In class, we watched a midnight movie cult classic, Pink Flamingos A film by cult and camp enthusiast John Waters. Waters, an avid cinema lover wanted to create his own film that transgresses cultural norms and basically involves every taboo you can think of. This film definitely did just that, with changing times comes different standards for what is transgressive or provocative, yet pink flamingoes have stood the test of time and to this day id says is as repulsive and vile as those seeing it in the 70s must have though. This is part of its charm though, cult films get followings because of their outrageous content, an outlet for people’s strange interests and desires, a way to allow people to connect. I admire this film for the ability it has to offend people, its a sort of snub to bourgeoise lifestyle. Its main characters are the complete opposite, trailer trash bottom of the barrel folk who commit atrocities such as eating dog shit, enslaving women, living in a playpen shocking eggs down their throats, like a complete snub to any sort of luxurious lifestyle and the upper class. I think this was something many people could connect to, although many viewers probably weren’t living that particular lifestyle, it’s nice to see the lower end of the cultural class being showcased in an entertaining yet oddly lovable way? I found myself rooting for Devine by the end of the film despite all of the horrible acts she committed.

Moving on from the film itself we can begin to talk about CAMP! Camp is a celebration, a light-hearted way to enjoy things that are generally of bad taste, in Susan Sontags Notes on Camp, which is a collection of thoughts about the concept she speaks about how camp is taste, it’s for of enjoyment, a king of love for human nature, a mode of appreciation not judgment. She also talks about how you cant particularly create something or do something with the intention of being camp, I mean you can but it isn’t truly camp or what it embodies, Intending to be camp is not heartful of itself. There are two general types of camp, a naive camp which is camp being nonintentional, genuine enjoyment and intended camp which is exactly as it sounds.

Now John Waters is well versed in camp, even sometimes called the “King of Camp” Much of his art involves camp culture as it is a genuine fun exploration of bad taste like he says about pink flamingos. He loves it, it is part of him, none of it is mockery or disgust it is pure fun. He thanks his parents for bringing him up with politeness and training him in the art of “good taste” so he had something to rebel against. Personally, I adore John Waters, he’s a wild guy who isn’t afraid to speak up about what he believes and cause a little scandal. He gives a lot of good advice to emerging artists. He deliberately thrives outside of the mainstream, something I admire and creates some damn wild films.

A fun way to end this blog is a collection of photos of John Waters which I find fitting.

friends

John with his birdhouse modeled after the Unibombers cabin

Snacking on Bambi… yummy

John Waters as the Town Crier