按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
properly； that human existence is good； and that we are therefore entitled to multiply。 Let us call this basic faith a categorical agreement with being。
The fact that until recently the word shit appeared in print as s— has nothing to do with moral considerations。 You can't claim that shit is immoral； after all！ The objection to shit is a metaphysical one。 The daily defecation session is daily proof of the unacceptability of Creation。 Either/or： either shit is acceptable （in which case don't lock yourself in the bathroom！） or we are created in an unacceptable manner。
It follows； then； that the aesthetic ideal of the categorical agreement with being is a world in which shit is denied and everyone acts as though it did not exist。 This aesthetic ideal is called kitsch。
Kitsch is a German word born in the middle of the sentimental nineteenth century； and from German it entered all Western languages。 Repeated use； however； has obliterated its original metaphysical meaning： kitsch is the absolute denial of shit； in both the literal and the figurative senses of the word； kitsch excludes everything from its purview which is essentially unacceptable in human existence。
6
Sabina's initial inner revolt against Communism was aesthetic rather than ethical in character。 What repelled her was not nearly so much the ugliness of the Communist world （ruined castles transformed into cow sheds） as the mask of beauty it tried to wear—in other words； Communist kitsch。 The model of Communist kitsch is the ceremony called May Day。
She had seen May Day parades during the time when people were still enthusiastic or still did their best to feign enthusiasm。 The women all wore red； white； and blue blouses； and the public； looking on from balconies and windows； could make out various five…pointed stars； hearts； and letters when the marchers went into formation。 Small brass bands accompanied the individual groups； keeping everyone in step。 As a group approached the reviewing stand； even the most blase faces would beam with dazzling smiles； as if trying to prove they were properly joyful or； to be more precise； in proper agreement。 Nor were they merely expressing political agreement with Communism； no； theirs was an agreement with being as such。 The May Day ceremony drew its inspiration from the deep well of the categorical agreement with being。 The unwritten； unsung motto of the parade was not Long live Communism！ but Long live life！ The power and cunning of Communist politics lay in the fact that it appropriated this slogan。 For it was this idiotic tautology （ Long live life！ ） which attracted people indifferent to the theses of Communism to the Communist parade。
7
Ten years later （by which time she was living in America）； a friend of some friends； an American senator； took Sabina for a drive in his gigantic car； his four children bouncing up and down in the back。 The senator stopped the car in front of a stadium with an artificial skating rink； and the children jumped out and started running along the large expanse of grass surrounding it。 Sitting behind the wheel and gazing dreamily after the four little bounding figures； he said to Sabina； Just look at them。 And describing a circle with his arm； a circle that was meant to take in stadium； grass； and children； he added； Now that's what I call happiness。
Behind his words there was more than joy at seeing children run and grass grow； there was a deep understanding of the plight of a refugee from a Communist country where； the senator was convinced； no grass grew or children ran。
At that moment an image of the senator standing on a reviewing stand in a Prague square flashed through Sabina's mind。 The smile on his face was the smile Communist statesmen beamed from the height of their reviewing stand to the identically smiling citizens in the parade below。
8
How did the senator know that children meant happiness？ Could he see into their souls？ What if； the moment they were out of sight； three of them jumped the fourth and began beating him up？
The senator had only one argument in his favor： his feeling。 When the heart speaks； the mind finds it indecent to object。 In the realm of kitsch； the dictatorship of the heart reigns supreme。
The feeling induced by kitsch must be a kind the multitudes can share。 Kitsch may not； therefore； depend on an unusual situation； it must derive from the basic images people have engraved in their memories： the ungrateful daughter； the neglected father； children running on the grass； the motherland betrayed； first love。
Kitsch causes two tears to flow in quick succession。 The first tear says： How nice to see children running on the grass！
The second tear says： How nice to be moved； together with all mankind； by children running on the grass！
It is the second tear that makes kitsch kitsch。
The brotherhood of man on earth will be possible only on a base of kitsch。
9
And no one knows this better than politicians。 Whenever a camera is in the offing； they immediately run to the nearest child； lift it in the air； kiss it on the cheek。 Kitsch is the aesthetic ideal of all politicians and all political parties and movements。
Those of us who live in a society where various political tendencies exist side by side and competing influences cancel or limit one another can manage more or less to escape the kitsch inquisition： the individual can preserve his individuality； the artist can create unusual works。 But whenever a single political movement corners power； we find ourselves in the realm of totalitarian kitsch。
When I say totalitarian； what I mean is that everything that infringes on kitsch must be banished for life： every display of individualism （because a deviation from the collective is a spit in the eye of the smiling brotherhood）； every doubt （because anyone who starts doubting details will end by doubting life itself）； all irony （because in the realm of kitsch everything must be taken quite seriously）； and the mother who abandons her family or the man who prefers men to women； thereby calling into question the holy decree Be fruitful and multiply。
In this light； we can regard the gulag as a septic tank used by totalitarian kitsch to dispose of its refuse