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Role Models

3.97 of 5 stars 3.97 · rating details · 2,538 ratings · 433 reviews

Role Models is filmmaker John Waters's self-portrait told through intimate profiles of favorite personalities-some famous, some unknown, some criminal, some surprisingly middle-of-the-road. From Esther Martin, owner of the scariest bar in Baltimore, to the American playwright Tennessee Williams; from the atheist leader Madalyn Murray O'Hair to the insane martyr Saint Cathe...more

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Published June 16th 2010 by Tantor Media (first published May 25th 2010)

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Oct 17, 2010 Scot rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Okay, John Waters is not for everyone—never was, never will be, and certainly never aspired to be. However, when they remade Hairspray the film as a musical movie based on an incredibly successful Broadway play, and John Travolta won the stiff competition for the part first played by Divine (his beady eyes as Edna Turnblatt still haunt me), it was clear how successful and widespread John Waters’ cinematic subversion coming out of Maryland in the 1970s truly was—from an upstart challenge to the p...more Okay, John Waters is not for everyone—never was, never will be, and certainly never aspired to be. However, when they remade Hairspray the film as a musical movie based on an incredibly successful Broadway play, and John Travolta won the stiff competition for the part first played by Divine (his beady eyes as Edna Turnblatt still haunt me), it was clear how successful and widespread John Waters’ cinematic subversion coming out of Maryland in the 1970s truly was—from an upstart challenge to the puritanical Censor Board of the Old Line State, in the 21st century, thanks to the Internet and Hollywood marketing, he now has significant global influence and broad international appeal.

I am one of many whom the underground sensation filmmaker spoke to in such a profound way when I encountered his films in my youth, and then moving to Maryland for my graduate work in the late 70s only brought me to a higher level of interaction with appreciative fellow travelers. Visiting Divine’s grave and Edith Massey’s shop in Baltimore were significant events for me, and when I eventually got to meet John Waters in person, I expressed my adulation in a way I felt he would appreciate—I actually gave a gift of love, my prized souvenir ceramic toilet ashtray from Nashville (when you lift the lid, it had a cameo of Loretta Lynn on the inside—I am recalling its distinctive charm now, sigh). He seemed sincerely grateful for the gesture. I am clearly such a big fan, because I have always been a misfit, even within whatever minority I might be included, and John Waters has spent his life not only being a misfit among misfits, but doing so in a manner that is both accepting and kind to all deviants, subversive and witty, progressive and playful, self-deprecating and outrageous. In short, on some meaningful levels, he has been my role model.

This collection of ten essays reveals an unapologetic elder statesman in the ongoing revolution against good taste and conformity, and though the book is a celebratory review of his eclectic list of personal role models, on another level it is Waters offering himself as a role model for mature adults like me, his fan base, as he demonstrates how to negotiate continued fascination with the fringe, the objectionable, the gauche, and the deviant while making subtle but positive contributions for human rights, social justice, and the need for greater emphasis on reading and basic education.

Whom does he interview or pay homage to in this book? Johnny Mathis; Tennessee
Williams; former Manson groupie (now reformed: let’s be clear) Leslie Van Houten; renegade fashion designer Rei Kawakubo; colorful Baltimore working class deviants of the 1950s and 60s; obscure yet idiosyncratically warped visionary authors such as Denton Welch, Lionel Shriver, Jane Bowles, and the indefatigable Ivy Compton-Burnett; Little Richard; two little known porn auteurs (Bobby Garcia and David Hurles) who carved out niches that might seem dark, vile, dangerous ratholes to some but resonated as refuges of great personal delight and exhilaration for others; cutting edge challengers of imposed definitions of aesthetic in modern art, including Cy Twombley, collaborators Peter Fischli and David Weiss, and Richard Tuttle. His last chapter is perhaps the scariest, as he mischievously envisions himself as a revered cult leader and reflects upon strategies for advancing his cause and policies for his minions to follow. His not always repressed anger for the indiscretions and historical wrongs done by the Catholic Church start to take over the rant here, and make me a bit uneasy—but in his defense, if you’re going to be a cult leader, then a crescendo as you work yourself (and your followers) up into a frenzy is a successful finale’s most basic requirement (with perhaps some creepy group ritualistic shared activity a close second). And starting a cult isn’t as easy as it used to be—there are a lot of conspiracy theorists and charlatan demagogues out there upping the competition. Indeed, the phrase “drinking the kool-aid” has been overused so much in recent political discourse it now sounds as tired as the other once more colorful and troubling reference of anguish, throwing someone “under the bus.” As the clamor of cult leaders intensifies, Waters’ track record and perspective still make him an attractive choice to me.
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Jan 24, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: wackynonfiction

Even though this Playaway had a few technical glitches; I was so glad I kept listening.

I have never seen a John Waters film from beginning to end, but I do remember visiting my friend Chris Barton in his multiple apartments in Muncie, IN and there always seemed to be a Waters' movie playing in the background. I knew of Divine because of him and could even identify her today if a photo was in front of me. But...I couldn't tell you which film she was in (was she in all of his???) or anything else...more

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Jul 11, 2010 Kimley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 21st-century, film

Yep, got my very own personalized copy!

John Waters is infectious. And I mean that in the best possible way. His passion and enthusiasm for his "role models" is so genuine and palpable that it's impossible to not want to sit down with him immediately and chat on and on in a relentless, otaku way about all these wonderful people and obsessions - even the ones that are so completely disgusting and horrifying! But that's Waters' charm.

There's nothing I love more than a bona fide celebrity who is in reality nothing more than an out-and-out geeky fanboy/fangirl who got lucky. Waters is fully aware of just how lucky he is and his passions run deep. He admires his role models and is intimidated by them. He is thrilled by their presence and their work and seeks to ferret out the tasty morsels of their lives and tries to figure out just what it is that makes that person so significant. And like a true fan, he discovers the nuances that really mean something. Like I noticed that Waters used a ball point pen with black ink to sign my book and he pressed down so hard that there's an imprint on the page below. I know this is a man with some intensity! Or at least that's the scenario going through my own fangirl mind. But that's the thing with Waters; it's all very personal. He is talking about his role models here but ultimately, we learn far more about Waters himself.

The diversity of his interests should be no surprise to the Waters fan base. This book covers topics as varied as Johnny Mathis and Little Richard to Manson follower Leslie Van Houten to fashion designer Rei Kawakubo as well as his obsessions with art, books and "outsider porn".

The chapter on books should probably be required reading for all Goodreaders. A teaser, if you will...

"Being rich is not about how much money you have or how many homes you own; it's the freedom to buy any book you want without looking at the price and wondering if you can afford it."

"And for god's sake, don't let me ever hear you say, "I can't read fiction. I only have time for the truth." Fiction is the truth, fool!"

Amen to that!(less)

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Feb 15, 2011 Marvin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: autographed, non-fiction

From John Water's Role Models:

You should never read for "enjoyment". Read to make yourself smarter. Or less judgmental. More apt to understand your friends' insane behavior, or better yet, your own. Pick "hard books". Ones you have to concentrate on while reading. And for God's sake, don't ever let me hear you say, "I can't read fiction. I only have time for the truth." Fiction is the truth, fool! Ever hear of "literature"? That means fiction too, stupid.

John Waters isn't exactly a role model fo...more From John Water's Role Models:

You should never read for "enjoyment". Read to make yourself smarter. Or less judgmental. More apt to understand your friends' insane behavior, or better yet, your own. Pick "hard books". Ones you have to concentrate on while reading. And for God's sake, don't ever let me hear you say, "I can't read fiction. I only have time for the truth." Fiction is the truth, fool! Ever hear of "literature"? That means fiction too, stupid.

John Waters isn't exactly a role model for me. In fact, there is probably no one who is more unlike me or who grew up in such a opposite environment. But I do admire him greatly. Waters is the Duchamp of cinema. He took ordinary kinks and taboos and made them art. Divine would have been just another 300 pound transvestite who ate dog poop but, with Water's help, he became a socio-political statement. John Waters states he has experienced every perversion except two. You have to read the book to find out which two. However, it is not this that makes him an artist but the ways he expresses himself in film and now in his writings.

In this book, the author writes about his roles models. Some are quite mainstream like Johnny Mathis and Little Richard. Others are beyond my understanding, like Bobby Garcia, perpetrator of gay Marines porn. Some of his role models even mystify the more mature Waters as he questions his original fascination with people like the Manson family or a lesbian junkie stripper named Zorro who makes Joan Crawford seem like mother of the year. Yet Waters is not really writing about his role models but about himself; how his identity was formed and evolved by the people who he was infatuated with. Waters is not worried about what you think about him or if you are repulsed by his likes and dislikes. But he does want you to see and recognize the reality that surrounds us whether we like it or not. That is also what I admire about Waters; His take-it-or-leave-it attitude. You may be disgusted with films like Pink Flamingos but it says to you, "Here I am, deal with it". Just like this book does.

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Jul 06, 2010 Lanaya rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Excited? I was apoplectic. Especially every time Clarabell got near Princess Summerfall Winterspring, the goody-goody but sexy Indian maiden nonpuppet star of the show. If only he could have burst out of his glorious 'muteness' to say her name out loud- the best name ever! The only other name I wish were mine today (except for Lord or Lady Haw-Haw, which I can't use because they were Nazis)."

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Nov 19, 2012 Ethan Miller rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you're a fan of JW's Crackpot or Shock Value you know what you're getting. Role Models doesn't disappoint. This is basically American culture writing with a keen artists perspective loaded with black/gallow's humor about transgressive hobbies and obsessions. I was particularly engrossed by the fascinating chapter on 'gay outsider porn' and the chapter (complete with step by step instructions) on how to read and enjoy abstract modern art, particularly his decoding of a Cy Twombly scribble piec...more

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Apr 15, 2012 Cristina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, trashyness, more-rad

Waters translates very dark experiences into a funny and human. One thing i really enjoyed was the bibliography part of this book-because books can influence and change lives and books played a big role for his own life and work. He gave me a whole new reading list according to his own taste-it was like one of his characters what I imagined to be a deranged librarian/or the leader of a very dark reading club. I love biographies and i love books about books so this was a pleasure to read. I learn...more

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Nov 22, 2011 Dan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

i've been arguing for years to anyone who will listen that john waters is one of the great essayists of our time. why he doesn't enjoy the epic "bestseller" status of, say, david sedaris is completely beyond me.

this is a book devoted to the people who've inspired him throughout his life, and it includes some of his very best stories. the absolute tour-de-force is the narrative of his friendship with leslie van houten. van houten was one of the manson girls in the late 60's, and waters has been v...more i've been arguing for years to anyone who will listen that john waters is one of the great essayists of our time. why he doesn't enjoy the epic "bestseller" status of, say, david sedaris is completely beyond me.

this is a book devoted to the people who've inspired him throughout his life, and it includes some of his very best stories. the absolute tour-de-force is the narrative of his friendship with leslie van houten. van houten was one of the manson girls in the late 60's, and waters has been visiting her in prison for decades. she openly admits to her guilt, rejects all of manson's ideologies and hasn't replaced them with any christian/new age declarations of salvation. waters digs much deeper than you'd expect into their friendship, his own fascination with manson, the prison system, social justice and redemption. what emerges is a heart-felt, no-bullshit, extraordinarily well-argued plea for forgiveness. her chapter is a true-blue work of art, one worthy of a space next to in cold blood on your bookshelf.

the great thing about waters' writing is that he's crass and irreverent and accessible, but also capable of surprising sophistication. when approaching the wicked witch of the west, he sounds like the auteur of pink flamingoes. when writing about van houten, he sounds like he works for the new yorker. in the chapter about "outsider porn," which explores the often dangerous world of paying straight marines to perform in front of a super 8 camera (among other things), he sounds like a mixture of both. waters loves johnny mathis records, leather bars, denton welch memoirs and cy twombly sculptures - and he feels perfectly comfortable inhabiting the cultures of each. in fact, it's often surprising to see how high-brow waters can be at times. there are no buttholes or fart jokes to justify his love of ivy compton-burnett or jane bowles. for lovers of high and low culture like myself, i came out of this book with plenty of things to research.

oh, and i also listened to the audiobook version, which is read by waters himself. hearing his voice added an extra level of awesomeness.(less)

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Oct 27, 2011 Ismail Elshareef rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm a big fan of John Waters' irreverent, twisted films. From the cultish "Female Trouble" and "Pink Flamingos" to the mainstream "Polyester" and "Hairspray." I love them all.

John Waters pioneered the campaign of turning filth into camp. When Divine ate dog excrement (for real) in Pink Flamingo, I was petrified. But I LOLed at the absurdity of the whole thing.

In this hilarious autobiography, Waters introduces us to some of his role models. Don't be alarmed, not all of them are pervs. The belov...more I'm a big fan of John Waters' irreverent, twisted films. From the cultish "Female Trouble" and "Pink Flamingos" to the mainstream "Polyester" and "Hairspray." I love them all.

John Waters pioneered the campaign of turning filth into camp. When Divine ate dog excrement (for real) in Pink Flamingo, I was petrified. But I LOLed at the absurdity of the whole thing.

In this hilarious autobiography, Waters introduces us to some of his role models. Don't be alarmed, not all of them are pervs. The beloved Johnny Mathis is one of them (yes, I gagged at that too.) Tennessee Williams is another.

Waters confesses that he "yearns for bad influence and Tennessee was one in the best sense of the word: Joyous, alarming, sexually confusing and dangerously funny." The anecdotes he recounts of the gayest moments in Tennessee William's life are beyond funny.

The most serious part of the book comes when Waters talks about his obsession with Leslie Van Houten, one of the Charles Manson's girls and a close friend of his today. Waters argues for paroling Leslie, or as he calls her, Lulu. He keeps humor to a minimum in his narrative about Lulu. He also talks about the role of LCD in his own life as well as in the Manson's.

Rey Kawakubo, the "genius fashion dictator" behind the Comme Des Garçon fashion line, is another role model of Waters'. He admits, "Mrs. Kawakubo is my God," and that he would "genuflect to raise destruction of the fashion rules. She is formidable, reclusive, intimidating and as described her work as and exercise in suffering."

He comments that, "what used to be called seconds (cloths that were on sale in bargain basements in department stores because of accidental irregularities) is now called couture." With his wardrobe being a "disaster at the dry cleaners," Waters found salvation in Rey's ill-fitting fashion. Definitely one of the funniest chapters in this book.

The rest of his role models are mainly outlaws, most of whom live in Baltimore and Los Angeles. Waters' narrative in explaining his fascination with these characters is funny but also compassionate and kind. His stories about a serious drag queen called "Pencil" and a tough lesbian stripper called "Lady Zorro," both Baltimoreans, were heartwarming and sweet.

Then he moves on to other role models of his, namely the two famous "alternative" auteurs, Bobby Garcia and David Hurles. If you are in any way, shape or form a prude, skip this chapter. It's, um, out there. In it, Waters reveals two sexual fetishes he would never try. You gotta read it to find out.

I was also fascinated to learn that John Waters is a fellow bibliophile. He states in a deadpan manner that, "being rich is not about how much money you have or how many homes you own, it's the freedom to buy any book you want without looking at the price and wondering if you can afford it." Amen to that!

He claims owning, "8425 books, all catalogued but no longer in complete order." One of his favorite books (he recommends five) is Denton Welch's "In Youth Is Pleasure," which is very controversial and twisted to say the least. He praises it as, "so precious, so beyond gay, so deliciously subversive and is enough to make illiteracy a worst social crime than hunger."

The hilarity never stops with Mr. Waters. He is truly a one of a kind. You will enjoy this read immensely, and who knows, if you're still impressionable, he might become your role model!(less)

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Aug 06, 2011 Paul rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When the self-described "Prince of Puke" and "Sultan of Sleaze" puts pen to paper to discuss those who have inspired and influenced him through his life, it's a fairly safe bet that you're not going to have too many stories about kind-hearted elementary school teachers encouraging him to follow his own star.

In fact, there are no stories like that.

In "Role Models," director John Waters ranges from Baltimore bar owners and strippers to eccentric fashion designers, from gay pornographers to a membe...more

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Jul 22, 2011 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's like John Waters and I have tons of mutual friends, except they're not people, they're places: The Bottom, Club Charles, The Kit Kat. That's why, in 2004, my roommate and I invited John Waters to our Funky Kingston Reggae Revival. And do you know that goddam sonofabitch never even called in his regrets! After reading this book, I just have one thing to say to you, Monsieur Les Eaux: Stay the hell away. I don't want you and your clever stories anywhere near my lowly summer parties.

John Wate...more

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Jun 08, 2011 Ben rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Reading John Waters isn't too far off from seeing him speak or watching his films. He's charismatic, sometimes imperfect and goes on too long, but is really funny when he hits his mark.

It's interesting to me that while this is a book about people who have influenced him, it's more about him than any other previous book. I can't recall, for example, any previous book mentioning his sexual orientation (not that it was any secret).

Of the chapters in this book, the centerpiece (best written, most fl...more

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May 29, 2011 Kate Walker rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Very loosely written, but fun that way. John Waters meanders through various interviews with some of his heroes, letting us in on as much as he is able to get out of his encounters with a very eclectic group of celebrities. The book is clearly, and intentionally as much about him as it is about the actors and musicians he admires. He talks about his experience of fame, and restricts himself mostly to a discussion of his public persona, which creates an odd distancing affect with the reader, I fe...more

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Mar 25, 2011 Marie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Uncle John is my spiritual guru. A fave excerpt:

“You don’t need fashion designers when you are young. Have faith in your own bad taste. Buy the cheapest thing in your local thrift shop – the clothes that are freshly out of style with even the hippest people a few years older than you. Get on the fashion nerves of your peers, not your parents – that is the key to fashion leadership. Ill-fitting is always stylish. But be more creative – wear your clothes inside out, backward, upside down. Throw bl...more

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Jan 19, 2011 jenn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

Memoir-esque collection of essays, which I totally loved, except for the last two. Specifically, I don't like reading about art without being able to see the piece (for obvious reasons), and the "Cult Leader" essay was funny but didn't go anywhere - I question the effectiveness of ending a book of nonfiction on such a highly satirical note. Sorry, JW.

But anyway. This guy's life is awesome. I like how he's basically always working at something, (and not just making movies/being famous) except on...more

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Oct 22, 2010 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A story, rather than a review.

Or both, I think.

Two lovely British friends came to visit. We took the bus to New York, and then Boston.

In Boston, we visited Harvard, and Harvard Book Store. I saw this book, and picked it up from the Biography/Celebrity section.

The next day, I flew back to Baltimore.

As I was waiting in line at the airport, I swore I saw someone that looked like John Waters. "No, that cannot be him," I thought, as nothing as ever really happens to me, ever.

After the two hour plane...more

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Aug 17, 2010 Jenny rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nowhere near as funny as his past books, but still enjoyable. Still has the Waters' edginess, and some genuine pearls of wisdom, but drifts quite a bit.
Oddly enough I enjoyed the Leslie chapter the best. I am not one of those people obsessed with serial killers. I find them repulsive. His earlier books talked about his fondness for the Manson trials, and I just kind of beared with that. What I enjoyed about his updated comments in Role Models are the alterations of his views. A more mature look...more

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Jul 15, 2010 Autumn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-about-reading, celebrities, clothes, essays, freaks, funny, lgbtq, memoir, movies, social-class

What could be more delightful than a book about role models by one's own role model?

John Waters is aware that fans of his cult movies look to him as an exemplar of certain ideas about taste, social class, gender and fame -- specifically, inverting the dominant culture's stance on all of these things to create a Dreamland for 'minorities who don't even fit in with their own minorities'. He has always been open about his own fandom, whether reflected in the stuntcasting/retrocasting of Tab Hunter...more

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Jun 27, 2010 Hood rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bound: SunPost Weekly June 24, 2010
http://bit.ly/dBL3qS
Beautifully Troubled Waters
From Role Models to Living Arrangements with America’s Kookiest Auteur
John Hood

There’s something heartening about looking at John Waters bookshelves and seeing many of the same titles I once owned. And while I can’t help wondering if some of those titles did in fact once belong to me (could he have bought a lot at auction?), the symmetry of our reading habits far outweighs any foolish speculation of the sort.

Chance...more

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Jun 22, 2010 Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was eye-opening, and I learned about a whole other area of outsider film-making. It scared me! Still, I LOVE John Waters, and will always be a loyal fan of his work. The chapters on Johnny Mathis, Leslie Van Houten, and Tennessee Williams were superb.

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Jan 09, 2012 Meagan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: memoir, nonfiction

Honestly, I feel like you probably already know if you're interested in reading this. And if you don't know, you probably shouldn't read it. John Waters is...not exactly an acquired taste...I guess I'd say he's "of specific appeal." If you think you can handle a book written by "The Sultan of Sleaze," then go for it. But don't come whining to me if he shocks you. He's not called "The Duke of Dirt" for nothing!

As expected, Waters includes some shocking role models, such as outsider pornographers...more

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Oct 16, 2011 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: dirty boys and girls

Shelves: 2011

This is an excellent hang over book. It's breezy, funny and interestingly trashy. I've always liked the idea of John Waters being in the world, appreciated the openish of his filth. It doesn't hurt that he is a ferocious bibliophile and if you are too you will feel a little bit of kinship there on that element alone.

I wouldn't call myself a rabid fan, I like some of his movies and projects more than others but I love the idea of them. You just need to have a healthy respect for him to enjoy thi...more

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Jul 13, 2011 Lili rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Cooper (maybe)

Shelves: from-the-library

Add a half a star...it's better than some of my recent "three star" reads, but definitely not as good as Stranger Than Fiction: True Stories by Chuck Palahniuk.

It's a collection of loosely autobiographical essays, connected by the idea that each of the subjects is someone who John Waters admires. I kept feeling that if I knew more abut John Waters (and was "in" on more of the jokes) or if I liked him more, I'd appreciate the overall collection more. At first, it was a quick and fun read, but the...more

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May 18, 2011 Jamie Gaughran-Perez rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Finding myself unexpectedly sucked into this book on a gorgeous Sunday gone rainy. Gossipy at turns, but fun gossipy, and all heart all the way through. I have a feeling I'll be watching a movie before the night is through.

***

Some chapters are better than others... The opening with Johnny Mathis, the Leslie / Manson Family chapter (the most powerful), the piece on fashion, the chapter on Baltimore. All that... that's a book-worth of great and you should pick this up. Some of the other chapters a...more

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Aug 22, 2010 Bookmarks Magazine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sept-oct-2010

As familiar as Waters' obsessions have become over the years, writes the Onion AV Club, "he remains an affable, enthusiastic tour guide to the sort of beauty found only at the edges of good taste." Such beauty includes the profane, the violent, and the shocking, but it's par for the course for this once transgressive filmmaker and his insightful, obnoxious, and entertaining essays. Only the essay "Leslie," about Waters's friendship with Manson follower Leslie Van Houten, serving a life sentence...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Jolie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: maryland, united-states

If you don't like John Waters' most extreme trash films, there will definitely be spots in this book that make you cringe. I'm not a fan of Pink Flamingos, for example, but I know what's in it, so I wasn't surprised nor offended by some of the horrifying passages and even an entire chapter—so I just skipped over the part that held very little appeal. And surely, this four-star rating isn't a general audience four-star rating. But fans of Waters would understand the angle and even only casual fan...more

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Jul 28, 2010 Mary McCoy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

John Waters writes exactly like he talks, a trait that doesn't always translate well to the page. However, if you're able to hear Waters's voice in your head and imagine that he's actually reading the book to you, the experience becomes ever so enjoyable.

John Water is one of my role models, but not because he's a celebrated filmmaker or a cult celebrity or an unapologetic eccentric. And believe me, I admire those things. John Waters is my role model because he's into the source material.

He is in...more

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May 19, 2013 Sydney Shuster rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

This review is of the audio cd version

I have been a John Waters fan since I saw the movie Crybaby years ago. Since then I've watched many of his films. I love cult movies, and have a real appreciation for camp humor. John Waters' films aren't for everyone, but I love them.
As the creator of these films, odes to trash, you might expect someone unbalanced, rude, and distasteful. John Waters as a person is actually, at least nowadays, none of those things. He has incredible taste, it's just entirely...more This review is of the audio cd version

I have been a John Waters fan since I saw the movie Crybaby years ago. Since then I've watched many of his films. I love cult movies, and have a real appreciation for camp humor. John Waters' films aren't for everyone, but I love them.
As the creator of these films, odes to trash, you might expect someone unbalanced, rude, and distasteful. John Waters as a person is actually, at least nowadays, none of those things. He has incredible taste, it's just entirely his own. He's reflective and incredibly open to different types of people. It's not that he's amoral, he just looks at the world without the lens of acceptable mainstream ideas of what should be, like why should we all dress one way or love one way, etc. It's not like I worship the man, I don't, but I think he's open about the world like I am, and I respect his insights.
This book is hilarious. I enjoyed it the entire way through. It shifts drastically by topic from art to pornography to fashion and to second chances. Some might find this off putting, and I thought it might have at first, but everything he talks about is so interesting and said in an interesting way that I was utterly sucked in. He talks about art and friendship with such passion and enjoyment that it makes me want to run out and buy a thick art book and try to make unconventional friends. Man after my own heart, he also talks about his joy for reading and even recommends a few books to try, which I think I may have to pick up. He has really really great quotes about reading in this book. One quote that really spoke to me was, "Being rich is not about how much money you have or how many homes you own; it's the freedom to buy any book you want without looking at the price and wondering if you can afford it." This quote is so true. If I had money I'd empty a Barnes and Noble. I'd clear out a used book stop. I'd track down hardcover copies of all my favorites so they'd last and last. I could afford a few glossy art books by authors I admire.

As for John Waters reading, the chapters are long and it's hard to find a place to stop. He's also a fast reader, but an incredibly engaging one. He reads with a passion and a love for what he's talking about. You can hear the care and nostalgia in his voice. Listening to him was a treat.(less)

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Jan 13, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'll start by saying that this book was a really enjoyable read. Waters really does get better with age, and despite his insistence that he's waging a 'war against good taste', the man really does have impeccable taste. Although I have to admit that he's also showing his bourgeois stripes more and more in his essays about Commes Des Garcons, being an art collector, and his taste for 'trade'. (Bourgeois gay men who seek out no-strings attached sex with blue-collar MSMs). However, I really enjoyed...more

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Jun 09, 2011 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It was fascinating and inspiring to read Waters' stream of thoughts about those he admires. It made me think about his art and life and my own. That is, until I reached the chapter about underground pornographers. Then I was fascinated and felt as though I was dirty all over - my own hang-ups. Even with that chapter, it gave me a new and broader perspective on what a role model can be for people. I think I understood his admiration for those guys - no different than my admiration for anyone who...more

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MizzGhetoBooty~Isis~Baby_Doll	1	13	Nov 09, 2011 06:47pm

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About John Waters

John Samuel Waters, Jr. is an American filmmaker, actor, writer, personality, visual artist and art collector, who rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films: Pink Flamingos and Hairspray. He is recognizable by his pencil-thin moustache.

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Shock Value: A Tasteful Book About Bad Taste

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Quotes from Role Models

“Being rich is not about how much money you have or how many homes you own; it's the freedom to buy any book you want without looking at the price and wondering if you can afford it.” — 316 people liked it

“You should never read just for "enjoyment." Read to make yourself smarter! Less judgmental. More apt to understand your friends' insane behavior, or better yet, your own. Pick "hard books." Ones you have to concentrate on while reading. And for god's sake, don't let me ever hear you say, "I can't read fiction. I only have time for the truth." Fiction is the truth, fool! Ever hear of "literature"? That means fiction, too, stupid.” — 253 people liked it

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