CC Flickr Kenneth Moyle

According to Susan Sontag, “Camp” is a sensibility. It is “something of a private code, a badge of identity even, among small urban cliques” (Sontag, 1964). After reading this definition, I was still unclear about the subject, though she does make it clear that it’s not an idea. I may have grasped the idea of what “Camp” is when the random examples list is discussed and a Tiffany lamp is among those on the list. I find it very useless to have a Tiffany lamp because I feel that it would be expensive for no reason at all but other would adore it because it’s Tiffany. My definition was made clearer when Sontag include No. 6 in the Notes for Oscar Wilde portion of the essay. When something is too good or too important, it can’t be “Camp”, maybe because it’s not artsy enough?

From this essay I gathered these things about CAMP:

• It is not an idea
• It is not too important
• It is artsy
• It is innocent
• It is a sensibility
• It is a glorification of character
• Many things can be “campy”
• Campy things are to be enjoyed

I’d still like more clarification.