CAMP

What Does Camp Mean?

The Quick Answer

Camp means "Extravagant and Exaggerated Style That Embraces Irony and Humor."

More Observations...

Camp is a style characterized by extravagant, exaggerated, and often absurd aesthetics, embracing irony and humor. Tied to LGBTQ culture, it's found widely in media, movies, and fashion, and is often enjoyed in an ironic way. Camp celebrates perceived bad taste or failed seriousness. It is often seen in over-the-top B-movies and lavish drag performances.

In Detail

Camp refers to a cultural phenomenon characterized by extravagant, exaggerated, and sometimes absurd aesthetics. Often used to embrace and celebrate bad taste, camp is seen in various aspects of media, such as movies, fashion, and performance art. It's closely associated with LGBTQ culture and often manifests in over-the-top and intentionally garish presentations. A 1964 essay by American writer, philosopher, and political activist Susan Sontag, titled "Notes on 'Camp'" played a significant role in defining the concept, highlighting its ironic and humorous nature. Camp appreciates the unnatural and embraces failure, irony, and excess in a way that often transcends traditional notions of beauty or taste. Whether it's in the exaggerated acting of B-movies or the lavish performances in drag shows, camp's influence can be seen across various aspects of culture. Camp is a complex, multifaceted concept that challenges traditional aesthetic values, turning what might be considered bad taste into an art form.

Image for Camp

When I write Camp, I mean this:

"Extravagant and Exaggerated Style That Embraces Irony and Humor"

Summary of Key Points

We have summarized the key points in the table below:

Camp
Definition:	Extravagant and Exaggerated Style That Embraces Irony and Humor
Type:	Word
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Example of Camp Used in a Text

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