Camp review- A Little Bit of Good and a WHOLE LOT that's not.

[dorian_is_i]

I want to tell y'all something. Sometimes (not often), I wish that I hadn't started educating myself on feminism/anti-oppression issues a couple of years ago. Also, sometimes (not often), I watch/read something that leaves me thinking "that could have been SO GOOD! If only

Comments

[music_stops]

This is probably going to be very long, so I apologize in advance.

I agree with some of the things you're saying, but I think for the most part you're stretching a lot of it. I'm going to follow your numbered list, which might come off as more belligerent than I mean it too (I don't mean it like, EVERY ONE OF YOUR POINTS IS WRONG AND HERE IS WHY) but rather just to keep my thoughts straight. Camp is by no means my favorite movie (it's just not very good), but I like it a lot, and I've watched it a lot, so I feel like I must disagree with some of your points. Part of it may be that I first saw it when I was fifteen or so, and I'm still clinging to that first viewing, but I don't think so

PART THE SECOND

[music_stops]

5. I definitely don't think the message of Vlad's OCD thing is "my disability is harder than racism and homophobia." I think it's just, "I have problems too." Because Michael (who's played by Robin de Jesus from In the Heights, didja know?) basically worships Vlad, not only because he likes him, but because he kind of wants to be him. And Vlad's like, check it, we've all got shit. As for the OCD jokes, idk, that's how you act with friends. That's how I act with my friends. When you're close with someone, you can joke about sensitive subjects like that.

6. Michael is out, but he's not comfortable with his sexuality. Like I said, he basically want to be Vlad, and he thinks sleeping with Dionne will somehow fix all his problems. And Dionne then makes out with Vlad, yeah, but there is absolutely nothing to suggest that this has any relation to her race. I think it has to do with... being sixteen, and being insecure, and also becoming a sexual being. Plus, no one in the film ever refers to Dionne's actions as promiscuous or inappropriate

Re: PART THE SECOND

[dorian_is_i]

Wow. I am impressed with your thoroughness.

And I guess my POV is that, even if the problematic readings weren't ~intended~, as such, the fact that certain aspects of the films plot still do play into those tropes is...troubling. And worth looking at.

Most of your points are really good. I just want to mention one thing re: colour-blind casting. And this is a "my opinion" sort of thing, so keep that in mind.

My perspective on colour-blind casting is basically that it's important, but as a tool to ensure actors of colour get roles they wouldn't be looked at for normally. That is to say, I feel like it's meant to rectify the fact that--given no specific directions to the contrary--people tend to skew white in casting. So I feel like casting a white woman in one of the (relatively scarce) leading roles written for a PoC is kind of...I don't know. Not really true to the spirit in which colour-blind casting came about?

And I do agree that Camp is actually a lot better than quite a few movies I've seen. I think I mentioned the diversity

Re: PART THE SECOND

[dorian_is_i]

ALSOOO. I forgot to mention my point re: the OCD thing!

I guess I object to the fact that Michael's response to Vlad's telling him this is basically "Oh wow! You do have it worse than me!". I do get Vlad's motivation for telling Michael about his OCD, but I feel like the response was problematic.

And yeah. It's possible to make taboo jokes with friends, for sure. But when it's the only other reference to Vlad's disability in the entire film, it doesn't really represent a balanced/fair viewpoint. It just reads as "OCD is NO GOOD VERYBAD".

[laundry_line]

i think i need to watch my dvd of this movie, think about it, and get back to you. i haven't seen it since it was in theatres!

[asgt]

I keep meaning to watch this movie.
Mostly because I love musical theater. And Stephen Sondheim. And Anna Kendrick. which is why we get the cactus icon, but I'm the only one here who gets that

[remarkabletimes]

it's called a century tree ;)

[asgt]

Shhhhh, cactus.

[hungryandfrozen]

Interesting read. I think there's a lot we unconsciously absorb without realising the implications behind it. Sounds like this film could have been a lot better than it actually is.

thanks for the link to Tiger Beatdown by the way - LOVE it!