An Aesthetic Study On Susan Sontag's "Camp"

In 1960s,"Postmodernism" had become a notable doctrine in modern western academic world and it led to the emergence of influential,critics,aestheticians,writers and artists.Susan Sontag has been regarded as one of the most important theoretical critics of the time.Her Against Interpretation caused a sensation as soon as it was published.In the meantime,her essays such as Notes on "Camp",One Culture and the New Sensibility,On Style and her treatises like On Photography,Illness as Metaphor were well received.As a matter of fact,later researches could hardly discuss related issues without reference to Sontag's works.Being one significant part of Susan Sontag's aesthetic thoughts,"Camp" is vital and valuable because it includes "Against Interpretation","Style","New Sensibility" and many other thoughts.Given that "Camp" is indispensable to Sontag's thoughts,this article will focus on the concept of "Camp" and uncover the value of behind it,which is part of the "New Sensibility".Four portions of this thesis are as follows:The first part is the introduction,which mainly discusses the importance of this research.It will then introduce the research status of "Camp" at home and abroad.At the same time,the purpose of this study,the motivations for it and the methodologies to carry out the research will be included.The second part is chapter one,which chiefly discusses the etymology of "Camp",the development of Sontag's thoughts and the reason why "Camp" is one of the most important parts of her aesthetic thoughts.The third part,which includes three chapters,is the kernel of this article.It will primarily expound the pattern of manifestation of Sontag's "Camp",the category of her "Camp" and the question that "Camp" is an agglomeration of Sontag's early thoughts.In the form of notes,she appealed to attach emphasis on "Style" or "Form" instead of "Content".Meanwhile,on behalf of "Mass Culture",her announcement challenged the "High Culture",which reflects the core thoughts of Against Interpretation,On Style and One Culture and the New Sensibility.The last part is the conclusion.It summarizes the meaning of Sontag's aesthetic thought of "Camp".In brief,"Camp" is the resolution of the imbalance between "Content" and "Form" and the method to close the gap between elegance and vulgarity.