Many times on the Internet or elsewhere we came across the word "gonzo". Which, you see, is unfamiliar to most of us. What is it connected with, where did it come from and what is this "gonzo"? It turns out that everything is not so difficult, but very interesting. And the term "gonzo" is associated with nothing more than journalism.
Meaning of term
Let's start with the definition of the word "gonzo" - what is it? This is the name of an area in journalism, which is strikingly different from all other areas in that the author writes his material from a purely subjective point of view. He describes what is happening not as an author, but as a participant in the events taking place around him. Most often, gonzo journalism touches on the problems of various organizations, subcultures, minorities, politics, etc.
For greater credibility, the authors lived the life of their characters, in the truest sense of the word. The style of writing in this style is rather sharp, with sarcasm, humor, using profanity. It is certainly interesting to read such material, the reader likes it, although they do notknew that this is gonzo, and therefore this style is quite in demand. The word itself is borrowed from Irish slang, it means a person who, after drinking, is the last to stand on his feet.
No matter how strange it may sound, but often gonzo is a report made where there are no events. The journalist himself invents or thinks them out. This is where the quote from the founder of this style, Hunter Stockton Thompson, would be appropriate.
Events don't make a reporter, a reporter makes events.
History of Gonzo
The term "gonzo" first appeared in the 60s of the XX century. Rolling Stone journalist Hunter Stockton Thompson was the creator of this style. It all started with the fact that the editor of the publication Bill Cardoso gave him the task of writing an article about horse racing. But Thompson, due to some circumstances, did not deign to attend this event. But I decided to get out with the article, having come up with a very interesting way. He sent the editor notes with fictitious events that covered not the races themselves, but what was happening around. This concerned spectators who were not very interested in the competition itself. Hunter described their scams and drinking in vivid detail. The text was written boldly and boldly. He conveyed the emotions and sensations that the reporter allegedly experienced from what was happening. Since then, Hunter Thompson has been considered the founder of gonzo.
Screen gonzo style
In 1971, Hunter Stockton Thompson wrote a book based on the famous film "Fear and Loathing in Las-Vegas". But the book itself had a slightly different title - "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." In the film, the main characters, Dr. Gonzo and Raul Duke, are superbly performed by Benicio del Toro and Johnny Depp. The journalist himself, Hunter Thompson, is the prototype of the hero Johnny Depp.
The film "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" is a clear example of gonzo journalism, when the main characters want to report on the race, directly taking part in the race itself. But due to the use of a large amount of drugs, they never succeed, instead they get into various unpleasant, but funny situations for the viewer.
In addition to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Thompson has written two more gonzo books, Hell's Angels and The Rum Diary.
Gonzo Symbol
Now you know what this gonzo means. But did you know that this style even has its own symbol, invented by the same Hunter Stockton Thompson. As you remember from the movie "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", the main characters constantly used alcohol and drugs, namely mescaline, with which this sign is associated. Gonzo's symbol is a six-fingered fist holding a peyote cactus flower. It is from the cactus that mescaline is made. Also in the emblem there is a sword that replaces the hand, and an inscription in English gonzo. This sign symbolized the free and wild life of the 70s.
