The world of camp literature has been around the corner for centuries, but only recently have we seen a force like Chuck Tingle take it to a new level. io9 had the opportunity to sit down with Chuck and ask him about the genesis of his unique brand of camp, following in the footsteps of some of the greatest creators in the genre.
Chuck Tingle first got into the camp literature scene through a chance encounter with a writing prompt in a magazine, which inspired his story “Pounded In The Butt By My Own Butt”. As Chuck puts it, he was “just looking for something that would give [him] some kind of creative spark”. Little did he know, this would become the first of a number of camp classics and eventually lead to him becoming a cult favorite in the camp world.
Since then, Chuck’s work has become something of a sensation, with readers flocking to the strange gags, off-the-wall characterizations, and outrageous plotlines that make up the Chuck Tingle oeuvre. Chuck’s work is located in a place of camp that has some resemblance to the classic writers of the genre, including William S. Burroughs and Jean Genet, but it also offers something new and exciting. His stories have stayed true to the genre’s roots but have added elements of surrealism, satire, and pop culture references that create a unique and modern camp style all its own.
This kind of genre-bending has led to works like Camp Damascus, an incredibly bizarre tale of a nuclear summer camp populated by a strange assortment of characters, from myopic moose to zombie DJs. It follows the same type of raucous plot structure and outrageous characterization that Chuck Tingle is known for, but it also features some truly unique elements, like mutant coaches and crazy mockeries of well-known summer camp tropes. It’s an absurd and often hilarious story that’s sure to delight readers who love camp literature and those who are just discovering it.
We asked Chuck Tingle about what inspired him to create Camp Damascus, and his answer was as enigmatic as his writing: “To create something that has never been seen before to tell a story about an original take on something familiar. I wanted to bring together a mix of various elements that when combined would create a kind of magical atmosphere. A place no one would forget. A Camp like none other.” If that’s not an endorsement for an amazing work of camp literature, we don’t know what is.
Whether you’re an old hand in the camp literature world or just discovering it for the first time, Chuck Tingle’s Camp Damascus is a must-read. With its unique blend of absurdist satire, sharp storytelling, and endlessly imaginative characters, it’s a camp classic sure to be remembered for years to come.
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