Las Vegas, 1971

The Deathbed of Hunter S. Thompson

Authors

  • Cannon Sullivan Fort Lewis College

Keywords:

Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, literature

Abstract

Hunter S. Thompson is a unique, influential literary figure often set aside due to his rebellious and untraditional style of journalism. Despite his outsider standing in the academic world, separation from popular culture coupled with an immersion in the counter cultures of the sixties allows Thompson to comment on the traditions of his country in a way that no journalist, or novelist had done before. By placing himself subjectively inside of his stories, Thompson inserts readers into his reality and provides an experience that compels the audience to digest certain situations and environments from an untraditional perspective. In Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Thompson attacks popular culture by painting a morbidly realistic image of America in the early seventies, which accurately represents the emotions of youth of the time. This paper explores the essential narratives of Fear and Loathing and the metaphorical purpose of Las Vegas as a symbol for the rising influence of corruption, materialism, and militarism in contrast to the liberty and truth of the drug and youth movements of the sixties. Today, Thompson is mostly appreciated by the minority of citizens who remain connected to the cultures he supported throughout his work, though the elements of Fear and Loathing are unsettlingly relatable to the culture of America in the 21st century, and the issues addressed are American issues, which transcend the decades that have passed since the publication of this novel.

Faculty Mentor: Nancy Cardona

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Published

2018-06-30

Issue

Section

Arts