The Pope Of Trash Is My Role Model

I recently purchased and read John Waters' new book Role Models. If you know me well you probably know that I'm not a big reader (something that I'm not happy about and wish to change), so it is quite a strange occurrence when I actually pick up and read a book. But for a John Waters book it was easy, simply because Waters is such a funny, original and insightful man with some very good views on the world (oh, and because the cover is beautifully drawn in grey lead pencil).

I first discovered John Waters for myself when I found out about his film Pink Flamingos while scouring the internet for interesting, transgressive films to watch. I found Pink Flamingos so hilarious and grotesque (as I imagine most people do) that I had to see more of his films. I went on a rampage of viewing his early films, the ones that mostly star the forever fantastic Divine and the always amazing Mink Stole (Female Trouble, Desperate Living, Multiple Maniacs, Polyester, etc.), and I completely fell in love with these films and the complete atrociousness of them. I have just recently finished watching his more recent, less revolting, but still good films (Cecil B. Demented, Pecker, Serial Mom, A Dirty Shame, etc.) and I very much enjoy Mink Stole's appearances, and quick cameos from Mary Vivian Pearce (both actresses have appeared in every one of Waters' films) and it's so cool that Waters' has used people like convicted bank robber Patricia Hearst and ex-porn star Traci Lords (who is so so so so hot in Cry-Baby as 1950's babe Wanda Woodward) in his films.

His outrageous cult films (particularly his early films) are like nothing I've ever seen before. From Raymond and Connie Marble's toe sucking with 'carpets' to match the 'drapes' in Pink Flamingos to Divine raping 'herself' in Female Trouble or getting raped by a giant lobster in Multiple Maniacs (which was wonderfully paid homage to by Róisín Murphy in her Movie Star film clip). Trash! Pure trash. Oh, and how could I forget Mink Stole shoving rosary beads in Divine's ass hole inside a church, also in Multiple Maniacs. T-R-A-S-H. I could go on and on listing revolting and bizarre scenes, but I digress.

Role Models is a manifesto of essays about the people who have inspired Waters, from famous to practically unknown. The list of names include singer Johnny Mathis, ex-Manson Family member Leslie Van Houten, Comme des Garçons designer Rei Kawakubo (Waters walked the runway for Comme des Garçons once in the 90's) and rock and roll legend Little Richard, just to name a few. I found it great to get some insight on John Waters as a person, especially after seeing his films. It was great to read how varied his influences are and how he's reflected them in his films.

Role Models is John Waters latest book and he has a few other books which I hope to read very soon. He's not only a film maker and author, he has also exhibited an art show with installations such as a giant bottle of Rush that has been tipped over and pictures of Hollywood children with cigarettes photoshopped into their mouths. The Sultan of Sleaze, with his signature pencil moustache, is just an all round trashy man, and definitely a role model of mine. Who'd have thought there'd be a massive hit musical based on one of his films? (That's Hairspray by the way).

I must start reading regularly because John Waters once said “If you go home with someone, and they don’t have books, don’t fuck ‘em.” and I wouldn't want that, would I?