Susan Sontag's "Camp" and the Spectacle of the Trump Era

Susan Sontag, the influential American writer, intellectual, and filmmaker, died in 2004, long before Donald Trump's ascent to the presidency. However, her work, particularly her seminal essay "Notes on 'Camp'," provides a lens through which to understand the aesthetics and sensibilities that characterized the Trump era. Sontag's exploration of "Camp" as a mode of artifice, exaggeration, and theatricality offers a framework for analyzing Trump's persona, his political style, and the cultural landscape he inhabited.

Defining "Camp" in the Age of Trump

Sontag's "Notes on 'Camp'," published in 1964, defined "Camp" as a sensibility that appreciates the "love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration." It is a style that embraces irony, theatricality, and a certain degree of subversion. Camp sees everything in quotation marks. It delights in the flamboyant and the excessive, finding value in what might traditionally be considered kitsch or "bad" taste.

Several sources suggest that Trump embodies many of the qualities Sontag associated with "Camp." His public persona is marked by grandiose statements, flamboyant gestures, and a larger-than-life attitude. He exaggerates his achievements, embraces artifice, and turns mundane events into spectacles. His communication style, often described as theatrical, relies on hyperbole and dramatic pronouncements.

The Theatricality of Trump's Politics

Trump's rallies, his use of social media, and his overall approach to political communication can be viewed as performances designed to entertain and captivate his audience. His off-the-cuff superlatives, both positive and negative, were part of a carefully constructed performance. This theatricality was not merely a stylistic choice but a key element of his political appeal.

Trump's "Camp" sensibility also manifested in his embrace of nostalgia and kitsch. His "Make America Great Again" slogan evoked a romanticized vision of the past, tapping into a longing for a bygone era. This nostalgia, often tinged with racial undertones, resonated with a segment of the population that felt left behind by social and economic changes.

Camp and the Rejection of Elitism

One of the defining characteristics of "Camp" is its rejection of traditional hierarchies of taste and value. It celebrates the unconventional and the subversive, often finding beauty in the unexpected. This anti-elitist stance aligns with Trump's populist appeal, which positioned him as an outsider challenging the established order.

Trump's supporters often embraced his unconventional style, viewing it as a refreshing departure from the polished and calculated rhetoric of traditional politicians. His willingness to break norms and challenge conventions was seen as a sign of authenticity, even if his statements were often factually inaccurate or offensive.

The Dark Side of Camp: Transgression and Racism

While "Camp" can be a source of humor and subversion, it also has a darker side. Its embrace of the transgressive and the excessive can sometimes lead to the normalization of harmful ideologies. In the context of the Trump era, some critics argue that his "Camp" sensibility contributed to the rise of white nationalism and other forms of extremism.

Trump's rhetoric often employed stereotypes and dog whistles that appealed to racist sentiments. His attacks on immigrants, his defense of Confederate monuments, and his use of racially charged language all contributed to a climate of intolerance and division. While these actions may not have been explicitly "Camp," they were part of the same broader cultural landscape that embraced exaggeration, artifice, and the rejection of traditional norms.

Sontag's Legacy in a Polarized America

Susan Sontag's work remains relevant in today's polarized America. Her analysis of "Camp" provides a valuable framework for understanding the aesthetics and sensibilities that shape our political discourse. By examining the ways in which artifice, exaggeration, and theatricality are used to manipulate public opinion, we can become more critical consumers of information and more engaged citizens.

Sontag's insights also remind us of the importance of cultural criticism. By analyzing the underlying values and assumptions that inform our cultural products, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us. In an era of fake news and social media echo chambers, the ability to think critically and independently is more important than ever.

Conclusion

The election of Donald Trump and the subsequent political and cultural shifts can be better understood through the lens of Susan Sontag's "Camp." Trump's persona, his political style, and the cultural landscape he inhabited all reflect the characteristics of "Camp" as defined by Sontag. While "Camp" can be a source of humor and subversion, it also has a darker side, as evidenced by the rise of white nationalism and other forms of extremism during the Trump era. Sontag's work remains relevant today, reminding us of the importance of cultural criticism and the need to think critically about the aesthetics and sensibilities that shape our political discourse.