Peter mentioned in class his interest in Gonzo Journalism, a genre I had never heard of. Suddenly, names like Hunter S Thompson and Tom Wolfe were being thrown around and I decided it was time to catch up and discover what Gonzo was all about. Here are some of the interesting explanations I found from various websites devoted to the genre.
* Gonzo is a literary style pioneered by the late Dr Hunter S Thompson which is famous for breaking traditional rules by mixing fact with fiction, featuring the writer at the centre of the story and often using first person narration.
* Many Gonzo pieces are based on the writer's experience 'on the inside' of a particular subject. While a traditional article may see a journalist interview drug dealers and report of street crime, a Gonzo writer would immerse themselves in the world of a street gang, participate in swaps and detail their experiences.
* Gonzo journalists make little effort to appear unbias. Instead, the entrance of the writer into the world of the subject is the genre's main focus. This can lead to serious legal, moral and personal issues.
* The first recognised Gonzo piece was Hunter S Thompson's ' The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved' . The 'manic first-person' piece came about when Thompson, facing a deadline, panicked and sent his editor pages ripped from his notebook instead of a polished article.
* Morgan Spurlock's documentary 'Supersize Me' is a modern example of Gonzo journalism. Spurlock, in an aim to investigate the effects of McDonald's food, challenges himself to eat at the restaurant for all three meals everyday for a month. In true Gonzo style, Spurlock becomes the focus of the story as he gains 12kg and increases his body mass by 13%.
* Famous Gonzo journalists include Tom Wolfe, Lester Bangs and George Plimpton.
With a deeper understanding of the genre, I realised that I had in fact been exposed to several Gonzo pieces such as 'Almost Famous' ( a film based on Cameron Crowe's real-life experience of touring with bands and writing for Rolling Stone Magazine), Michael Moore's 'Bowling for Columbine' and the diaries of Belle Du Jour, who uncovers the world of high-class escorts in 'Diary of a London Call-Girl'.
Information from:
http://www.essortment.com/all/whatisgonzoj_rqjo.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4291311.stm
http://www.mahalo.com/gonzo-journalism
