What is the theme of fear and Loathing in Las Vegas?
Throughout Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, the protagonists go out of their way to degrade, abuse, and destroy symbols of American consumerism and excess, while Las Vegas symbolizes the coarse ugliness of mainstream American culture.
When did fear and Loathing in Las Vegas come out?
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The novel first appeared as a two-part series in Rolling Stone magazine in 1971, and was published as a book in 1972. It was later adapted into a film of the same name in 1998 by Terry Gilliam, starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro who portrayed Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, respectively.
Why did Hunter S Thompson write Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas?
In the book The Great Shark Hunt, Thompson refers to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as "a failed experiment in the gonzo journalism" he practiced, which was based on William Faulkner's idea that "the best fiction is far more true than any kind of journalism — and the best journalists have always known this".
Who are the actors in fear and Loathing in Las Vegas?
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a 1998 American adventure black comedy film adapted from Hunter S. Thompson 's 1971 novel of the same name. It was co-written and directed by Terry Gilliam, and stars Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro as Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, respectively.
What's the message of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas?
Violence is everywhere in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. As Duke and Dr. Gonzo travel to Las Vegas in a drug-fueled search for the American Dream, they both engage in violent behavior and see violence reflected in the world around them.
What is the plot of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas about?
Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp) and his attorney Dr. Gonzo (Benicio Del Toro) drive a red convertible across the Mojave desert to Las Vegas with a suitcase full of drugs to cover a motorcycle race. As their consumption of drugs increases at an alarming rate, the stoned duo trash their hotel room and fear legal repercussions. Duke begins to drive back to L.A., but after an odd run-in with a cop (Gary Busey), he returns to Sin City and continues his wild drug binge.Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas / Film synopsis
Is Fear and Loathing a true story?
Gonzo journalism Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was a fictionalised account of two trips Thompson made with his friend Oscar Zeta Acosta from LA to Las Vegas. It was published by Rolling Stone magazine in 1971 under the byline of Raoul Duke, but Thompson's name does appear.
Is Fear and Loathing in Aspen a true story?
Parents need to know that Fear and Loathing in Aspen is a fictional biopic about writer Hunter S. Thompson (Jay Bulger) and his 1970 attempt to run for sheriff of Pitkin County, Colorado, which was before his Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
What is the book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas about?
The book is a roman à clef, rooted in autobiographical incidents. The story follows its protagonist, Raoul Duke, and his attorney, Dr. Gonzo, as they descend on Las Vegas to chase the American Dream through a drug-induced haze, all the while ruminating on the failure of the 1960s countercultural movement. The work is Thompson's most famous book, and is noted for its lurid descriptions of illegal drug use and its early retrospective on the culture of the 1960s. Thompson's highly subjective blend of fact and fiction, which it popularized, has become known as gonzo journalism. The novel first appeared as a two-part series in Rolling Stone magazine in 1971, and was published as a book in 1972. It was later adapted into a film of the same title in 1998 by Terry Gilliam, starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro who portrayed Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, respectively.
Where did Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas take place?
Origins. The novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is based on two trips to Las Vegas, Nevada, that Hunter S. Thompson took with attorney and Chicano activist Oscar Zeta Acosta in March and April 1971.
What song was inspired by the 1998 movie?
The music videos for Lil Wayne 's "No Worries" and The Weeknd 's song "Heartless" draw heavy inspiration from the 1998 film. Japanese electronicore band Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas is named after the book and film.
What did Woods say about Thompson?
About Thompson, Woods said he "trusts the authority of his senses, and the clarity of a brain poised between brilliance and burnout". In any event, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas became a benchmark in American literature about U.S. society in the early 1970s. In Billboard magazine, Chris Morris said, "Through Duke and Gonzo's drug-addled ...
Why did Duke call it a failed experiment?
He called it a failed experiment because he originally intended to record every detail of the Las Vegas trip as it happened , and then publish the raw, unedited notes; however, he revised it during the spring and summer of 1971. For example, the novel describes Duke attending the motorcycle race and the narcotics convention in a few days' time; the actual events occurred a month apart. Later, he wrote, "I found myself imposing an essentially fictional framework on what began as a piece of straight/crazy journalism".
How long did Thompson spend alone in Las Vegas?
Thompson wrote that he concluded their March trip by spending some 36 hours alone in a hotel room "feverishly writing in my notebook" about his experiences. These writings became the genesis of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream.
Where did the Buffalo Roam based on?
Art Linson 's 1980 film Where the Buffalo Roam starring Bill Murray and Peter Boyle is based on a number of Thompson's stories, including Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas . In 1989, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was almost made by director Terry Gilliam ...
What is the movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas about?
It was co-written and directed by Terry Gilliam, and stars Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro as Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, respectively. The film details the duo's journey through Las Vegas as their initial ...
When did Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas debut?
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas debuted at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival and Gilliam said, "I'm curious about the reaction... If I'm going to be disappointed, it's because it doesn't make any waves, that people are not outraged."
Who played Duke in Fear and Loathing?
John Malkovich was later considered for the role of Duke, but he grew too old as well. At one point John Cusack was almost cast (Cusack had previously directed the play version of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, with his brother playing Duke).
Is Fear a Rorschach test?
Andrew Johnston, writing in Time Out New York, observed: " Fear is really a Rorschach test of a movie – some people will see a godawful mess, rendered inaccessible by the stumbling handheld camera and Depp's nearly incomprehensible narration. Others will see a freewheeling comedy, a thinking person's Cheech and Chong film. It all depends on your mood, expectations and state of mind (for the record, I was stone sober and basically enjoyed myself)."
Is Fear and Loathing realistic?
Gilliam said in an interview that his films are actor-led, the performance of the two characters in Fear and Loathing is hyper realistic but truthful: "I am interested in real people in bizarre, twisted environments that force them to act... to react against."
Who is the author of Fear and Loathing?
Horatio Alger and the American Dream form an ongoing motif throughout Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Alger was a 19th century American novelist who is best known for his stories about young boys working hard to lift themselves out of poverty. His work is often associated with the concept of the 'American Dream' because his heroes are rewarded for their hard work with happy nuclear families and a solid place in the middle class.
What is the parallel between the American military and the decadence of Vegas?
Duke points out the parallel between the American military and the decadence of Vegas: "A gold mine like Vegas breeds its own army, like any other gold mine. Hired muscle tends to accumulate in fast layers around money/power poles ... and big money, in Vegas, is synonymous with the power to protect it" (156).
Why does Thompson use the news?
Thompson often uses the news as a way to remind both the reader and his characters about what is happening in the world beyond Duke's drug-addled escapist narrative. Even Duke admits that he is looking for " news of the outside world, but ... the newspaper racks made a bad joke of that notion... They don't need the [Los Angeles] Times in Vegas. No news is good news (157)."
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Great fuckin' movie! Got to add some points that have been missed: based on real events while Hunter S Thompson was supposed to be covering the Mint 400 (not filming it) - it was originally supposed to be a Sports Illustrated caption, not a book on the American Dream written in pure Gonzo journalism.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
An groundbreaking novel with the full title - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream. Authored by Hunter S. Thompson, illustrated by Ralph Steadman. The novel first appeared as a two-part series in Rolling Stone magazine in 1971. Journalist Raoul Duke and attorney Dr.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
"He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man ."
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
An...entertaining movie about an attorney and a writer ( Benicio Del Toro and Johnny Depp) and them basically in a giant drug binge w/ every drug you can think of (except weed).
Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas
An amazing electrocore/ trancecore band from Kobe, Japan. Formed in 2008, they have six members: So - Clean vocals/programming. Minami - Scream vocals/keyboards. Ma$hu - Bass guitar. Taiki - Guitar. Sxun - Guitar. Tomonori - Drums.
Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas
Best movie in the world. Superbly acted. Johnny Depp is awesome-so is Benecio DelToro.
Violence
Violence pervades Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Ironically, Duke frequently discusses the literal and figurative brutality of the police and the capitalist system. However,over the course of the narrative, Duke and his attorney indulge in a great deal of violent behavior themselves.
The End of the 1960s
Hunter S. Thompson was an active voice in the 1960s counterculture, and his alter ego Raoul Duke appears to have been swept up in it as well. Duke reminisces fondly about the period’s idealism, creativity, and his peers' eagerness to explore new ideas and ways of living.
Psychoactive Drugs
Duke and his attorney are heavy users of all kinds of drugs, but they demonstrate a preference for psychedelics such as LSD and mescaline. These drugs alter the user’s perception of reality, and the two men see these substances as enabling the ultimate escape from a troubling world.
The American Dream
As suggested by the text’s subtitle, Duke’s quest to understand the American Dream drives his decisions throughout his Las Vegas journey. He does not accept the traditional version of the American Dream—that is, hard-earned capitalist success, which he believes to be a dated and undesirable goal.
Hypocrisy
Almost every character in Fear and Loathing demonstrates some degree of hypocrisy, which Duke believes to be an inevitable part of the human condition. Although Duke generally supports the social movements of the 1960s, he shows little regard for his fellow man over the course of the novel.
Capitalism
Duke sees Las Vegas as the embodiment of unfettered capitalism, an unrestricted orgy of wealth and self-indulgence. Although he is critical of capitalist values, he tries to approach the city with an open mind in hopes that it might offer him insight about how to achieve the American Dream.
Culture Wars
The 1960s saw the emergence of a modern iteration of the American ‘culture wars.' Duke sympathizes heavily with the left-wing counterculture, but he recognizes that there is unnecessary vitriol on both sides. For example, Duke's attorney harasses the Oklahoma tourists based solely on their license plate and their ‘square’ appearance.
Overview
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream is a 1971 novel by Hunter S. Thompson and illustrated by Ralph Steadman. The book is a roman à clef, rooted in autobiographical incidents. The story follows its protagonist, Raoul Duke, and his attorney, Dr. Gonzo, as they descend on Las Vegas to chase the American Dream through a drug-induced haze, all th…
Origins
The novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is based on two trips to Las Vegas, Nevada, that Hunter S. Thompson took with attorney and Chicano activist Oscar Zeta Acosta in March and April 1971. The first trip resulted from an exposé Thompson was writing for Rolling Stone magazine about the Mexican-American television journalist Rubén Salazar, whom officers of the Los Angeles County S…
Plot
The basic synopsis revolves around journalist Raoul Duke (Hunter S. Thompson) and his attorney, Dr. Gonzo (Oscar Zeta Acosta), as they arrive in Las Vegas in 1971 to report on the Mint 400 motorcycle race for an unnamed magazine. However, this job is repeatedly obstructed by their constant use of a variety of recreational drugs, including LSD, ether, cocaine, alcohol, mescaline, adrenochrome, and cannabis. This leads to a series of bizarre hallucinogenic experiences, durin…
The "wave speech"
The "wave speech" is an important passage at the end of the eighth chapter that captures the hippie zeitgeist and its end. Thompson often cited this passage during interviews, choosing it when asked to read aloud from the novel.
Strange memories on this nervous night in Las Vegas. Five years later? Six? It seems like a lifetime, or at least a Main Era—the kind of peak that never comes again. San Francisco in the mi…
Title
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is Thompson's most famous work, and is known as Fear and Loathing for short; however, he later used the phrase "Fear and Loathing" in the titles of other books, essays, and magazine articles.
Moreover, "Fear and Loathing", as a phrase, has been used by many writers, the first (possibly) being Friedrich Nietzsche in The Antichrist. In a Rolling Stone magazine interview, Thompson said…
Reactions to the novel
When it was published in fall of 1971 many critics did not like the novel's loose plot and the scenes of drug use; however, some reviewers predicted that Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas would become an important piece of American literature.
In The New York Times, Christopher Lehmann-Haupt told readers to not "even bother" trying to understand the novel, and that "what goes on in these pages make[s] Lenny Bruce seem angelic"; …
As a work of gonzo journalism
In the book The Great Shark Hunt, Thompson refers to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as "a failed experiment in the gonzo journalism" he practiced, which was based on William Faulkner's idea that "the best fiction is far more true than any kind of journalism—and the best journalists have always known this". Thompson's style blended the techniques of fictional story-telling and journalism.
He called it a failed experiment because he originally intended to record every detail of the Las V…
Changes in the book version
The original version of the novel was published in Rolling Stone magazine under the byline "Raoul Duke". The book was published with Thompson's name as the author.
In chapter 8 of part I, Thompson tells a story about his neighbor, "a former acid guru who later claimed to have made that long jump from chemical frenzy to preternatural consciousness". In the Rolling Stone article the neighbor was identified as "Dr. Robert De Ropp on Sonoma Mountain Ro…