Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that combines elements of high and low culture to create something that is intentionally exaggerated and frivolous. It often involves humor, irony, and playfulness, and can be seen in fields such as fashion, art, film, and literature. In queer culture, camp has been used as a way to subvert traditional gender roles and norms, challenging societal expectations of masculinity and femininity. Camp also allows for self-expression and creativity, allowing individuals to embrace their own unique identity.
Drag performance is a form of camp where performers dress up in elaborate costumes and makeup to imitate famous personalities from popular culture, often parodying gender stereotypes. Drag performances are often humorous and entertaining, but they also challenge society's ideas about what it means to be male or female. Drag queens and kings have become increasingly visible in mainstream media, appearing on television shows like RuPaul's Drag Race and using social media platforms to promote their work.
Another aspect of camp in queer culture is parody. Parody takes an existing piece of media, such as a movie or song, and creates a satirical version of it, often mocking its themes or tropes. Parody can be a powerful tool for subverting oppressive narratives and challenging normative understandings of sexuality and relationships.
The 1970s sitcom Laverne & Shirley featured two women who lived together and were assumed to be lesbians by the show's writers, but the characters never actually identified themselves as such. In response, the lesbian community created its own parodies of the show that explicitly stated the character's sexual orientation and depicted lesbian life in a positive light.
Irony is another important element of camp, which involves saying one thing while meaning another. In queer culture, irony has been used to critique heteronormativity and challenge traditional notions of romance and intimacy.
The television series The L Word explores the lives of lesbian women in Los Angeles, but often features scenes that are sexually explicit and suggestive, including threesomes, orgies, and BDSM play. These scenes are meant to question assumptions about what constitutes "normal" sexual behavior and encourage viewers to rethink their preconceived notions about love and desire.
Camp, irony, and parody are all key elements of queer culture that allow individuals to express themselves freely and creatively, pushing back against societal expectations of gender and sexuality. They provide a space for self-expression and celebration, allowing people to embrace their unique identities and experiences.
What aesthetic and ethical significance do camp, irony, and parody hold in queer culture?
Camp has been described as "love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration" (Sontag 20) by Susan Sontag who also says that it is a mode that finds beauty in things that are artificial or superficially extreme. It involves taking something serious but showing it with humorous exaggeration and mocking it, which makes people reconsider their original views.