Camp

by Yi Zhou (Editor)

This is a visual exploration of camp as a style--in all its vulgarity, glamour, and excess--from Minimalism to Neo-camp, from American to European and Asian culture, from art to fashion and design. Camp tackles big hair and sequins, Dallas and Dynasty, Andy Warhol and Cindy Sherman, Pedro Almodovar and John Waters. And let's not forget drag queens . . . . Camp is a lifestyle. It's the reign of the outrageous, it's striking against the mainstream aesthetic and championing the outsider. I's marginalized groups becoming the creators of taste, the end of "15 minutes of fame." Camp is the domination of homosexual taste, it's the blatantly vulgar in art, fashion and design. It's the rise of a trash aesthetic, the marriage of formerly underground taste played with thoroughly over-ground money. When everything is trash, nothing is serious. Re-fabricate the past at a good price and wear it for six months. Throw it Prêt-a-jeter. American camp is inherent. European Camp is a conscious choice. Asian camp is an alter ego. Camp is a lie that tells the truth. Bad taste is God. American Camp is inherent. European Camp is a conscious choice. Asian Camp is an alter ego. Camp is a lie that tells the truth. Bad taste is God. Paperback, 7.5 x 9 in./150 pgs / 200 color.

150 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2005