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Popular Culture Review
Those who frequent thrift stores revive the abandoned stuff of past
generations. In this way they are artists, giving new meanings to the artifacts of
old. They are taking things that still have “legitimate” intentions and uses, and
stylizing them. Camp items represent either some way-of-being which has passed
away (including old ways of talking, thinking, dressing), OR current ways-of-being
which are blatant attempts to control the thought of the current culture/public all
reinterpreted to be stylish because the serious message fails.
Old metaphors, fads and styles come cheaply and can be found anywhere.
For those who aren’t wedded to keeping up with current style and fad, thrift stores
are the ideal places to shop. It is fun to find items that are cheap, have a history and a
personality, and merely need to be brushed off so that they can find a place in our
lives. Going camping to find things to do a job is missing the point. Camp items do
not primarily “do a job,” but rather primarily exemplify a way of life. This way of life
is defined by how one behaves and by the “stuff” with which one surrounds oneself
For example, assume that a certain gentleman needs a butter dish. He
therefore goes to the thrift store to find one. Already, as he is looking for something
that will serve a specific purpose, he is not experiencing the thrift store with a
camp sensibility. That is, he is likely to settle for something which will serve the
purpose of housing butter, whether or not the butter dish is campy or not. However,
if a person lets others (who also have a camp sensibility) know that he is on the
lookout for a butter dish, then one of these others is likely to come across a campy
butter dish. The butter dish to be found out there will be stylish first, efficient second.
Shaped like an automobile, train, or Graceland, the butter dish will have some
personality which makes it campy and worth having.
The camp sensibility enables one to see her existence in a way that does not
demand staying abreast of current culture. Instead, she can enjoy that which has
been, and in the process create something new. Every time I locate something camp,
1do so as a representative of the current popular culture.' It is a common misconception
that an individual needs to actively participate in a popular action to be representative
of that culture. Individuals using the language of that culture in any way are arguably
a part of that culture. Both the camp-sensitivity and many people who call themselves
“retro” can be seen as escaping from pop culture. However, the “retros” are attempting
to deny their embeddedness in the current culture, whereas the “campers” would
admit that they are of a current culture and therefore able to have a special camp
experience of things from another generation."
One is of a culture just by virtue of living in it. By being of a culture, one
brings into the thrift store a culture, and invites a “clashing” with other cultures,
other styles and fads. Such a “clash” is not stressful, but exhilarating. Previous
meanings and ways of life are appreciated, and new ones are created “before your
very eyes