The group exhibition of fifteen artists focuses on i diom guilty pleasure began to appear in the Anglophone environment in the second half of the 20th century and gradually gained popularity mainly in the context of pop culture. Literally, it means guilty pleasure, sometimes the conjunction sinful joy is used in connection with it, which pushes its perception of meaning a little further. In general, this expression refers to something that a person enjoys with pleasure, but at the same time is ashamed of it, either because it is not considered high quality in terms of accepted norms, or because it directly crosses the boundaries of social ethics and tolerance.

 

Although the principles of guilty pleasure and the church's concept of sin do not completely overlap, it is not difficult to find common elements. It is not by chance that the expression that he has sinned has crept into ordinary conversation in cases where a person makes a small mistake against his resolution. Both concepts involve activities that evoke feelings of guilt or shame. Both are influenced by what others consider acceptable and what is not. Both often bring personal pleasure. But guilty pleasures are usually seen as less serious and more personal, while sins in the true sense of the word are more serious transgressions against moral and religious imperatives. More serious consequences, including spiritual or social punishments, correspond to this.

 

Although Sigmund Freud obviously did not use the term guilty pleasure, his theories of repressed desires and the unconscious provide a basis for understanding why people may feel guilty about their pleasures. And it is precisely this ambivalence that interests science the most. Philosophy examines it mainly through moral dilemmas. Sociologists deal with how social norms and expectations influence our feelings of guilt. Psychologists view guilty pleasure in terms of self-acceptance and a balance between responsibility and pleasure. They also examine how we identify with the manifestations of guilty pleasure and to what extent it actually affects our identity.

 

Guilty pleasure is a fascinating phenomenon in many ways, which is the main reason why this project tries to capture it visually and show some of its forms or aspects. The other thing is that it applies to everyone without exception. Although we are taught from a young age that some activities are good and others bad, this is not the point to judge - if only because the fulfillment of guilty pleasure changes depending on the time, cultural and social conditions and often differs diametrically. It was up to the authors how to approach the topic. If they decide to make a personal confession, relativize norms or diagnose society. Will they be more concerned with pleasure or guilt. After all, art is also a guilty pleasure in its own way – an escape into a world where one can be oneself. Whatever that means.

 

 

Radek Wohlmuth