Richard Siken wrote Crush partly as a response to the death of his boyfriend in the early 90s. This tragic event undoubtedly had a profound impact on Siken’s life and his writing. Crush is a collection of poems that explores themes of love, desire, loss, and grief, all of which are intricately connected to his personal experience of losing his partner.
The death of a loved one is a deeply tragic and painful experience, and it is not surprising that Siken’s work reflects this. His poems in Crush are filled with raw emotions, intense longing, and a sense of profound loss. The collection serves as a way for Siken to grapple with his grief and to give voice to the complex and conflicting emotions that accompany such a devastating loss.
However, it is important to note that while there is real tragedy at the core of Crush, the collection also incorporates elements of camp. Susan Sontag, in her essay “Notes on Camp,” describes camp as a sensibility that is characterized by a love of the unnatural, artifice, and exaggeration. Camp often involves a playful and ironic approach to culture and aesthetics.
Sontag argues that camp and tragedy are antitheses, suggesting that camp is a way of escaping or deflecting from the seriousness and gravity of tragedy. While there is an inherent truth to this statement, it is also possible for camp and tragedy to coexist within a work of art, as Siken demonstrates in Crush.
Siken’s poems in Crush often employ vivid imagery, unconventional metaphors, and a heightened sense of language. These stylistic choices can be seen as elements of camp, as they create a sense of artifice and playfulness. However, beneath the surface of these camp elements lies a deep and genuine exploration of grief and loss.
The juxtaposition of camp and tragedy in Crush creates a tension that is both unsettling and captivating. It allows Siken to explore the complexities of his emotions in a way that is both honest and artful. By incorporating elements of camp into his work, Siken is able to approach the tragedy of his boyfriend’s death from a unique and personal perspective, offering readers a glimpse into his experience of grief while also challenging conventional notions of how tragedy should be represented in art.
Richard Siken wrote Crush partly as a response to the death of his boyfriend in the early 90s. The collection serves as a way for Siken to navigate and express his grief and loss. While there is real tragedy at the core of Crush, Siken also incorporates elements of camp, creating a tension that allows for a unique and powerful exploration of his emotions. Through his poems, Siken gives voice to his personal experience while challenging conventional notions of how tragedy should be represented.