How much do you know about Camille?

Take cover. The American feminist the world loves to hate has a new book out. Here's your chance to get to grips with the vital subject of la Paglia the ego

Thursday 30 March 1995 17:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

1.For what reason was Camille Paglia asked to leave her first teaching job?

(a)calling her (female) professor "little Miss Frigid" at a graduate open-day

(b)revealing her breasts during a lecture

(c)picking a fight with a student

2.What objects does she always carry with her?

(a)large mirror

(b)knife

(c)megaphone

3.What or who is the greatest love of her life?

(a)herself

(b)Sophia Loren ("another Italian big mouth")

(c)study and learning

4.What is her greatest regret?

(a)never seeing Jimi Hendrix in concert

(b)not achieving a career as a champion bullfighter

(c)not being born a man

5.What is her motto?

(a)"Love me, love my sexual persona"

(b)"Death to middle-class feminists"

(c) "I came, I saw, I conquered"

6.Which of the following statements did Camille Paglia not make?

(a)"The penis is the ultimate symbol of real feminist liberation for the 21st century."

(b)"You want proof I'm sexually liberated? Come to Philadelphia and gang-rape me!"

(c)"I wanted those stupid bitches at Yale to know that the press has seen me accurately as a world-class intellectual!"

7.How tall is she?

(a)5ft 3in

(b)5ft 8in

(c)6ft

8.How long is the "media chronicle" at the end of Vamps and Tramps?

(a)30 pages

(b)80 pages

(c)140 pages

9.What does she call herself?

(a)A "radical Sixties activist libertarian"

(b)A "pro-sex 21st-century ultravixen"

(c)A "Latin-Amazonian sex goddess"

10.What is her idea of perfect happiness?

(a)snogging Madonna on prime-time television

(b)watching "All About Eve" with an audience of gay men

(c)having a knife-fight with Naomi Wolf

11.With whom does Camille Paglia most identify?

(a)Napoleon

(b)Oscar Wilde

(c)Mary Magdalene

12.What makes her most depressed?

(a)Susan Sontag

(b)the rubbish in the contemporary feminist mind

(c)dying without seducing Cindy Crawford

13. What are her views on date rape?

a) "Rape is every woman's fantasy"

b) "If rape is a totally devastating psychological experience for a woman then she doesn't have a proper attitude towards sex"

c) "The male phallus is a tower that overshadows our daily lives"

14. What did the young Paglia cry out when she fell over and hurt her knee?

a) "Ouch! Ouch! My knee"

b) "My patella! My patella!"

c) "I'm on my knees now but one day mankind will be grovelling at my feet"

15. With which comment did she encourage women architects?

a) "If civilisation had been left to women, we'd all still be living in grass huts"

b) "Without a penis you cannot even conceive of a skyscraper"

c) "Instinctive, sensitive, visionary women are the world's natural architects"

One point for each correct answer, as follows:

1 (c); 2 (b); 3 (c); 4 (a); 5 (c); 6 (b); 7 (a); 8 (b); 9 (a); 10 (b); 11 (a); 12 (b); 13 (b); 14 (b); 15 (a)

Ten or more correct answers: Bravo! But have you committed the "media chronicle" to memory?

Between five and nine correct answers: Could do better. Sign up for the next available Camille Paglia night class.

Four or fewer correct answers: As la Paglia once said of Naomi Wolf, "parent-pleasing, teacher-pleasing little kiss-ass"! You're a lost cause.

`Vamps and Tramps', Viking, £17

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in