The classic stage performance of gender identity and costume change and a damn good concert film.

Creepy, sleazy, portrait of a downtrodden Berlin of the 70's and of the psyche. Worth it but you may feel taken aback a bit at the end by the complete depressing nihilism (or energized, depending).

Perfect quasi synth punk masterpiece from a band that would later become a new wave staple filed with songs ripe with metaphors of sexual identity.

One of the first works upfronting dealing with issues of gay self identity though since then, its been added to the classic literature cannon that people have forgotten how subversive it was at the time.

"The world of the heterosexual is a sick and meaningless life". Whether you believe that or not, you are bound to get a laugh of these movies, and with movies like "Jackass" around today, not quite so shocking though certain moments such as the last scene in Pink Flamingoes may prove it not to be a good date movie (for any orientation). Just don't say you haven't been warned.

My introduction to the avant-garde. And also influential on everyone from David Lynch to Jim Jarmusch to John Waters to yes even Martin Scorcese.

A metaphysical dissection of the relationship between man and technology. Or a sick book about people who get off on car crashes. Or both. Either way, an essential read.

So you can impress your literary friends.

Just a quick (and quite unpleasent reminder) that life in the Victorian era from children as well as others, despite any florid romantization was still nasty, brutish and short. Charles Dickens without the sentimentality.

I strongly disagree with some of the positions of this book but it is a good primer for those interested in the philosophy of sex positive feminism.

And from an actual punk poet and feminist.

A disturbingly realistic sordid slice of life. I'm not sure if you are supposed to identify with the characters or not.

An unpleasent but unflinching look into the world of Paris street transgender prostitutes. Divine, the star of John Water's movies was named after a character in this book.

Though it was edited nearly in half and sold as a children's horror movie, the uncut version is a classic sapphic vampire tale (and great for fans of the Grindhouse genre).

Don't say you haven't been warned...

Essential outsider artist. Essential to understand that Darger's life and practices did not reflect his artwork which came from his own psyche and were discovered after his death.

If you find graphic, scatological depictions of violence and sexual politics within the context of DeSade to be unappetizing then by all means don't buy this. However, if that description someone peaked your interest then you might find this savage critique of fascism to be fascinating.

Hardly feminist but the female lead characters certainly make mince meat out of the men. And one of John Waters favorite films.

And for those who thought that Ilsa was the film that started it all...

The first surrealist film. From its first "eye opening" moment filled with disturbing Freudian imagery...