campstyle

Campstyle refers to a broad aesthetic and lifestyle characterized by an appreciation for the unconventional, exaggerated, and theatrical. It often embraces artificiality, humor, and a playful defiance of conventional norms and taste. Camp is not simply bad taste, but rather an intentional and often ironic embrace of what is considered garish, sentimental, or outmoded. It is a sensibility that finds beauty in the excessive and delight in the absurd.

The roots of camp style can be traced to various cultural phenomena, including the theatricality of opera, the flamboyance of certain historical subcultures, and the deliberate exaggeration found in drag performance. Susan Sontag's influential essay "Notes on 'Camp'" is often cited as a key text in defining and analyzing the concept, highlighting its emphasis on artifice, theatricality, and a certain kind of "love of the unnatural."

In practice, camp style can manifest in fashion, art, literature, film, and personal expression. It might involve the use of vibrant colors, bold patterns, excessive embellishments, and a general sense of theatricality. It often involves a wink and a nod, acknowledging the artificiality of its own presentation while simultaneously celebrating it. The appeal of camp lies in its ability to subvert expectations and to offer a critique of mainstream culture through playful exaggeration and a deliberate embrace of the non-serious. It can be seen as a form of rebellion against the mundane and a celebration of individuality and artistic freedom.