The Profane, The Sarcastic, The Humorous

              Journalism comes in many forms, a fact that is proven more each and every day. One form that I have recently begun to explore is Gonzo journalism, which can be accredited to Hunter S. Thompson circa 1970 (see previous post). It’s a combination of journalism and fiction that is partly based on the personal experience of the writer. Thompson was inspired by William Faulkner’s idea that, "The best kind of fiction is truer than any kind of journalism."

            I find this rather interesting because the subjectivity of this style appeals to me immensely. Traditional journalism takes a detached and objective approach and is focused on getting the hard facts. Gonzo journalism strives to capture the personality of the topic in addition to the topic itself. It utilizes emotion and experience as writing tools. Sarcasm, humor, exaggeration and profanity are also frequently employed in this style, which tends to “tell it like it is”.

            The more I research Gonzo journalism, the more passionate my opinion becomes concerning the rules (or lack thereof) of writing. I think people should express themselves more freely in their writing and not try to fit into a mold. I’m not saying that they should go to the lengths that Hunter S. Thompson did in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, but I do believe that we-as writers- should not be afraid to tell a story as we see fit.