Monday, October 11, 2010

Research Outline

 I. Introduction
A.Dr. Lloyd's feelings about movies-what good?
1.His personal favorite- Jane Austen
B.How much are students gaining from videos vs. reading the real thing?
C.Introduction of Weinstein's article- movies
D.Why this matters- introduce issue of gonzo writing and attempts to remake experiences in film

II.Lester Bangs
A.Role in gonzo
B.Effects he had on culture
1.Why he is remembered today
2.His general subject matter
C.Why he became the subject of a movie
*-*
III.Hunter S. Thompson
A.Role in gonzo
B.Effects he had on culture
1.Why he is remembered today
2.His general subject matter
C.Why his writing became the subject of a movie
 *-*

IV.Movie renditions
A.Almost Famous
1.How truthful?
2.How embellished?
3.How Gonzo?
B.Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
1.How truthful?
2.How embellished?
3.How Gonzo?

V.Why do we care?
A.Conclusion

(*-*) =still trying to decide if I want to put authors with their movies, or do authors, then movies (as shown)



Sources:

Atton, Chris.  "Living in the Past'?: Value Discourses in Progressive Rock Fanzines."   Popular Music, Vol. 20, No. 1 (Jan., 2001), pp. 29-46.  Web.
Atton's article will give a valuable frame of reference for Bangs' work.  Although Hunter did not cover the music scene, Bangs wrote for several critical music publications, and this article should provide a critique of those critiques.  Bangs' articles were published in Creem mostly, but he was also featured in Rolling Stone and a couple of other publications.  This will hopefully not lean too far into the music side and will give an unbiased review of Bangs' reviews. 


Bangs, Lester, ed. John Morthland.  Mainlines, blood feasts, and bad taste: a Lester Bangs reader.  Google books.  http://tiny.cc/8bxzt.  Web.
This book by Bangs will provide good background for his style and range of thinking in the same way that Thompson's books provide background.  I will use this as a reference for Bangs' frame of reference as a musician, critic and writer.

Carroll, E. Jean.  Hunter: The strange and savage life of Hunter S. Thompson.  Plume: New York, 1993. 
After reading only the first chapter of this book, I see that Carroll has attempted to write a biographical type of book about Thompson in gonzo style; her style is satirical and entertaining, not sparing information but fixating on what some may consider the rude or obscene.  Throughout the book, Carroll includes statements from friends and family members, giving the reader a better idea of Thompson, where he came from and how he developed.  Also, Carroll’s style will help to reinforce the gonzo tradition.

DeRogatis, Jim.  Let it Blurt: The Life and Times of Lester Bangs, America’s Greatest Rock Critic.  Broadway Books, New York: 2000. 
This book provides background information about Bangs, his childhood, adolescent years and adulthood.  DeRogatis includes extensive notes and appendixes that will further aid my research by reassuring the thoroughness of his.  The book also includes a section of selected lyrics that will give insight into his writing as well.

Hirst, Dr. Martin.  “What is Gonzo? The etymology of an Urban Legend.”  School of Journalism and Communication Publications, Queensland, Australia: 2004.
This journal/publication explores the beginning of gonzo journalism and its frontrunners, especially Hunter S. Thompson, but more importantly, it examines the beginning of the new style of writing itself- where it came from, how it originated, even how the name was founded and introduced.

IMDB.com
This website will be used for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Almost Famous by/about both authors.  In this section, I can find reviews, pertinent information about actors, actresses, directors and dates for the movies.  Of all internet movie sites, this is the most up-to-date and correct information I have found.  This may also lead to other review sites.


Kramer, Michael J.  “Can’t Forget the Motor Ciry”: Creem Magazine, Rock Music, Detroit Identity, Mass Consumerism and Counter Culture.””  Michigan Historical Review.  28.2, 42-77.  JSTOR.
Kramer writes about the magazine Creem and how Bangs contributed to its pages and content.  Because Creem formed the base from which Bangs jumped to go on to his career and why he was featured in the movie “Almost Famous”, I think this is an important source and viewpoint to include in research.

MacFarlane, Scott.  The Hippie Narrative: A Literary Perspective on the Counter Culture. MacFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, North Carolina: 2007. 
Thompson has not been selected for this book because of his hippie qualities or tendencies; instead, he is noted for gonzo journalism.  The new journalism movement was one of the ways that society was breaking free from prior constraints and hippies see Hunter’s writing as a continuation of that form.  Hunter’s writing also jives with some hippie standards because of his drug use; he not only used many drugs but wrote about them as a first person experience.

Tamony, Peter.  "Gonzo".  American Speech.  Vol. 58, No. 1 (Spring, 1983), pp. 73-75.  Web.
Once again, this article should give clarification for the idea of gonzo and why each author is part of the movement.  Due to the fact that gonzo (and writing styles in general) can have such mobile definitions, I think it is wise to include several sources for the definition and style ideas that characterize each.


Thompson, Hunter S.  Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Other American Stories.  Random House, Inc., New York: 1996.  
Only by reading Thompson’s writing can one get a true feeling of gonzo writing and the methods used to bring gonzo to life.  His original work will serve as a template on which to base my own opinions; I want to be able to critique how well the movie producers matched Thompson’s writing to the work they put on the screen.  Also, reading original work gives a better understanding of the man himself.

Thompson, Hunter S.  Fear and Loathing in America: The Brutal Odyssey of an Outlaw Journalist (1968-1976).  Simon and Schuster: New York, 2000. 
This collection of letters will be able to provide more insight into Thompson’s thoughts and feelings, rather than relying on what others believed he thought or felt.  This also includes extensive letters to political powers which will provide background information about Thompson’s thoughts and musings about the government.

Torrey, Beef and Kevin Simonson, ed.  Conversations with Hunter S. Thompson.  University Press of Mississippi, Jackson: 2008.
This source will be useful because it places Thompson in the genre of gonzo; not only does the book include conversations with and about Thompson and others that played a critical role in his development but also gives background and definition to the literary invention of gonzo and how that development fits with the larger creation of new journalism.

Weinstein, Paul B. "Movies as the Gateway to History: The History and Film Project." The History Teacher, Vol. 35, No. 1 (Nov., 2001), pp. 27-48.  Web.
This source will show what impact the films had for gonzo itself.  Although it is a blanket piece, Weinstein's article will help to show that there is an enormous correlation between the industries of writing, movies, music and history.  I believe this will help to show my point that information is spread faster and some reverence preserved with the making of a movie about these writers/pieces.  Also, more people are informed of the movement with this platform.



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