shock value a tasteful book about bad taste

Shock Value is a series of essays exploring Waters's reverence for everything from serial killers to Russ Meyer movies to bloody amusement park disasters. But if you haven't read his books, you don't understand the full extent of his talent.

You may know John Waters's film work, which includes Hairspray, Serial Mom, and Cecil B. His manifesto is tight as a drum in this book, which is damn near thirty years old and still as edgy and clever as ever. Waters' philosophy is exactly what he puts into his movies - outsiders are the heroes of the world, and to lead a 'normal' live is to lead a boring life (not to mention 'normal' people usually tend to be far more dysfunctional than a typical flag-waving freak). Waters explains the infamous crudeness of his work with such charming articulation and understated wit that at the end of your first readthrough of his book (believe me, you'll read it again and again), you'll be chucking out all your Nora Ephron DVDs to make room on your movie shelf for 'Multiple Maniacs' and the collected films of Russ Meyer. Catcher in the Rye.įor me, well, John Waters' Shock Value fits the latter requirement, and maybe even a little bit of the former. On a more asthetic level, I think we all choose one book in our youth that colors how we want to look at the world and how we want to be seen. I know people who even take solace in that one Jesus book. Everyone needs their ultimate flagship book of wisdom and life instruction.įor some, it's the Tao Te Ching.

Shock value a tasteful book about bad taste