Artist Quote by Dan Fox
““Sontag holds that camp reveals itself as things age. “When the theme is important and contemporary, the failure of a work of art may make us indignant. Time can change that. . . . Thus, things are campy, not when they become old but when we become less involved in them, and can enjoy, instead of be frustrated by, the failure of the attempt.” Accusations of pretentiousness fade the older something becomes. As works of art or styles of dress recede into the past, the historical forces that shaped them become legible. Familiarity lets us regard them fondly.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “Camp and the Aesthetic of Failure” by Dan Fox, 2015
Camp is a style that becomes appealing as it ages, because distance lets us appreciate its flaws rather than feel frustration.
In simple terms: Older things can be enjoyed for their imperfections.
Key Takeaway
Embrace past works with humor.
Themes
aesthetics
nostalgia
culture
humor
Mood
reflective
playful
critical
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- fashion retrospectives
- art history classes
- media analysis
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
Camp theory
cultural criticism
temporal perspective
Questions to Reflect On
- How does distance change your view of a once‑annoying style?
- Can humor soften criticism of past failures?
A Different Perspective
Not all aging works become camp; some remain problematic.
![“[Richard Avedon's] camera dwells on the horrible things that age can do to people's faces - on the flabby flesh, the slack skin, the ugly growths, the puffy eyes, the knotted necks, the aimless wrinkles, the fearful and anxious set of the mouth, the marks left by sickness, madness, alcoholism, and…” quote by Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4a3/janet-malcolm-10933_age_richard-avedon-s-camera-dwells-on-the-ho_1419993.jpg)
