Why did some critics consider Pop art vulgar or sensational?

Critics of Pop art often labeled the movement as vulgar, sensational, non-aesthetic, and a joke because it challenged the established boundaries of "high art". By utilizing commonplace objects—such as soup cans, comic strips, and advertisements—as primary subject matter, Pop artists rejected the personal, expressive nature of Abstract Expressionism that had previously dominated the art world.1

This embrace of mass-produced, commercial imagery was viewed by some as an endorsement of kitsch—art that is popular and mass-marketed but lacks traditional cultural esteem. Because Pop art mimicked the techniques of mass production and consumer culture, critics perceived it as lacking the artistic depth or "seriousness" expected of fine art.231

Conversely, proponents of the movement argued that Pop art was democratic and inclusive, successfully bridging the gap between connoisseurs and the general public by reflecting the reality of a highly technological, media-oriented society.1