"To me, bad taste is what entertainment is all about"

The idea here is pretty straightforward: the stuff that might make you cringe or roll your eyes—what some folks call "bad taste"—is often what makes entertainment genuinely fun and engaging. Think of it as a celebration of the unconventional, the offbeat, and the sometimes ridiculous.

Now, let's dig into why someone might say this. Picture the late 20th century entertainment scene, bustling with experimentation. This was a time when boundary-pushing became the norm, and what was once considered tasteless started gaining its own fanbase. Think of John Waters, the filmmaker who embraced the bizarre and the grotesque. His movies, full of camp and shock value, were a rebellion against mainstream aesthetics. Waters himself might've been the one to say this, as he always found joy in the outrageous and the absurd.

Let’s talk real life for a moment. Ever been to a midnight showing of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"? It's pure, unabashed bad taste, and that's what makes it legendary. People dress up in outlandish costumes, shout lines back at the screen, and throw props around the theater. If you walk in expecting a refined cinematic experience, you’re in the wrong place. But if you’re there for a wild, no-holds-barred good time, you’re in for a treat. The sheer joy and community spirit generated from this collective embrace of "bad taste" is what makes it so special—and so much fun.

So, how do you take this idea and run with it in your own life? First off, lighten up! Give yourself permission to enjoy things that aren’t polished or sophisticated. Watch that cheesy soap opera, laugh at that corny joke, wear that ridiculously loud shirt. Embrace the things that make you happy, even if they might make a critic scoff. You don't always have to go for highbrow. Sometimes, the lowbrow stuff is where the real joy is.

Imagine you’re at a party. Everyone’s sipping on fancy cocktails and discussing literature. It’s fine, but then someone puts on 80s hair metal and challenges you to a lip-sync battle. At first, you might think, "This is so tacky." But then you let yourself get into it. You belt out the lyrics, do some ridiculous air guitar, and suddenly, you’re having the time of your life. You look around and see everyone else laughing and letting go too. That’s the magic of bad taste—it breaks down barriers and lets people connect in a carefree, joyful way.

So next time you’re hesitant to enjoy something because it’s not "cool" or "classy," remember that sometimes the best fun is a little bit trashy. Life’s too short to only enjoy the refined and the sophisticated. Dive into the ridiculous, the over-the-top, and the just plain fun. You might find that bad taste is the best taste of all.