Roger Scruton's classic article on the perils of kitsch. It is a defence of art as moral compass fighting off a self-reinforcing feedback loop of comforting shorthand fake-emotion that, like junk food, fails to nourish. I am particularly drawn to the idea that kitsch art is herd art. Scruton's horse is a little high but there's a lot of good stuff here that is as relevant as ever in the era of the lolcat and '10 things you need to know about...'.