Fear And Loathing In America By Hunter Thompson

Gonzo journalism is a style of journalism pioneered by Hunter Thompson (Famighetti, 2007), which is defined by “a lack of objectivity due to the writer's immersion in the subject and often participation in the activity being documented” (Merriam-Webster). In his short story, “Fear and Loathing in America” about the September 11 terrorist attacks, Thompson (2001) writes in the gonzo style of journalism throughout. The piece demonstrates a striking lack of objectivity, which leads to dramatization and speculation. It also demonstrates Thompson’s deep involvement with the events on a personal level.

Thompson’s (2001) lack of objectivity can be seen throughout the piece; he describes the events as “scenes of destruction and utter devastation coming out of New York on the TV” (para. 1). According to Famighetti (2007), “For Thompson, journalism could not be a neutral transmitter of information, especially during a tumultuous moment” (para. 1). Thompson’s unobjective words, coupled with his belief that journalism should not be neutral, supports the idea that this short story is a piece of gonzo journalism.

6) and “This is going to be a very expensive war, and Victory is not guaranteed” (para. 10). This is emblematic of gonzo journalism, described by Famighetti (2007) as “an eccentric vision defined by fear of what might come, and loathing of what we are already facing” (para.