Film Matters: Please tell us about your article that is being published in Film Matters.
Gabrielle Lamb: “Camp Cinema and the Queer Experience” talks about just that: the art form of camp and how it relates to the queer community. I think it’s more important than ever, as the social media age brings a wash of aestheticism, to chronicle the origins of different arts/styles and pay homage to the creators. This is particularly significant in the case of marginalized creators.
FM: What research and/or methodologies do you incorporate in your article?
GL: My article incorporates a review of older through more contemporary writings on camp as a sensibility. I try to explain my sources while also offering counterpoints and modern interpretations. A large bulk of my work toward the end comes in case studies, where I went to the primary source, viewed it, and then looked at cultural context. I started with history, and tried to work my way through the growth of camp; I then picked two significant points in the timeline between which to focus my attentions, that being Sontag’s “Notes on ‘Camp’”and the “turning point” of But I’m a Cheerleader.
FM: Describe the original context for/when writing this article while an undergraduate student.
GL: I wrote this paper through a writing-intensive course I took with Matthew Feltman on the queer experience. One of my favorite films is But I’m a Cheeerleader, and so I thought of the stylistic elements I could focus on. This was camp, and when I dug in further, I was introduced to a rich history that needed to be heard, particularly in light of the Met Gala theme Notes on Camp. It was only when I took a later intensive with Micah Magee on women in film that she encouraged me to publish and helped me find Film Matters.
FM: What does your writing process look like?
GL: When I work on a longer-form piece, I find that the basis of writing is outlining. Organization is crucial in ensuring my ideas come through cleanly and help me write a first draft more quickly. Revision becomes less aggravating when I can review my initial plan and go from there.
FM: How have your personal experiences shaped and influenced your writing?
GL: I am someone who identifies with the LGBT+ community, and so writing about the queer experience through film worked for me. I think camp is wonderful and stylish, and it satisfies my visual side. It’s important for me to write about things I enjoy and care about.
FM: What are your methods for finding diverse and relevant sources?
GL: I find that it is important to review authors to understand how they come to their conclusions, and to know if someone is speaking from a personal place or not. I think contemporary sources are useful as well, now that more diverse voices are gaining platforms. Newspapers and magazines can be a valid source of information, not just journals and textbooks.
FM: Why is including marginalized voices in research important to you?
GL: A subject viewed through only one social perspective falls short of nuance. Writers have a responsibility to use a variety of sources and consider a variety of angles, in order to reach fully fleshed conclusions.
FM: What aspects of the writing process were most challenging? Why?
GL: The ending of a draft is always difficult for me, as many ideas need to be revisited and tied up without becoming repetitive. I always worry about leaving a loose thread and damaging the conclusion. No one likes a bad ending.
FM: What’s a resistance point you hit in your writing, and how did you move past it?
GL: I tend to stall out in the middle of a piece because I lose patience and begin to self-criticize. My typical move is to have a snack, pace for a while (which freaks out my roommates), and sit back down to write after my mind is emptied.
FM: What do you enjoy most about your article?
GL: My favorite piece of my article is the film case studies, just because I got to learn a lot about the history of camp films. Also, getting to watch movies for research is pretty great.
FM: How has the Film Matters editorial and publication process impacted the development/evolution of your article?
GL: The editorial process with Film Matters really got me into shape with my revision. It offered a lot of specific advice, which helped me tighten my piece and revisit my work through a fresh set of eyes.
FM: What audience do you hope to reach with your Film Matters article and/or what impact do you hope it has on the field of film studies?
GL: I would love my work to make it into queer studies classes, because I think many of the films I discuss are not watched enough. I hope members of the LGBT+ community can read my piece and be introduced to a lot of great films that show queer joy.
FM: How has your department and/or institution supported your work in film and media?
GL: Matthew Feltman was instrumental in helping me to find films for my work; he is a great source on all things queer cinema. The Temple University program, too, does a fine job of offering courses on film in marginalized communities.
FM: How has your faculty mentor fostered your advancement as a film scholar?
GL: Micah Magee has been so supportive throughout the publishing process. She is the one who actually floated the idea of publishing to me, for which I am grateful. She is a brilliant filmmaker and scholar, and a wonderful person.
FM: What advice do you have for undergraduate film and media scholars?
GL: There are lots of people who will ask how you’re going to get a job after college. Or who joke that you will be unemployable. Yet if you really care about what you’re doing, and aren’t afraid of hard work and constant learning, there is wonderful opportunity out there for you. Film is a competitive business, but it is also larger than many people know.
FM: What are your future plans?
GL: I hope to finish the first draft of my novel come spring 2023. I will also be graduating at this time and looking for writing-based jobs. I would love to write for a smaller publication and work my way into Conde Nast or VICE Media.
Author Biography
Gabrielle Lamb is a film student and writer in her final year at Temple University. She is currently studying in Los Angeles.
