(Untitled)

[satans_spawn]

Abstract for my dissertation on Gonzo

Comments

[atomic_joe2]

He was one of the few people to have created a niche within alternative culture that became bigger than himself. Kinda like Elvis. But less bloated. And cooler.

[greenfencer]

Good luck with the dissertation. I think the subject has merit, but the academics who will undoubtedly be evaluating the piece may not be so receptive. A couple of issues to help avoid land mines:

Are we sure that Taibbi has written "without intention of mimicking Thompson"? Now I dig Taibbi's stuff enough that it has probably saved my Rolling Stone subscription from cancellation a few times, and I see his work (at least the Road Rage stuff)as very closely following Thompson's style.

Also the initial conclusion that Gonzo is more about the spirit of the writing than the style itself is, to a true believer, a basic fact. For those who will be reviwing the paper, such an abstraction is going to need some serious substantiation.

Still, it seems worth a shot. Best of luck, amigo.

[satans_spawn]

Hey bud, thanks for the input! I have a transcript of an interview in which he says explicitly that he's never tried to mimic Thompson. He goes on to say his drug habit was more out of "desperation" than a desire to emulate Thompson. He says he's flattered that people think of him in this way, but he doesn't personally feel that he is the next Thompson. This is mentioned a bit later on in the dissertation, although maybe I should make the point sooner.

And I understand your point about "the spirit" of the writing - believe me, I'm trying my very hardest to rationalise that point. Maybe if I rationalise it I'll take too much away from it though. Haha. I'll keep thinking!

[ladee_k]

This sounds really interesting. I especially appreciate that you point out that mimicking Thompson does not make you a Gonzo journalist. Jesus christ so many fucking people do that and if I never read another shitty, I-did-drugs-and-wrote-about-it-while-swearing-lots piece of writing again I will die a happy woman.

I agree with the other commenter that you'll have to find a way to ground your claims regarding the 'spirit' of the writing in something more concrete in order to make it a solid argument.

Good luck!

[satans_spawn]

"Jesus christ so many fucking people do that and if I never read another shitty, I-did-drugs-and-wrote-about-it-while-swearing-lots piece of writing again I will die a happy woman."

Hahaha. Unfortunately when I was younger I thought I'd be Gonzo if I did that. Was very wrong, and now I just wonder what the hell I was thinking.

[episkopos]

It may be worth your while to reference Fear and Loathing in America, in which dear Hunter defines Gonzo as a technique: “one draft, written on the spot at top speed and basically un-revised, edited, chopped, larded etc. for publication. Ideally, I'd like to walk away from a scene and mail my notebook to the editor, who will then carry it, un-touched, to the printer

[satans_spawn]

That's fantastic stuff. Whereabouts in the book is that? Unfortunately that's one of the Thompson books that I DON'T have. The university library is absolutely no help either.

I have the general definition by other people, but to have a quote like that by the Good Doctor himself would really make it solid.

[episkopos]

Page 375. Full bibliographic citation is Hunter S. Thompson, 'Fear and Loathing in America', ed. Douglas Brinkley (London; Bloomsbury, 2001). I really recommend this one if you want to get inside Herr Doktor's head.

[satans_spawn]

Dude, I'm a moron. I do have Fear and Loathing in America. I've barely had a chance to flip through it as it's so massive. I insisted on reading the Zeta Acosta letters though. But thank you very, very much for pointing out that piece of information. It's very useful.

[5am_bat_country]

If you've read Steadman's 'The Joke's Over' about Hunter, you get the idea that he veiws Gonzo as creating what you want to write about through your own actions (i am thinking more specifically of the Kentucky Derby incident involving alot of mace) which for Thompson apparently meant drug binges.