Paglia, Camille (1947–)

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Paglia, Camille (1947–)

American academic. Born Camille Anna Paglia, April 2, 1947, in Endicott, New York; dau. of Pasquale Paglia (professor of romance languages) and Lydia Anne (Colapietro) Paglia (dressmaker and bank teller); sister of Lenora Paglia; Harpur College of State University of New York at Binghamton, BA, 1968; Yale University, PhD, 1974; m. Alison Maddex (artist and curator), 1993.

Controversial and pugnacious essayist, taught at Bennington College (1972–80), then Wesleyan, Yale and University of New Haven; joined faculty of Philadelphia College of Performing Arts (1984), which later merged with Philadelphia College of Art to form University of the Arts; published Sexual Personae (1990), Sex, Art, and American Culture (1992) and Vamps and Tramps (1994); wrote for Salon.com (1996–2002); was frequent contributor to journals and magazines, including Interview.