Camp

Definition

Camp refers to a style or aesthetic characterized by exaggerated, over-the-top elements that embrace bad taste and flamboyance. It often involves a playful and ironic approach to art and culture, allowing for a celebration of the absurd, the kitsch, and the theatrical. Camp challenges traditional norms of taste and can create a sense of community among those who appreciate its humor and creativity.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Camp originated as a concept in the LGBTQ+ community, allowing individuals to express their identities in ways that defy conventional norms.
2. The term 'camp' gained mainstream recognition with Susan Sontag's 1964 essay 'Notes on 'Camp',' which explored its aesthetic and cultural significance.
3. In cult television, camp can manifest through exaggerated performances, melodramatic storylines, and intentional low production values that contribute to a show's charm.
4. Shows like 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' and 'RuPaul's Drag Race' exemplify camp through their celebration of flamboyance and their subversion of traditional narratives.
5. Camp often functions as a critique of societal norms by embracing what is typically dismissed as low culture, creating space for alternative expressions of identity and experience.

Review Questions

• How does camp function as a form of expression within cult television, and what role does it play in audience engagement?
  • Camp serves as an important form of expression in cult television by allowing shows to embrace absurdity and exaggeration. This aesthetic engages audiences who appreciate the humor and irony inherent in campy elements, creating a sense of community among viewers who connect over shared enjoyment. By celebrating the unconventional and the kitschy, these shows challenge traditional narratives while inviting fans to participate in an interactive viewing experience that often includes quoting lines and dressing up as characters.
• Analyze the impact of Susan Sontag's essay 'Notes on 'Camp'' on the understanding of camp in media and culture.
  • Susan Sontag's essay 'Notes on 'Camp'' played a crucial role in elevating the understanding of camp within media and culture by articulating its significance beyond mere bad taste. She highlighted how camp functions as both an aesthetic appreciation and a social commentary that allows individuals to embrace what society deems unworthy. This framework has influenced how creators craft cult television shows, encouraging them to incorporate camp elements that resonate with audiences while challenging conventional values regarding taste and artistic merit.
• Evaluate the ways in which camp challenges traditional narratives within cult television, and what this reveals about cultural norms.
  • Camp challenges traditional narratives within cult television by subverting expectations through exaggerated performances, melodrama, and intentional self-parody. This approach reveals underlying cultural norms that dictate what is considered 'high' or 'low' culture, prompting viewers to reconsider their perceptions of taste and value. The embrace of camp allows for the exploration of identity, sexuality, and social critique, creating spaces where marginalized voices can be amplified while encouraging audiences to engage with content that disrupts established conventions.

Related terms

Kitsch: Kitsch is art or objects that are considered to be in poor taste due to their overly sentimental or gaudy nature, often appreciated ironically.

Parody: Parody is a humorous or satirical imitation of a particular genre, style, or work, often highlighting its flaws or absurdities.

Irony: Irony is a rhetorical device or situation in which there is a contrast between expectation and reality, often used to create humor or critique.