5 things we learnt from 'pope of trash' John Waters
- Text by Shelley Jones

Cult filmmaker John Waters – who cut his teeth making exploitation films like Mondo Trasho and Pink Flamingos in the 60s and 70s and hit the bigtime with camp classics like Hairspray and Cry-Baby in the 80s and 90s – recently visited London to promote his new book Carsick, a series of stories from hitchhiking across America.
Here are some things we learnt from the most charismatic man to ever discuss a high-brow charity gala for genital warts.
Hitchhike
Apparently suffering from something of a mid-life crisis Waters embarked on a hitchhiking adventure two years ago that seemed to renew his faith and interest in the human race. He got picked up by ‘wheeler-dealer potheads’, truckers, parents and tons of other characters. One Republican kid even drove four hours out of his way to drop him at his destination and then drove back at a later date and joined him for a bit longer on his travels. All kinds of adventures happen, Waters suggests, when you hit the road with no agenda and no direction home.
Read
“If you go home with somebody and they don’t have books, don’t fuck ’em!” Waters is pretty famous for this line he drops at talks and interviews sometimes. In fact, the sixty-eight-year-old is a compulsive reader who starts everyday with a stack of newspapers and devours all kinds of reading material with a rampant curiosity. A lot of his work is inspired by things he reads as truth, he says, is often stranger than fiction. Just google (NSFW) feeders, gainers, bears, cubs and blossoms if you need proof. But do so at your own risk, says Waters, because you might get arrested next time you go to fix your computer.
Don’t judge
If there’s one thing John Waters is, it’s open-minded. Every shocking scene and ‘bad taste’ joke he puts out into the world goes some way to de-stigmatising some position, ridiculing some taboo. Or as he told Russh magazine: “I think if anything Mind Your Own Business is my message. Don’t judge other people until you know the whole story.” Apart from grown men who dress as babies, he told us on Tuesday, because that’s just fucked up.
Play games with strangers
Does that sound wrong? Spend too long with the ‘prince of puke’ and you start to see an innuendo in everything but, sort of innocently, this one is all about keeping non-sexually playful in the marketplace. One game, Waters tells us, is ‘Shopping For Others’ – where you put something funny in someone else’s basket (basket is Waters’ favourite word for balls, fyi) and watch their reaction at the checkout. All kinds of hilarity obviously ensues (see his 1998 art world satire Pecker). Waters himself got played recently when someone Tampax bombed him, lol. Another game is ‘Dropping’ where you go and buy some really rank ‘meatball-coloured maxi skirt’ from a charity shop and hang it up in the Hermés shop. Too good.
Sometimes turd terrorism is necessary
Hahhahaha. Sorry, this should probably be labelled ‘have a sense of humour’ but ‘turd terrorism’ is so great. I feel like every great dinner party ends with a story about a poo turning up somewhere it shouldn’t. Anyway, in Tuesday’s talk Waters suggested leaving an upper decker (Urban Dictionary: The act of defecating in the upper tank of the toilet) in the loo of some film company that tried to censor him. The genius, he says, is that no one knows where the smell is coming from. The genius, I feel, is getting the poo up there. Either way, make funny of bad things that happen to you, Waters is saying, and life will probably be a whole lot better.
Latest on Huck
Meet the hair-raised radical women of Berlin’s noise punk scene
Powertool — In his new zine, George Nebieridze captures moments of loud rage and quiet intimacy within the German capital’s female-only bands, while exploring the intersections between music, community and anti-establishment politics.
Written by: Miss Rosen

Amid tensions in Eastern Europe, young Latvians are reviving their country’s folk rhythms
Spaces Between the Beats — The Baltic nation’s ancient melodies have long been a symbol of resistance, but as Russia’s war with Ukraine rages on, new generations of singers and dancers are taking them to the mainstream.
Written by: Jack Styler

Uwade: “I was determined to transcend popular opinion”
What Made Me — In this series, we ask artists and rebels about the about the forces and experiences that shaped who they are. Today, it’s Nigerian-born, South Carolina-raised indie-soul singer Uwade.
Written by: Uwade

Inside the obscured, closeted habitats of Britain’s exotic pets
“I have a few animals...” — For his new series, photographer Jonty Clark went behind closed doors to meet rare animal owners, finding ethical grey areas and close bonds.
Written by: Hannah Bentley

Frazer Clarke: “I had a hole in my leg, I’m very lucky to be alive”
Hard Feelings — For our interview column on masculinity and fatherhood, the Olympic boxing medallist speaks to Robert Kazandjian about hard graft, the fear and triumph of his first fight, and returning to the ring after being stabbed on a night out.
Written by: Robert Kazandjian

Remembering Holly Woodlawn, Andy Warhol muse and trans trailblazer
Love You Madly — A new book explores the actress’s rollercoaster life and story, who helped inspire Lou Reed’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side’.
Written by: Miss Rosen