Kitsch and WWII Posters

In short, Kitsch can be described is ugly.  The website given to us had little compliments for it, other than it's so bad, it's good.  The pleasantly distastefulness of it is often overdone, tacky and sometimes is intended to be funny.  Materials used were often bright shiny metals, so just think of a really ugly Christmas tree ornament that your grandma has,... and it's probably Kitsch.  

In Chapter 17, American graphics during WWII was discussed.  It first because in the early 40's before anybody ever believed the US would enter WWII.  The federal government wanted to increase production so they began producing posters.  This led to posters that depicted Hitler, Pearl Harbor because they were discussed frequently and had a huge impact on the US.  One painter, Ben Shahn, focused on Nazi brutality though very graphic forms in dynamic compositions.  Once WWII was finished, the next area of concentration was on consumer markets.  We were no longer creating war machinery and had to produce necessary items to improve the way of life.  What a better way to promote this than through advertising!  

I think it's interesting to think about how differently the US's history would have been different if it wasn't for graphic design and other forms of art.  Without it, as seen in this chapter, a lot of things wouldn't have been possible or worked as effectively if graphics weren't involved.  We were able to publicize our wants (such as focusing on consumer markets) that sped up the recovery process after the war.  I don't think many people give graphic design enough credit because this is rarely discussed in our general history books.  In these general books, our country just magically fixes itself with apparently no help from propaganda and other posters.  

How long did Kitsch last?  Or, is it still going today?