The women of Venus want to once again experience a man’s touch. A former Miss D.C. transcends all normal applications of the term “statuesque beauty”. And Jane Fonda does what Jane Fonda does best: save the world. The Hirshhorn brings high camp into the realm of high art with the kickoff of their free “Summer Camp” film series this Thursday. The theme? The feisty, dangerous, and scantily-clad women of adolescent male fantasies 50s & 60s science fiction cinema.

Strong (but visually exploited) women run a pretty consistent thread through the world of sci-fi/fantasy. While the easiest examples can be found in any comic book store, pop culture at large still carries on the traditions of the classic B-movies. Princess Leia in the gold bikini is pretty much an iconic image at this point, and while Joss Whedon had Sarah Michelle Gellar put the “buff” into Buffy in later seasons, let’s not forget that the first season of the series put the Slayer into an endless series of tight sweaters, mini-skirts and push-up bras.

Every Thursday for the rest of the month, the Hirshhorn screens classics of the genre, with more in-depth discussion of the phenomenon by film scholar David Wilt introducing each film. They also invite everyone to enjoy a BBQ sandwich by the Plaza Fountain before the screenings, to celebrate the “BarBarella-Q” series. It’s up to you to provide the sandwich.

All screenings begin at 8 p.m., are free of charge, and run about an hour and a half.