indefinite articles

Female Trouble was John Waters’ follow-up film to Pink Flamingos, and he employs largely the same cast in similar roles. What differentiates the two films are their focus: Pink Flamingos is clearly about the lows of society and the limitations of cinema and decency, whereas Female Trouble is a feminist film, crassly defending the struggle of women through over-the-top scenarios. It’s comical, but the notion is out there that views of women are somewhat tainted by societal norms rather than the content of women’s character.

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Mea Patafria is the author of the movie criticism blog Cinemango. You can find her reactions to the oeuvre of John Waters, as well as impressions of other films, there as well as on Indefinite Articles.

In 1964, Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart officially stated that obscenity is impossible to define, but added, “I know it when I see it.” He was referring to what is protected under the First Amendment, and his statement officiously took the power out of the hands of moviemakers and artists; judgment of their art would be at the discretion of the authorities. The very same year, Susan Sontag wrote “Notes on Camp,” wherein she defines camp through a list of examples, exceptions and anecdotes. Camp, like obscenity, belongs to the realm of the intangible and unspecific.

Along comes the 1970’s, and with it came a new face in cinema. If there was ever a person who wanted to put a fine point on both camp and obscenity, it is John Waters. With his films that seem to portray the absolute worst of society, he lays the foundation for the Church of Camp, and the Camp Bible is none other than Pink Flamingos. In this film, he pushes the boundaries of what is acceptable, what is tolerable, and what you can portray in film. Pink Flamingos is not his first film, but it is the first that is readily available via Netflix. It is also arguably his most well-known and notorious film, which people discuss in shocked whispers. “This is the one where Divine eats shit!” “This is the one where she puts a steak under her skirt!” “This is the one with the Egg Man!”

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