The Universe of Discourse

How are John Waters movies like James Bond movies?

A number of years ago I wondered how many movies I had seen. The only way I could think of finding out was just to make a list. This I did as best I could. (It turned out to be around 700.)

I found, though, that I could not include all the James Bond movies I had seen, because I couldn't tell them apart from the descriptions. I'd read a plot summary for a James Bond movie, and ask myself “Did I see that? I don't know, it sounds like every other James Bond movie.”

Today I discovered that John Waters movies are like that also. I was trying to remember if I had seen A Dirty Shame:

The people of Harford Road are firmly divided into two camps: the neuters, the puritanical residents who despise anything even remotely carnal; and the perverts, a group of sex addicts whose unique fetishes have all been brought to the fore by accidental concussions. Repressed Sylvia Stickles finds herself firmly entrenched in the former camp.

You'd think that would be something I would remember decisively, or not. But I'm really not sure. All I can do is shrug and say “I don't know, it sounds like a John Waters movie I have seen, but maybe it wasn't that one.”

Looking into it further I discovered that I also wasn't sure if I had seen Multiple Maniacs. In it, Divine's character is raped by a giant lobster. On the one hand, that seems like the sort of thing I would remember. And I think maybe I do? But again I'm not sure I'm not just imagining what it would be like!

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