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Hunter
S. Thompson commits suicide
Hunter
S. Thompson, renegade gonzo journalist and
inspiration, appears to have shot himself
in the head on Saturday. The journalistic
icon, despite his substance-loaded lifestyle,
seemed as if he would never die. The news
came as a shock to fans.
Thompson
was famous for his writing, including "Fear
and Loathing in Las Vegas," adopted
from an article in Rolling Stone magazine,
back in 1971. This narrative was later transformed
into a film, with Johnny Depp playing Thompson's
alter ego and narrator, Raoul Duke. Many
attempting to be cool copied his character's
style, sporting oversized sunglasses and
a contemptuous smirk formed around a cigarette.
Even now, people dress up as Raoul Duke
for Halloween.
After
the success of "Fear and Loathing in
Las Vegas," Thompson covered the 1972
presidential campaign in a style no other
journalist could get away with.
His
"Fear and Loathing on the Campaign
Trail" brought forth his anger at the
system and ire at power abuse. His writing
was the most poignant in the '70s but his
wit and talent brought Thompson to iconic
status.
"Hell's
Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga,"
in which Thompson rode with the Angels in
all their glory, brought the motorcycle
gang into America's homes. The way he immersed
himself in the lifestyle of the Angels was
different from any other reporting at the
time. He definitely did not make an effort
to retain a separation between the reporter
and subject.
His
yearlong immersion into their lifestyle
brought an intimacy to the story and more
truth than could ever be shared otherwise.
He was able to sympathize and understand
the Angels enough to write a true account
that showed America what the Angels were
really like.
Thompson
has inspired journalists to submerge themselves
recklessly in their subjects.
He
influenced a generation of counter-culture
writers. Many have tried to imitate his
daredevil style, getting plastered before
heading out to cover a story. And though
many have attempted, none have succeeded
as well as Thompson in writing a masterpiece
while completely tanked. Somehow, Thompson's
raw talent shone through no matter what
substance kicked in while he was on the
job. He was an excellent writer.
For
a man who shared his thoughts with the world,
he kept his family life extremely private.
His father died while Thompson was in high
school. Before graduation, Thompson was
arrested once for robbery and spent a month
in a correctional facility; he next joined
the Air Force. While in the Air Force he
studied journalism at Columbia University
in New York. He also worked as editor of
the Eglin Air Force Base newsletter. He
later wrote for The Nation magazine. Thompson
enjoyed guns, and reportedly threatened
to shoot all trespassers. Neighbors told
the Denver Post they commonly heard gunshots
from his property, where he had a shooting
range.
His
drug and alcohol use fueled his offbeat
ramblings, but as he told USA Today in 1990,
"obviously, my drug use is exaggerated
or I would be long since dead."
"The
Rum Diary" was the work that inspired
our Opinion editor to make her way into
journalism. It is immensely sad that such
an artist died, as many talents do, through
suicide, but we will not forget that his
works, along with his wife, son and grandson,
live on.
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