The word "camp" comes from the French slang word se camper, which means to pose in an exaggerated fashion. Susan Sontag, in her essay "Notes on Camp, takes something that is very serious and talks about it in a way that almost turns it into irony by making it funny. By exaggerating, it presents the opportunity to say things that wouldn't normally be said without the possibility of backlash if it was construed as something else. In the Drag Race episode, "Jocks in Frocks," the male drag contestants have to transform a jock into their drag "sister." Throughout the episode the drag queens are working towards teaching the straight jocks their way of life and acclimating them to think as drag queens. Focusing on the topic of homosexuality, they make it humorous by dressing the men up in drag. The idea of drag is all about putting on a show, and that's what the men do in a humorous manner, but in the back of people's minds is the idea that homosexuality is becoming more and more prevalent in our society as people feel more comfortable with the changing norms. The idea of drag is humorous to society because we see it as dress up, a sort of child-like game that's supposed to be a joke, but the reality is that it's a very common way for homosexuals to express who they believe to be their true selves.
-Bella Narvaez
I think that even the Drag Race episode shows how homosexuality is becoming more prevalent, at the same time it also mocks it and does not necessarily say people approve of it. Instead, it shows it off homosexuality, and drag queens in particular, as a form of entertainment rather than something to be taken seriously, even if they are becoming more commonly seen in society.
ReplyDeleteI agree Bella. The concept of "drag" is often taken out of context and used for humor and/or entertainment. I see your point about how dressing in drag could really be how someone feels and its not a joke. I wonder though, how come so many drag queens parade for that reason? Meaning, for entertainment, shock value and humor? It is definitely an interesting topic because you have two sets of people: those who use it for entertainment and those that take it seriously as their identity. It would be interesting to see a debate on this topic.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you say, and in fact my blog touched on some very similar points that you made. Often times, like the points listed for Camp, this whole idea of drag and being gay seems very fun and light-hearted. Take for example, the very popular notion of the 'gay best friend.' This term is very often used to describe a gay who is very fun, a mood lifter and a shopping buddy. And while there are elements of that which are true, as Camp describes it to be, I agree that this show goes beyond Camp. It's a true story of these minority people trying to show the world that they too are human beings trying to get by in this society.
ReplyDeleteIt's worth pointing out that the show's talent, or even, its producers, don't necessarily have "showing the world" this or that as their main goal, but how any media "text" transcends its own self once it is put out there for the world to consume. The reason for being for the show may even have more to do with niche marketing and financial gain, yet, unwittingly the show may accomplish so much more than what it set it out to do.
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