Hunter S. Thompson Interview on Gonzo Journalism (April 16, 1975)

Summary

In this candid conversation, Hunter S. Thompson reflects on his wild experiences with drugs, the creative chaos they provoke, and the intensity of his gonzo journalism. He critiques the violence of his time and shares his perspective on the future of journalism and society. With insights into his personal philosophy, he explores the role of artists and writers as visionaries of the future. The dialogue captures Thompson’s unique voice, blending humor, seriousness, and a sharp critique of societal norms.

Takeaways

• 😀 Hunter S. Thompson explains that his transition into Gonzo journalism was driven by his personal style, which rejected traditional journalistic norms and embraced immersion and subjectivity.
• 😀 Gonzo journalism involves a blend of humor, seriousness, and raw, unfiltered engagement with the story, often blurring the lines between fact and fiction.
• 😀 Thompson highlights that his first successful Gonzo piece was 'Hell’s Angels', which began as a failure but evolved into a breakthrough due to his unique approach.
• 😀 Thompson's journalism is deeply personal, with a focus on experiencing events firsthand rather than just observing them from a distance.
• 😀 The use of drugs, especially LSD, is a key element in Thompson's work. He believes they expand perception and heighten the intensity of experience, despite the risks of terror and paranoia.
• 😀 Unlike other writers who might romanticize drug-induced states, Thompson's work often includes a sense of fear and tension, making his narratives more visceral and intense.
• 😀 Thompson asserts that violence, as experienced during the late 60s and early 70s, is a luxury and a form of personal excess, but also a tool for social critique and reflection.
• 😀 In his reflections on the political climate, particularly the McGovern campaign and Watergate, Thompson critiques the establishment and offers a scathing view of American politics.
• 😀 Gonzo journalism, while a revolutionary force in the 60s and 70s, may not have a lasting future in Thompson's view. He suggests it’s a spirit rather than a long-term style.
• 😀 Thompson is proud of his political writings, particularly his critique of Nixon, which he feels was prescient in exposing the eventual downfall of the President long before it happened.
• 😀 The essence of Gonzo journalism lies in breaking taboos with a combination of humor and intensity, opening up new doors in the journalistic world while avoiding rehashing old narratives.

Q & A

What is gonzo journalism, and how did Hunter S. Thompson define it?

Gonzo journalism is a style of journalism that blends personal experience with factual reporting, where the journalist becomes an active participant in the story. Hunter S. Thompson embraced this style after covering the Kentucky Derby and realized that his style of writing, which was deeply involved and personal, set him apart from traditional journalism.

How did Thompson's approach to drugs influence his writing?

Thompson favored drugs that intensified his experiences, believing that the heightened intensity led to a deeper understanding of the world around him. He often used drugs to push his boundaries, leading to terrifying yet revealing experiences that influenced his unique writing style.

What role did violence play in Thompson's life and writing?

Thompson was once drawn to violence, participating in bar fights and aggressive behavior. However, after encountering the extreme violence of groups like the Hell's Angels, he realized that such violence was a luxury, and true violence was far more brutal. This shift in perspective impacted his later work, where violence became a theme, explored through both personal and political contexts.

Why did Thompson believe that gonzo journalism might not have a lasting future?

Thompson felt that gonzo journalism was very much a product of its time, shaped by the social and political upheavals of the 1960s and 70s. While he acknowledged that it had its moment, he believed that the style would not have much of a lasting legacy beyond his own contributions, as it was closely tied to the cultural context of his era.

What did Thompson mean by 'violence is a luxury'?

Thompson argued that after experiencing the true horrors of violence, particularly during his time with the Hell’s Angels, he realized that the violence he once indulged in was trivial compared to real, ugly violence. It became clear to him that in a world where survival was at stake, violence was a luxury that people could no longer afford.

How did Thompson differentiate his work from that of new journalists?

Thompson made a clear distinction between his approach to journalism and that of the new journalists by emphasizing that gonzo journalism was a spirit rather than a specific style. While new journalism often involved extensive fact-checking and immersion, gonzo journalism blurred the line between reporter and subject, focusing on subjective experience and emotional truth.

What influence did Thompson believe artists and writers had on society?

Thompson believed that writers, especially poets and artists, had a unique ability to perceive and express things ahead of their time. He thought that such individuals were in tune with the future, able to see beyond the present and predict where society was headed.

How did Thompson view the future of America, particularly in terms of violence?

Thompson believed that the United States could no longer afford the kind of violence that defined the 60s and 70s. He felt that while violence had once been a tool of resistance and expression, it was no longer sustainable in the modern world, and a shift in societal focus was inevitable.

What impact did drugs have on Thompson's approach to writing and his ability to convey experiences?

Thompson used drugs to intensify his experiences and convey a sense of heightened reality in his writing. This altered perception allowed him to bring a sense of immediacy and terror to his work, as he could vividly capture the mental and emotional states associated with drug use and its chaotic effects.

How did Thompson react to the idea of being too violent for LSD use?

Thompson was initially warned that his violent tendencies made him unsuitable for using LSD. However, he later reflected that taking LSD revealed to him the difference between casual violence and true brutality, offering him deeper insights into his own psyche and the violence he had experienced.