Tuesday, February 22, 2005
He's no "Titan." No love for Hunter S. Thompson here.
His writing was shallow. What were his principles? I never found them. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was a fun read, but what else did it give you, besides two hours of fun? OK, so there's the metaphor of the high-water mark of the late '60s having passed by 1971 (when Fear and Loathing was written). So what? What else is there.
Lately, Hunter S. Thompson's "mission" was to report on the "Death of the American Dream," and spread his countercultural nonsense. It's nothing but a crock of shit.
Hunter S. Thompson never understood that a guy like him was living the American Dream. He was able to do whatever the Hell he wanted in his life, and what is he left with? Some bizarre books, even more bizarre politics, and a head-scratching bizarre ultimate column in which he phoned Bill Murray at 3 a.m. to discuss combining the sports of skeet shooting and golf. (Not a totally fresh idea; there's an ad that airs during golf tournament in which a touring pro hits golf balls to shoot down skeet. Then again, reading the column was an entertaining way to waste 10 minutes.)
I do like pop culture, but I found Hunter S. Thompson lacking any meat. He doesn't rank among the top 100 20th Century American writers. Fifty years from now, no one will give a damn about him, unlike the true titans of the pen.
Want a real 20th Century titan? Let me point out William F. Buckley, Jr., in whose autobiographical anthology (Miles Gone By) I am engrossed. This is a true renaissance man, one that has befriended heads of state and peasant copy editors, an avid sportsman, a former spy, a magazine publisher, a far more prolific author of books and columns, and as influential a figure in American history as anyone in the 20th Century.
Buckley and Thompson were born into privilege; Buckley's privilege was grand, while Thompson's was relative. Both were endowed with great talent. While Buckley converted his into focused causes, Thompson flitted about, creating controversy when it was convenient or fun to do so.
Next to Buckley, Thompson's a midget. He's a good writer, but nothing great next to so many others more worthy of your tears.
Maybe most of all, I'm pissed that someone that has it all (including the lifestyle he wanted), decided to take his life at a relatively young age, leaving behind a family that will now pick up the pieces. He was relatively healthy, and he cavalierly discarded his life over (depending on whose news report you read) hip and back pain or the Bush Administration. Meanwhile, I see others cling to their lives at older ages, more debilitating illnesses, far less to look forward to, far less to look back on, and far less talent.
Hunter Thompson's party ended about 30 years ago, and he only realized it Saturday. So instead of growing up, he ate a bullet. What a waste.
Sorry, Derrick. RIP, Duke.
His writing was shallow. What were his principles? I never found them. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was a fun read, but what else did it give you, besides two hours of fun? OK, so there's the metaphor of the high-water mark of the late '60s having passed by 1971 (when Fear and Loathing was written). So what? What else is there.
Lately, Hunter S. Thompson's "mission" was to report on the "Death of the American Dream," and spread his countercultural nonsense. It's nothing but a crock of shit.
Hunter S. Thompson never understood that a guy like him was living the American Dream. He was able to do whatever the Hell he wanted in his life, and what is he left with? Some bizarre books, even more bizarre politics, and a head-scratching bizarre ultimate column in which he phoned Bill Murray at 3 a.m. to discuss combining the sports of skeet shooting and golf. (Not a totally fresh idea; there's an ad that airs during golf tournament in which a touring pro hits golf balls to shoot down skeet. Then again, reading the column was an entertaining way to waste 10 minutes.)
I do like pop culture, but I found Hunter S. Thompson lacking any meat. He doesn't rank among the top 100 20th Century American writers. Fifty years from now, no one will give a damn about him, unlike the true titans of the pen.
Want a real 20th Century titan? Let me point out William F. Buckley, Jr., in whose autobiographical anthology (Miles Gone By) I am engrossed. This is a true renaissance man, one that has befriended heads of state and peasant copy editors, an avid sportsman, a former spy, a magazine publisher, a far more prolific author of books and columns, and as influential a figure in American history as anyone in the 20th Century.
Buckley and Thompson were born into privilege; Buckley's privilege was grand, while Thompson's was relative. Both were endowed with great talent. While Buckley converted his into focused causes, Thompson flitted about, creating controversy when it was convenient or fun to do so.
Next to Buckley, Thompson's a midget. He's a good writer, but nothing great next to so many others more worthy of your tears.
Maybe most of all, I'm pissed that someone that has it all (including the lifestyle he wanted), decided to take his life at a relatively young age, leaving behind a family that will now pick up the pieces. He was relatively healthy, and he cavalierly discarded his life over (depending on whose news report you read) hip and back pain or the Bush Administration. Meanwhile, I see others cling to their lives at older ages, more debilitating illnesses, far less to look forward to, far less to look back on, and far less talent.
Hunter Thompson's party ended about 30 years ago, and he only realized it Saturday. So instead of growing up, he ate a bullet. What a waste.
Sorry, Derrick. RIP, Duke.
Comments:
TJ -- I'm really disappointed you can't appreciate someone as important as Hunter S. Thompson, and have the nerve to compare him to someone like William F. Buckley.
Thompson was a much better writer for his attention to detail and lack of fear to tell the truth. He gave a different perspective and cut through the crap.
He lived the American dream, but wasn't afraid to say what was wrong with it.
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Thompson was a much better writer for his attention to detail and lack of fear to tell the truth. He gave a different perspective and cut through the crap.
He lived the American dream, but wasn't afraid to say what was wrong with it.
