Fear
and Loathing in Las Vegas was first published in 1971 in Rolling
Stone magazine and reprinted to tie in with the release of the 1998
movie starring Johnny Depp as the Hunter S. Thompson-like
protagonist, Raoul Duke. Although
protagonist may be a bit of a stretch. For someone like me, not
enamoured with the romance of substance use, abuse, and addiction. I
accept that a journalist must be a contrary, willing to question the
status quo. However, it seems to me that the grandiose description of
psychedelic substance use distracts from, even undermines the themes
of abuse of power, authorities out of touch with their
communities/constituencies, corrupt lawyers, casual gun handling, the
pervasiveness of organized crime. Not to mention the role of females
in the story--a disturbed runaway artist drugged and raped, a retired
stripper turned waitress insulted by customers, and an elderly hotel
maid left to tidy up a room trashed by naked puking men. All in the
name of fun.
Thompson
is the preeminent Gonzo journalist, reporting as he does, in 1970, as
a participant, from the inside of Sin City (a motorcycle race and a
convention of District Attorneys, in Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas),
horse racing (The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved), the
Chicano community in California (Strange Rumblings In Aztlan).
Thompson's reputation remains strong, based on his acute
observations, his oh-so-readable style, and the laugh-out-loud
descriptions of events, situations, which I'm glad I have never had
to witness in person. I think what strikes me most is the depiction
of the many layers and sub-cultures making up the supposedly greatest
democracy, and the "bureaucratic fascism" [p. 214] of the
way the so-called leaders and people in positions of power are so out
of touch with and unconcerned about any layers other than their own.
Or am I reading too much into this romp? Doesn't his subtitle say it
all? A Savage Journey To the Heart Of the American Dream, by
a writer who seems too cool to care.
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