Hunter S Thompson
Patrick O’Connor
Professor Wheeler
English 105.48
23 October 2007
A True American Icon Throughout the years America has had many symbolic icons that have influenced its change. In the late 20th century one man by the name of Hunter S. Thompson made a big impact on American society. Hunter S. Thompson with his writings, satirical humor, and his strong political beliefs caused changes in our society. Through his journalism he criticized society on topics from consumerism to politics. He fought desperately for civil liberties and encouraged people to vote and get involved. American culture has always been influecened by great people who were not recognized for war or saving peoples lives but for fighting for better funding for schools and for civil rights. Although Hunter S. Thompson never fought in any wars he was a American icon for helping the innocent and making people think for themselves. Hunter S. Thompson is best known as Johnny Depp’s character Duke in the film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. In this movie, based on Hunter S. Thompson’s book, Duke comes to terms with the failure of the cultural movement of the 60’s. Duke realizes that the movement from the 60’s to the 70’s lost its innocence and purpose. No one cared about civil rights or the war or Nixon anymore. The sense of achievement and that they were right was long gone. The movement just turned into an excuse to cause riots to loot
O’Connor 2 and to do drugs. In the book Duke and his semolina lawyer are reckless and destroy many mainstream cultural consumer icons. They wreck hotel rooms and destroy cars almost to mock how materialistic the people in America really are. They criticize consumers and take advantage of many people in the book. In Las Vegas they try to search for the American dream but by the end of the movie they end up like most people in Las Vegas trying to achieve the same thing, broke in a dinner and a realization occurs that the American dream is not for everyone. What
Professor Wheeler
English 105.48
23 October 2007
A True American Icon Throughout the years America has had many symbolic icons that have influenced its change. In the late 20th century one man by the name of Hunter S. Thompson made a big impact on American society. Hunter S. Thompson with his writings, satirical humor, and his strong political beliefs caused changes in our society. Through his journalism he criticized society on topics from consumerism to politics. He fought desperately for civil liberties and encouraged people to vote and get involved. American culture has always been influecened by great people who were not recognized for war or saving peoples lives but for fighting for better funding for schools and for civil rights. Although Hunter S. Thompson never fought in any wars he was a American icon for helping the innocent and making people think for themselves. Hunter S. Thompson is best known as Johnny Depp’s character Duke in the film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. In this movie, based on Hunter S. Thompson’s book, Duke comes to terms with the failure of the cultural movement of the 60’s. Duke realizes that the movement from the 60’s to the 70’s lost its innocence and purpose. No one cared about civil rights or the war or Nixon anymore. The sense of achievement and that they were right was long gone. The movement just turned into an excuse to cause riots to loot
O’Connor 2 and to do drugs. In the book Duke and his semolina lawyer are reckless and destroy many mainstream cultural consumer icons. They wreck hotel rooms and destroy cars almost to mock how materialistic the people in America really are. They criticize consumers and take advantage of many people in the book. In Las Vegas they try to search for the American dream but by the end of the movie they end up like most people in Las Vegas trying to achieve the same thing, broke in a dinner and a realization occurs that the American dream is not for everyone. What
Cited: Thompson, Hunter. Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail `72. Warner: New York NY, 1973.