When I first started I mentioned that I thought that Hunter S Thompson with Gonzo journalism was the forerunner of the modern blog. And with the election I was thinking about him again. Most people tend to think of the good doctor as a counter culture ranting drug crazed writer lost from society. Of course this basically comes from the book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Many people don't understand the depth of who he was as a writer and observer of our society.
Technically you can say it is now the 40th anniversary of the book Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail 1972. The book did come out a couple of years past '72, but the gist of everything comes from that election. More so than Las Vegas this book in my mind was the litmus test for Gonzo Journalism. The constant updates from the trail, the reflection of what was going on in our society at the time, and his personal adventures create the full effect of what I interpret Gonzo journalism was all about. Maybe not his best work, but a good account of being Gonzo.
Thompson was an observer, an interpreter, a storyteller, and even a story unto himself. He had a knack for finding the reality in what was going on around him no matter the state of reality he found himself in. He could also express himself so well. Sure much of Las Vegas was wild hyperbole about the drug culture and a snapshot of what he came to experience, but most people tend to lose track of the story he was able to maintain through the haze of that week. The story wasn't what he did, but what was happening around him. I say most people don't understand, but the flip of that is many people have read through the haze to find his discouragement with the end of the 60's and what that generation failed to accomplish. Everything seemed to get washed out and nothing ever came of it.
And now 40 years later we seem to be on another course to not realize drastic change is needed in our society. Unfortunately we do not get Thompson's wit and wisdom in this election. It intrigues me to guess what observations we might have if he hadn't so selfishly blown his brains out. The Republican primary would be ripe for Thompson, not just because they are all lost themselves, but his interpretations of what they are missing about our society. He had an uncanny way of finding the truth through all the crap politicians etc would layer on us and yes some of his beliefs would filter into some of his interpretations, but overall he was able to remove the muck to get to the final point. Also the man was smart enough to use a thesaurus. Does anyone even know what that is nowadays. I could use one occasionally.
This election is so unlike what we faced in 1972, but there is one group of people that may have just as much as effect on the outcome as they did in 1972, but with different reasoning. Nixon so infamously noted that that silent majority would rise to elect him and basically they did. Or not in so direct a sentence, but his recognition of their existence does give you an hint of Nixon's understanding of the political landscape of the time. Even though Thompson directly feared everything about Nixon he did have respect for Nixon's political IQ. The same group in the modern version may play heavily into next fall's election or their absence may hand over the country to Obama again. The silent majority pretty much is the vast middle and upper middle class that is predominantly moderately conservative. As much as they contributed to Nixon's landslide, their absence or the alienation of them by the weak Republican candidates may just give way to Obama. We have always had an extreme right, witness the 68 election with George Wallace, and at times they can be vocal and active, but more so our country is made up of the silent majority. Thompson's reflections about our times would have been great reading.
Thompson is really underrated by many in his ability to understand what he observes. Many people have not read his early writings from the National Observer when he was a bit more subdued in his personal life. Or some of his general writings post F&L 1972. He had a keen sense of what was once called " the vibe" or gist of what he was writing about. Yes there are the great stories like his story on the Kentucky Derby and meeting Ralph Steadman, but also his book on the Hell's Angels which tell a story that gets lost in the lore of that group. His understanding of who they really are vs some appendix of hippie history is so often missed.
Johnny Depp was on Letterman many months ago because Rum Diary had been released and he was discussing his friendship with Thompson and his impressions. Mr. Depp said that he felt that Thompson was great at becoming the story or something similar. I think he partially gets it right. Not in the sense that he was partially wrong about Thompson, but not completing the richness of Thompson. Thompson not only could become part of the story, in fact many people probably could do crazy things and become part of the story, it was Thompson's uncanny ability to be part of the story, but also tell it better than most people could in any situation. Thompson had the ability to write, to express the action and the thought,to bring the reader into the story and live it through his eyes or to see his point through his eyes. Yes not everyone agrees with him, but if you truly spent time reading his work you can see the story as he lived it. This is rare in an author. James Clavell is another author I like and he can really create a story, you can feel what is characters are feeling, can jump into the book and become part of the story with them. And Mr Clavell could really write stories, layer after layer and a great joy to read. This was all fiction though. His work closest to Thompson's would be King Rat, but still a story told from the characters in the book. Thompson brought you down to eye level,you were looking straight at the story and action as it happened. His infamous adrenaline made the story even better because there was this non stop feel that something was always coming up and you waited on the next curve to come at you at 100 mph.
All this being said though Thompson is no longer with us, brought to bear by his own hand and unfortunately for us such a shame. A time when we need people to speak out, to go on the offensive against the craziness our government and leaders are throwing at us, we need strong voices to rip away the masks, to expose the lack of real leadership in our country, we are missing one of the best voices for this task.
Some strange and quiet thoughts on a wish it is a lazy spring day.
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