The “Rude Garden Gnome” is quickly becoming one of the most popular art forms in America, reaching an international audience with over 100 million views per day on Facebook alone (Facebook). This creature is gaining fame at a rapid pace, but will it last? With mainstream media such as the Huffington Post and countless online news sources covering the craze, its chances seem promising. However, one must look at all factors before labeling this new art form a fad; these include trends in pop culture and the economy, demographics of buyers and followers, and competition among other forms of “low brow” (or popular) art.
The first factor one must look at is trends in pop culture. This gnome has appeared on shows such as “The Today Show” and the “Rachel Ray Show,” both of which are nationally televised; if these celebrities were not interested, it’s doubtful that the art would have gained the fame that it has (Huffington Post). Another influential factor in the Rude Garden Gnome’s popularity is Facebook, which currently has over one million likes for the page. The number of followers will continue to increase as long as people find this form of art humorous. According to Paddy Hirsch at CBS News, three years ago only 6 percent of Americans had seen a garden gnome; today, more than 80 percent of people have seen or know about them (Hirsch).
A final trend that may influence the Rude Garden Gnome’s future is the population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans are getting older and living longer; if this trend continues, there will be an even greater need for a way to inject humor into everyday life. All of these trends make it seem as though the Rude Garden Gnome will continue to be popular for many years to come, which brings us to our next factor: demographics of buyers and followers. The major demographic purchasing this art form is males 18-25 (not necessarily the most critical or discerning audience); however, they are not the only ones buying. Many older people are also purchasing these pieces of art to surprise their friends and family with a laugh (Hirsch).
With all of this in mind, it is safe to say that the Rude Garden Gnome will remain popular. It is very economical for artists because they mass produce their gnomes, thus making it easy for them to sell and creating a larger customer base (Hirsch).
Another factor that makes this art form so popular is the fact that anyone can do it; one does not need to be “trained” or have any particular artistic talent to create these pieces of art. The final factor that will keep this art form alive is competition. Although there are many other forms of “low brow” art, such as cartoons and graffiti, this gnome seems to be taking these forms’ place in pop culture.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
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