Der Amerikanische Traum ist in Hunter S. Thompsons Texten ein ständig wiederkehrendes Motiv. Auf der Suche nach dem Traum, war es dem Gonzo-Journalisten nicht genug, die Lage der amerikanischen Nation gegen Ende der 60er Jahre bloß zu schildern, sondern sie zu erleben, um dann keine objektive Wahrheit, sondern seine subjektive Sicht der Dinge niederzuschreiben. Seine Beschreibungen der amerikanischen Nation und deren Traum in seinen Werken Angst und Schrecken in Las Vegas und Angst und Schrecken: Im Wahlkampf ′72 sind kaum positiv. Im Gegenteil. Er verweist sogar auf den Tod des Amerikanischen Traumes und den Verfall Amerikas.
Der Traum erscheint ihm in vielerlei Gestalt: in Symbolen, wie zum Beispiel der von Geld und Einfluss regierten Stadt Las Vegas, die Thompsons Alter Ego Raoul Duke als Nervenzentrum des Traums identifiziert; Seine Protagonisten durchleuchten die traditionellen Werte der Gesellschaft und müssen feststellen, dass sie sich bei näherem Betrachten als Heuchelei erweisen - als Mythos, wie eben der Amerikanische Traum selbst.
Der Reporter, der auf Grund seines einzigartigen Schreibstils oft als Stiefkind der New Journalists oder gesetzloser Journalist (Outlaw Journalist) bezeichnet wurde, wird von der Angst - der Angst vor dem Untergang alles Guten für das Amerika seiner Meinung nach einmal eingetreten ist - übermannt. In seinen von Halluzinogenen eingefärbten Charakterisierungen entlarvt er die Gesellschaft als korrupt, oberflächlich und gierig. Versteckt hinter dem nationalen Moralkodex und unter dem Vorwand den Amerikanischen Traum zu suchen, erlauben seine Mitmenschen sich dem Journalisten der Freiheit zu berauben, und somit seinen persönlichen Traum zu zerstören. Jedoch nimmt Thompson nicht die Rolle des Moralapostels ein, sondern beweist immer wieder seine Mitschuld an den erschreckenden Zuständen im Amerika der frühen 70er Jahre. Angesichts dessen erfassen den Reporter Angst und Schrecken, die ihn dazu bringen seinen Mitmenschen Streiche zu spielen, Lügen aufzutischen und der Realität mit einer Prise schwarzen Humors ins Auge zu sehen. Aus Frustration mit der Situation verwandelt er den Präsidenten, Polizisten, Politiker und sogar seine Kollegen im Journalismus in Raubtiere, die nach seinem Blut lechzen.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. Loved & Loathed – The Art of Not Fitting into One Box
1.1 Turn on, Tune in, Drop out – the American 1960s and its Counterculture
1.2 What is so New about New Journalism?
1.3 Pure Gonzo Journalism?
1.4 Outlawed
1.5 Thompson's Fear and Loathing
1.6 Fear and Loathing versus Fear and Loathing
2. The Heart of the American Dream
2.1 Take this White Cadillac and Go Find the American Dream
2.2 New Beginnings
2.3 The American Frontier and its Dream
2.4 Live, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
2.5 The Dream of Social Mobility
2.6 I'm Bad but I Don't Care, Boys, Gonna Be a Millionaire
2.7 Transcending the American Dream
3. Fear and Loathing: When Puritan Minds search the Dream at the Frontier
3.1 Symbolic Landscapes
3.1.1 Roll the Dice and Never Think Twice
3.2 Primitive Christian Instincts
3.3 The Fear of Being Caught
3.4 Pranks & Revulsion
3.5 This is a Mad Society
3.5.1 They hate Us – We hate Them!
4. A Schizophrenic Society
4.1 Countercultural Idealism Betrayed
4.2 Violent Realities
4.2.1 Political Animals
4.2.2 He who Makes a Beast of Himself, Gets Rid of the Pain of Being a Man
4.3 Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride
4.3.1 In Other Words
4.3.2 Jesus! Another Deadline Missed…
Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This thesis examines the literary and journalistic work of Hunter S. Thompson to analyze his social and political criticism, specifically focusing on his engagement with the myth of the American Dream in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and "Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72".
- The role of the American Dream in U.S. literature and history.
- Thompson's unique stylistic classification as a journalist and "outlaw" writer.
- The use of narrative techniques like drug-induced imagery and self-caricature to portray society.
- The clash between countercultural idealism and the violent realities of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 Turn on, Tune in, Drop out – the American 1960s and its Counterculture
There are not many other times in American history that have left such vivid memories than the decade of the 1960s. For many Americans, it was a time where everything seemed possible and people fought for the idealistic goals they had set. The images of the 1960s, of, for example, the batik clothes wearing, dope-smoking flower children with peace signs around their necks, dancing in the streets of San Francisco to the sound of the Grateful Dead, are ever present, but represent only a tiny aspect of this time that was marked by the struggle for social change. The Vietnam War, the student protest movement and civil rights risings polarized American society and caused confusion and chaos in the American nation.
According to David Farber, the 1960s and the confrontation the period entailed were caused by two contradicting sets of values that were present in American society: First, the postwar and Eisenhower ideology of “discipline, delayed gratification, good character and the acceptance of hard work done in rigidly hierarchical workplaces” (4). This perspective had developed in the post-WWII years due to the Cold War and its constant threat of communism, the war in Korea, as well as the possibility of a nuclear war that had altogether “driven Americans into a psychological retreat” (Klinkowitz, Imaginative Acts 5).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides the personal background for the thesis, outlining the author's motivation to explore Thompson's social and political criticism as a legitimate academic subject.
1. Loved & Loathed – The Art of Not Fitting into One Box: Positions Thompson within the literary landscape, discussing the complexities of labeling his work as "New Journalism," "Gonzo," or "Superfiction."
2. The Heart of the American Dream: Explores the historical and cultural origins of the American Dream, tracing its evolution from Puritan ideals to the 1960s counterculture.
3. Fear and Loathing: When Puritan Minds search the Dream at the Frontier: Analyzes the recurring theme of the "frontier" and the symbolic landscapes in Thompson's work, connecting them to his disillusionment with the American Dream.
4. A Schizophrenic Society: Examines the duality and contradictions within American society as depicted by Thompson, highlighting his critique of political figures and the "violent realities" of the early 1970s.
Keywords
Hunter S. Thompson, American Dream, Gonzo Journalism, New Journalism, 1960s Counterculture, Vietnam War, Richard Nixon, Political Criticism, American Literature, Outlaw Journalist, Myth, Puritan Ethos, Symbolism, Narrative Techniques, Social Commentary
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this thesis?
The work explores Hunter S. Thompson's social and political critique by analyzing how he engages with the concept of the American Dream across his most famous texts.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the transformation of the American Dream from an ideal to a hollow myth, the conflict between countercultural values and mainstream society, and the use of surrealist and journalistic techniques to express this friction.
What is the main objective of the research?
The aim is to shift the academic perception of Thompson from a mere "drug culture icon" to that of a serious, innovative writer who provided vital commentary on a tumultuous era in American history.
Which scientific methods does the author employ?
The author uses a literary and cultural studies approach, conducting historical reviews of the American Dream, analyzing recurring symbols and themes in Thompson's texts, and incorporating personal interview transcripts with experts on the subject.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The body analyzes the historical evolution of the American Dream, interprets Thompson's symbolic landscapes and character portrayals, and evaluates how his journalistic style serves to highlight the perceived "schizophrenia" and violence of American society.
How can one describe the keywords of this work?
The keywords highlight the intersection of journalism, history, and political philosophy, focusing on Thompson's unique identity, the myth of the American Dream, and the specific historical context of the 1960s and 70s.
Why is "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" significant to this analysis?
It serves as the author's major statement on the "American Dream," using the surreal environment of Las Vegas as a frontier to expose the hollowness and moral decay that Thompson perceived in the nation.
What is the significance of the "political animal" in Thompson's writing?
Thompson uses this term to characterize politicians like Richard Nixon as predatory beasts, reflecting his intense disillusionment with a system that he believes prioritizes power and corruption over traditional American ideals.
- Quote paper
- Sonja Maier (Author), 2010, The Death of A Dream - Hunter S. Thompson and the American Dream, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/150502
