A Theatrical Celebration of Bad Taste
Camp is a sophisticated aesthetic sensibility that finds value—be it humorous, ironic, or even beautiful—in things that are exaggerated, artificial, and theatrical. To describe a film as campy is to say it embraces a “so bad it’s good” ethos. The term was famously codified in Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay “Notes on ‘Camp,’” where she described it as a love of the unnatural, of artifice over nature, and of style at the expense of content.
Unlike “cheesy,” which is often the result of an unintentional failure of sincerity, camp frequently involves a self-aware, knowing wink to the audience. It understands its own absurdity and revels in it. The appeal of camp is its playful and often subversive spirit, which challenges conventional notions of what constitutes ‘good taste.‘
The Hallmarks of Camp Cinema
- Theatricality and Exaggeration: Performances are not naturalistic; they are heightened, oversized, and stagey. Costumes and set design are often flamboyant and unrealistic.
- Irony and Self-Awareness: A campy film often seems to be in on the joke. The 1960s Batman television series is a perfect example of intentional camp, with its arch performances and comic book-style “POW!” effects.
- Emphasis on Style: The look, texture, and sheer spectacle of the film are more important than narrative coherence or thematic depth.
- Passionate Failure: Some of the most beloved camp classics are films that were made with complete seriousness but failed so spectacularly in their artistic ambitions that they became hilarious. Mommie Dearest (1981), with Faye Dunaway’s ferocious performance, is the quintessential example of unintentional camp.
Camp vs. Kitsch vs. Cheesy
These related terms describe different aspects of bad taste:
- Camp is an ironic and theatrical appreciation of something. It is a sensibility.
- Kitsch refers to the object itself—a mass-produced, sentimental, and tacky item (like a lawn flamingo). Kitsch is often the object of camp appreciation.
- Cheesy is the awkward feeling produced by an earnest attempt at drama or coolness that fails.