John Waters
Filmmaker
John Waters is an American filmmaker, writer, and artist who rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films, which have earned him the titles "pope of filth" and "prince of puke." Waters's 1970s and early '80s trash films feature his regular troupe of actors known as Dreamlanders, most famous among them being the drag queen Divine. In 1988, Waters had his biggest mainstream hit with "Hairspray," which was turned into Tony Award-winning Broadway musical in 2003 and then remade as a movie musical in 2007. In 2010, Waters published the unorthodox memoir "Role Models," in which Waters interviews and writes about his influences as a means of telling his own life story.
How to Start a Fashion Revolution
If you know the rules of good taste, pervert them by embracing fashions that are considered passé—and then charge lots of money to buy them.
Why John Waters Respects Republicans
The filmmaker liked how the GOP rioted after Congress passed the health care bill, even though he thinks it’s an “odd” thing to riot over. Why didn’t Democrats do the […]
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John Waters Cares Deeply About Levi Johnston
The filmmaker thinks Little Levi is cute and loves the way he taunts Sarah Palin. But he advises Levi to show us the goods before he gets fat and bald.
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Coming Out Is So Square
Why does society treat coming out like some sort of solemn event? Film director John Waters riffs on sexuality and why he doesn't jive with many of our current cultural perspectives.
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John Waters’s Favorite Bars
Waters tells about some of his favorite bars, including those rare gay bars that play rap music. “Rap music, for some reason, really alienates gay people, which makes me laugh.”
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Adults Need to Stop Blaming Their Parents
Once you’re in your forties, it’s time to quit whining, says the filmmaker. “A 20-year-old that’s angry is sexy; a 64-year-old man that’s angry is an asshole.”
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John Waters Misses Perverts
The filmmaker misses seeing perverts having sex in public bathrooms—so he instructs us on the proper technique for inconspicuous bathroom hijinks.
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Why You Should Watch Filth
John Waters defends the creation and consumption of obscene films, and recommends some of his personal favorites.
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Some of the Best Art Is Deadly
Contemporary art hates you, says the filmmaker, and in some cases—like a mold-infested blank canvas by Karin Sander—it could actually poison you.
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I Actually Think I Have Good Taste
The filmmaker was raised with “fascist-ly good taste”—which is probably why he rebelled. But he’s thankful for this upbringing because “you can’t have fun with bad taste unless you know […]
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