THE IMPORTANCE OF TRASH
Both camp aesthetics and cult cinema emphasize the importance of TRASH! Camp and cult reject notions of “high art”, leaning into the kitschy and cheesy, and exemplify how making art fun, dirty, and boundary pushing expands our own views of identity and self expression.
Looking ‘Camp’ Right in the Eye: An Exploration of the Eccentric Aesthetic
Wikipedia defines camp as “an aesthetic and sensibility that regards something as appealing or amusing because of its heightened level of artifice, affectation and exaggeration, especially when there is also a playful or ironic element”. The article linked above from The Science Survey gives a comprehensive overview of the history of camp, providing examples and context about Susan Sontag (pictured left), who emphasized the key elements of the aesthetic in her seminal essay, “Notes on Camp”.
Wikipedia defines camp as “an aesthetic and sensibility that regards something as appealing or amusing because of its heightened level of artifice, affectation and exaggeration, especially when there is also a playful or ironic element”. The article linked above from The Science Survey gives a comprehensive overview of the history of camp, providing examples and context about Susan Sontag (pictured left), who emphasized the key elements of the aesthetic in her seminal essay, “Notes on Camp”.
What is Cult Cinema? A Checklist
Cult films are most commonly defined by their “dedicated, passionate fanbase, which forms an elaborate subculture, members of which engage in repeated viewings, dialogue-quoting, and audience participation”. Oftentimes, cult films are not popular upon release, but will gain a new appreciation years after. The linked article from Bright Lights Film Journal gives an overview of cult cinema, with examples and checklists to help determine if a movie can be considered a cult classic.
Cult films are most commonly defined by their “dedicated, passionate fanbase, which forms an elaborate subculture, members of which engage in repeated viewings, dialogue-quoting, and audience participation”. Oftentimes, cult films are not popular upon release, but will gain a new appreciation years after. The linked article from Bright Lights Film Journal gives an overview of cult cinema, with examples and checklists to help determine if a movie can be considered a cult classic.