April 09, 2004, 22:16
KallehCamp
I recently read an article that said Susan Sontag's "
camp" is one of the "few linguistic innovations" in the last 40 years in English. I can't understand the logic of that! It seems as though we see new coinages everyday.
Sontag says that "camp" is a broader term than that associated with homosexuality. How do you use it? Also, she capitalizes "camp." Is it supposed to be capitalized?
April 14, 2004, 21:03
Kalleh Quinion says that the gay meaning of "camp" could either come from the French (because many think that all things risqué come from France); a dialect word,
camp or
kemp, meaning "rough or uncouth;" from military camps (where gay men might advertise their availability); or the slang use of
camp, meaning a male brothel.
Does anyone else know any more about this use of "camp?"
April 15, 2004, 01:48
Richard EnglishWell, Susan Sontag certainly makes a meal of that!
I had always understood Camp to be the slightly effeminate posturing and speech of those connected with some parts of the entertainment business - especially the stage.
Julian and Sandy from "Round the Horne"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/comedy/progpages/horne.shtml seemed to me to exemplify Camp at its best.
April 15, 2004, 06:31
arnieMore from Julian and Sandy:
Jules and Sand's bona tribute pagette