In this Book

summary

The films of John Waters (b. 1946) are some of the most powerful send-ups of conventional film forms and expectations since Luis Bu-uel and Salvador Dali's Un Chien Andalou. In attempting to reinvigorate the experience of movie-going with his shock comedy, Waters has been willing to take the chance of offending nearly everyone. His characters have great dignity and resourcefulness, taking what's different or unacceptable or grotesque about themselves, heightening it and turning it into a handmade personal style. The interviews collected here span Waters's career from 1965 to 2010 and include a new one exclusive to this edition.

Waters began making films in his hometown of Baltimore in 1964. Demonstrating an innate talent at capturing the hideous and crude and elevating it to art, he reached international acclaim with his outrageous shock comedy Pink Flamingos. This landmark film redefined cinema and became a cult classic. Appearing in this and many of Waters's early films, his star Divine would consistently challenge gender definitions.

With Polyester, Waters entered the mainstream. The film starred Divine as an unhappy housewife who romances a former teen idol played by Tab Hunter. Waters's commercial breakthrough, Hairspray, told the story of Baltimore's televised sock-hop program, The Corny Collins Show, and how one brave girl (Ricki Lake) used her platform as a dancer to end segregation in her town.

From Serial Mom and Pecker to Cecil B. Demented, Waters continued to infiltrate the mainstream with his unique approach to filmmaking. As a visual artist, he was given a retrospective at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in 2004, which was shown at galleries around the world.

Table of Contents

restricted access Download Full Book
  1. Cover
  2. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Title Page, Copyright
  2. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Contents
  2. pp. v-viii
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Introduction
  2. pp. ix-xviii
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Chronology
  2. pp. xix-xxii
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Filmography
  2. pp. xxiii-2
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Early John Waters and Hag in a Black Leather Jacket
  2. pp. 3-4
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Artist in Dialogue
  2. pp. 5-25
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Pink Flamingos & the Filthiest People Alive?
  2. pp. 26-37
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. The Late Show Presents the Divine World of John Waters
  2. pp. 38-46
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. “A Lot of People Were Upset That We Put the Baby in the Refrigerator . . .”: An Interview with John Waters
  2. pp. 47-58
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. John Waters in Provincetown
  2. pp. 59-70
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. John Waters’ Divine Comedy
  2. pp. 71-92
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Still Waters
  2. pp. 93-104
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Waters: “. . . I’ve Always Tried to Sell Out”
  2. pp. 105-111
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Hairspray Gets a “Shocking” PG as Waters Looks Back to ’62
  2. pp. 112-115
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. The Domestication of John Waters
  2. pp. 116-124
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. He Really Can’t Help Himself
  2. pp. 125-134
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. John Waters—Pecker
  2. pp. 135-138
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Demented at Heart
  2. pp. 139-146
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. What Price Hollywood?
  2. pp. 147-156
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. A Dirty Shame
  2. pp. 157-162
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Interview with John Waters
  2. pp. 163-174
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. John Waters
  2. pp. 175-187
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. This Filthy World
  2. pp. 188-191
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Love and Frogs: Dating John Waters
  2. pp. 192-199
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Waters World
  2. pp. 200-210
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Where Will John Waters Be Buried?
  2. pp. 211-227
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. John Waters, an Appreciation
  2. pp. 228-230
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Suggested for Further Reading
  2. pp. 231-242
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Index
  2. pp. 243-248
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
Back To Top

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Without cookies your experience may not be seamless.