imitation and cliché.

The term carries a strong sense of moral and aesthetic disapproval. To identify something as poshlost is to dismiss it as lacking genuine merit and to associate it with a certain vulgarity or falseness. It is a critique of superficiality and a call for authenticity and genuine artistic or intellectual value.