I read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and I found it shocking at the time -- maybe even now I would be shocked.
Why? Cuz, satire or not, the book delights in the misery of others who are merely innocent bystanders. In one scenario, Hunter is stoned on several drugs and a cleaning lady enters his motel room, and he takes her hostage. Eventually he "makes it right with her" by telling her that he's a cop and undercover and thanks for helping him out, but she was terrified to the max without her permission and, indeed, there is no rationale for the abusing of her. It was gratuitous violence that Hunter, as the author, doesn't reveal for its human repercussions -- like "setting a cat's tale on fire and laughing at it" is what a mean kid could do and never have any compassion for the cat. Just so, Hunter mindfucks various characters and expects the reader to be okay with the sheer anarchy and malevolence of his protagonist. His main guy is okay with taking the drug adrenochrome which supposedly can only be gotten by killing a human being. Puke on that shit. Depravity and humor just do not mix all that well. Edg --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Rick Archer" <r...@...> wrote: > > Maybe one of greatest movies of all time. Though I have to admit that the > two Hunter Thompson inspired flicks also really cracked me up totally. Yeah, > > Fear and Loathing, and Where the Buffalo Roam. In order to understand the > greatness of these flicks you have to see them as essentially counter > culture and mind expanding. > > I watched one about Hunter Thompson the other night which I think you would > enjoy: > http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gonzo_the_life_and_work_of_dr_hunter_s_thomp > son/ > > I never knew much about him, including the fact that Garry Trudeau's "Uncle > Duke" character in Doonesbury was based on him. >
