More on the difference between noun and adjective in a moment but first, a bit of necessary history.Ī key problem (probably the key problem) with camp: Sontag’s 1964 essay “ Notes on Camp” was wildly influential. In retrospect, though, I realize that my sadness was misplaced: We weren’t really talking about camp at all we were talking about campy. I had heard this sigh of an argument before, of course, but it struck me as particularly disappointing coming from one ostensibly of my tribe, someone who by right of birth should “get” camp.