Camp TV of the 1960s: Reassessing the Vast Wasteland

The book "Camp TV of the 1960s" offers a comprehensive understanding of all the many forms camp TV took during that critical decade. It reconsiders the infantilized conceptualization of sixties television, which has generally been characterized as the creative and cultural ebb between the 1950s Golden Age of television and the networks' shift to relevance in the early 1970s.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 10 July 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

The 1960s witnessed a vibrant era of camp television, offering a comprehensive understanding of the diverse forms that this genre took during this pivotal decade. In reevaluating the history of camp on television, the authors challenge the infantilized conceptualization of sixties television, often characterized as a creative and cultural decline between the Golden Age of 1950s television and the networks' shift towards relevance in the early 1970s. This comprehensive volume encompasses contributions from a diverse range of media and television scholars who (re)consider programs such as Batman, The Monkees, The Addams Family, Bewitched, F Troop, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. These chapters delve into beloved 1960s American prime-time programs that heavily embraced elements of camp, many of which were widely syndicated and left lasting imprints on popular culture.

Furthermore, the book explores key TV precursors from the early sixties, including British camp television programs like The Avengers. It also examines the use of musical codes to convey camp humor, even on black-and-white sets. The role of queer communities in shaping and perpetuating camp humor is explored, highlighting their continued influence even decades later. Additionally, the book explores how camp's multivalence allowed for more conservative readings, particularly among older audiences, which played a crucial role in the move to mass camp throughout American culture by the early seventies.

Camp TV of the 1960s is an essential reading for students and scholars in television studies, as well as those interested in the history and theory of camp, the 1960s, or popular culture. It provides a deep analysis of these well-known but often understudied television programs, offering new insights and perspectives on their cultural significance. Whether you are a fan of these programs or a scholar seeking to expand your knowledge, this book is a valuable resource that will enrich your understanding of the vibrant world of camp television in the 1960s.

Weight: 660g
Dimension: 162 x 244 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197650745