Master's thesis examines the aesthetics of camp as a complex sensibility and explores the possibilities of translating its essence into the discipline of graphic design, specifically book design. The starting point for this research is Susan Sontag’s essay “Notes on Camp,” which is considered one of the most important theoretical works in the field of camp studies.
The theoretical part of the master’s thesis focuses on exploring the concept of camp and its many definitions, its historical development, and its existence in various artistic disciplines. The research includes an analysis of the literature, primarily the works of Susan Sontag and Paul Baker, a comparative examination of various artistic disciplines, and an exploration of characteristics that could be associated with “camp.” In addition, the thesis addresses the application of theoretical frameworks to the Slovenian cultural landscape and explores possibilities for their interpretation within the author’s local context. Examples of good practice in experimental book design are presented, which, alongside the theory of camp, serve as the basis for the practical component.
The central part of the practical work consists of book design, in which various possibilities for translating camp’s sensibility into the medium of the book are explored through experimentation with typography, materials, composition, format, and other design decisions. The resulting publication does not attempt to provide a definitive definition of camp, but rather explores its potential within graphic design, questions whether a book can be understood as a camp object, and experiments within the medium. The final product consists of two books combined into one; in the first part, we visually interpret Notes on Camp, while in the second, we design the author’s own set of points inspired by Notes, illustrating examples of Slovenian kemp.
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