Taking indulgence to a new level, let's venture into the world of drug−addled, paranoia−fueled hysteria. It's Vegas, baby. Author: Hunter S. Thompson Title: "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream" (1972) Number of Pages: 204 in the 1998 Vintage Edition Out Now: "The Rum Diary" (2011)
"Las Vegas" translates to "pure insanity" in our cultural lingo. Anything can happen there, and what could possibly go wrong in a place built on adult fantasies?
"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" encapsulates the mythos of this desert city. Based loosely on true events, the story started off as a caption assignment for Sports Illustrated before it morphed into a serially published story for Rolling Stone.
On the one hand, "Fear and Loathing" is a book of excess. Given the characters' infamous trunk full of LSD, ether, cocaine, alcohol, mescaline and cannabis, it's easy to get lost in the fantastical nature of the plot.
But, on a deeper level, the heartbreakingly poignant tale utilizes excess to examine a pair of greater themes: the death of the American Dream and the inability of history to reflect truth. Thompson uses his narrative to show the helplessness of a generation, as he seems to seek some sort of solace and escape from the hardships of being human. The title of the novel captures both the surface and deeper aspects of Thompson's story.
Like Thompson's, our era is at a crossroads. From the relative peace and prosperity of the '80s and '90s, we are currently in an economic downturn and constantly questioning America's place in an international forum. How will the United States fit in with rising superpowers?
Additionally, pop culture seems to prove that we're raising the bar for excess and debauchery with each passing year. Check out any new music video: Our level of tolerance for shock−value continues to escalate. It's frightening when third graders know all the words to Ke$ha's "Blah Blah Blah." It's even more scary that Ke$ha is famous for being a hot mess and that, somehow, that title has become a compliment.
At risk of sounding preachy, I'll stop here and urge you to turn to "Fear and Loathing" for more on the subject. Thompson's masterpiece is sure to ring truthful: It implements his own invention of gonzo journalism, which mixes journalism and fictional story−telling.
The author's own life provides apt inspiration for his misfit characters. Born in Kentucky, Thompson always stood out. After joining the Air Force, he was discharged essentially for being too rebellious.
As a journalist, Thompson lived the lives of his subjects. His first hit, "Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs" (1966), involved being in the gangs themselves. His body of work includes 18 books, countless articles and even photography. In addition, the movie "Where the Buffalo Roams" (1980) centers around Thompson, played by Bill Murray.
Thompson's works are as much a focus in the film industry as the author himself. "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (1998) was transformed into a cult hit by Terry Gilliam, with Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro. Depp also stars in "The Rum Diary" (2011), in theaters now, which depicts Thompson's novel of the same name.
Thompson was a unique, albeit troubled individual whose life and tales are perfect for silver screen adaptations. At the same time, Thompson was a thoughtful and talented writer. One of my favorite stories of Thompson is the fact that he copied Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" (1925) and Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms" (1929) word−for−word on his typewriter in order to hone his craft. Thompson's personality reflects the dichotomy of "Fear and Loathing" and the nature of our own time.
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Alexandria Chu is a junior majoring in English. She can be reached at Alexandria.Chu@tufts.edu.
