Camp

Definition

Camp is a style and sensibility characterized by exaggerated, theatrical, and often humorous elements that embrace bad taste or the absurd. This aesthetic is closely tied to LGBTQ+ culture, where it serves as a means of self-expression and subversion, challenging norms and celebrating non-conformity through parody and irony.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Camp originated as a way for marginalized communities, particularly LGBTQ+ individuals, to express themselves in a society that often ostracized them.
2. The aesthetics of camp can be seen in various forms of art, including film, literature, fashion, and performance, where it often critiques mainstream culture.
3. Susan Sontag's 1964 essay 'Notes on Camp' played a significant role in articulating and popularizing the concept within cultural discussions.
4. Camp embraces the idea that things can be both highbrow and lowbrow simultaneously, blurring the lines between what is considered good taste and bad taste.
5. The use of camp can create spaces of liberation and celebration for LGBTQ+ individuals, allowing them to reclaim narratives and challenge societal norms.

Review Questions

• How does camp serve as a form of self-expression within LGBTQ+ culture?
  • Camp allows LGBTQ+ individuals to express their identities in a playful and often exaggerated manner. By embracing elements of bad taste and absurdity, camp creates a space where non-conformity is celebrated. This style enables people to challenge societal norms while fostering community through shared humor and creativity, making it a vital part of LGBTQ+ cultural expression.
• Discuss how Susan Sontag's essay 'Notes on Camp' has influenced modern perceptions of camp in art and culture.
  • Sontag's 'Notes on Camp' provided an intellectual framework for understanding camp as an aesthetic and cultural phenomenon. She highlighted its playful nature, emphasizing how it blurs the lines between high culture and low culture. This essay has significantly influenced modern art and performance by encouraging creators to explore irony, parody, and exaggeration in their work, thereby validating camp as a legitimate form of artistic expression.
• Evaluate the impact of camp aesthetics on contemporary LGBTQ+ movements and their relationship with mainstream culture.
  • Camp aesthetics have had a profound impact on contemporary LGBTQ+ movements by fostering a sense of identity that celebrates diversity and defiance against mainstream standards. The humorous and exaggerated elements of camp provide a means for activists to critique societal norms while simultaneously engaging broader audiences. As LGBTQ+ culture gains visibility in mainstream media, camp continues to serve as both a tool for empowerment and a lens through which to challenge traditional representations, ultimately enriching cultural dialogue around identity and acceptance.

Related terms

Queer Aesthetics: A creative approach that challenges traditional notions of beauty and representation, often embracing diversity, fluidity, and the unconventional.

Parody: A comedic or satirical imitation of a particular style or genre, often used in camp to mock or exaggerate the original.

Exaggeration: The act of describing something in an overly dramatic or extreme manner, which is a key feature of camp's playful nature.