There was the Beat Generation with the most prominent figures heads in Kerouac, Ginsberg and Burroughs. A generation of drugs users exploring life.
The Acid generation was pushed forth by Wolfe, Kesey and Learey. Post-explorer, post-acid comes Thompson. A writer by accident, and influenced by the history and past of his peers. Disillusioned and under a frightening realisation that the world is not as it seems.
A heavy drug user, along with his colleague and friend, Oscar Acosta, Thompson created a new literary force. One that explored the hidden depths of a nation ruled by an ignorant and corrupt Government, a nation that supported a war that could not be won.
Written during the time of the Nam war, and Nixon in office, Thompson’s vile hatred of the whole ideals of America at the time is portrayed in vivid and stark detail. The backdrop for all this is drugs, but it is only a mere shadow for what Thompson is trying to explain by what he sees and hears.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was the first of a series of “Fear” books, about Thompson’s mistrust of society, its conditioning and brainwashing, the totalitarian Government digging its heels into the country to achieve what it wants to achieve, not what the people want. And when the war fails, ignore the victims on both sides, and clean their hands of all that dirt.
Thompson was unique in so far as he missed the deadlines, almost every time, failing to meet the standards or guidelines set
The drugs are the main focus for most people, but it is the behaviour and the paranoia that, for me, was a metaphor for the country’s paranoia that “people are out to get us”. Thompson demonstrates this aptly with several scenes in the book.
While Oscar and Thompson explore the world under the guise of psychadelia, the ignorance and fitting portrayal of the law enforcement being unaware of the reality of the world they actually live in is amusing, and frightening. The misconceptions, arrogant belief, and inconsistency in their ideals are further demonstrated during the police conference.
In many ways, not a lot has changed since the time that Thompson wrote Fear and Loathing, in fact, it could be argued it parallels with the fears that people have now. The constant televisiual paranoid that is fed into people produces and grows fear and paranoia within society. People no longer trust each other, or themselves. The box continues to give them their portrayal of what is real, and what isn’t. How the troops are doing.
Just as the US Government was in control of the country, and was feeding the paranoia to its civilians, so it is now and with every other Government across the globe in following the lead of America. Replace the unjustified Vietnam war with today’s Iraqi war, and you have a poignant and distressing reflection of how people have not moved on, how people continue to sit in front of their box and listen to what is being told, and not asking the questions. Those that do try to make a difference are ignored. So what has changed?
The journey of Thompson is beautifully described, with a sharp, edgy writing not seen during that time. There were several writers who could match Thompson for sheer grit, but Thompson did something in his writing which challenged and asked questions.
On the one hand he could be considered a drug user who just wrote nonsense; on the other hand, and my preference is that Thompson would write about the things others missed out. He challenged the establishment with intelligence and humour, while at the same time breaking almost every federal law conceivable. He shatters the illusion of the American dream and all it stands for, which is nothing more than a front for encouraging the people to act in a way that could only be described as ludicrous and shameful.
Thompson’s vile hatred of the whole ideals of America at the time is portrayed in vivid and stark detail
Interspersed with the distaste of the world he lives in, the effects of drug taking take its toll on both Oscar and Thompson in both horrific and hilarious ways. The paranoia they feel is taken out on others, and sometimes each other. Nothing makes sense at times and this because nothing at the time in that world made sense – everything is senseless, without reason, without logic.
Las Vegas was an ideal setting for two characters that could do what they wanted to, but without getting caught. People ignoring the obvious and only paying attention to the different. Blend in well enough, and you could probably get away with murder. Say the right things, and you could walk your way around without trouble. Pretty much what the US Government did at the time.
The book touches on some issues of sensitivity, thoughts and ideas that both Oscar and Thompson explore. Naturally, these are drug induced, but could also been seen as hidden depths untapped by normal consciousness, and the drugs being used as a vehicle for the prominence of such thoughts. It’s a wonder how Thompson and Oscar get away with so much, and survive to tell the tale.
With Rolling Stone magazine (the instigator of the journey to cover a news story in Vegas paying for Thompson’s expenses and such) hot on his back about getting something back – something they can use. Thompson’s relationship, as read over further books, with his bosses was rather difficult – whereas others were writing articles everyday, Thompson was unique in so far as he missed the deadlines, almost every time, failing to meet the standards or guidelines set. He didn’t care, and the editors knew his work was good, even if they didn’t agree with it.
Fear and Loathing is a chaotic, colourful, and poignant account of a road trip. It will make you laugh, think and consider things that you may not otherwise. It may not motivate you, it may not encourage you to take drugs (hell it will probably put you off), but it will inspire you in many ways and perhaps, upon its publishing during the 70s, was a wake up call for a nation under a spell.
Verdict: An incredible account of a nation, the American dream and drugs.