Gonzo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the Muppet, see Gonzo (Muppet). For the Japanese animation studio, see GONZO.

Gonzo is a style of reportage, filmmaking, or any form of multimedia production in which the reporter, filmmaker or author is intrinsically enmeshed with the subject action (rather than being a passive observer). The style was popularized by Hunter S. Thompson.

[edit] Origin

The term "Gonzo" is often misattributed to Hunter S. Thompson, but was in fact first used by Boston Globe reporter Bill Cardoso, who, after reading Thompson's The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved, proclaimed "That is pure Gonzo!" (According to Cardoso, 'Gonzo' is South Boston Irish slang describing the last man standing after a drinking marathon.^[1] However, this usage is more likely inspired by the 1960 hit song Gonzo by New Orleans R&B keyboardist James Booker.) Thompson would instigate events himself, often in a prankish or belligerent manner, and then document both his actions and those of others. The term has also come into (sometimes pejorative) use to describe journalism (or generally any writing) that is broadly in the vein of Thompson's writing, characterized by a drug-fueled stream of consciousness technique.

Iroguru 22:26, 12 December 2006 (UTC)=="Objectivity is a myth"==

A modification of one of Thompson's original Gonzo flyers during his bid for sheriff of Aspen, Colorado.

Gonzo also occurs when an author cannot remove himself from the subject he investigates. In some cases -- such as tornado chasing, wherein most documenting is done by the person driving the car and holding the camera -- the gonzo element is inherent. In most other cases, however, it is a deliberate and voluntary choice of the journalist, or the media firm for which he or she works. Thompson felt that objectivity in journalism was a myth. The term has now become a bona-fide style of writing that concerns itself with 'telling it like it is', not far from the New Journalism practiced by Tom Wolfe and Terry Southern. Nowadays Gonzo is very popular as a pornographic niche. John Stagliano is considered to have started the Gonzo pornography genre with his Buttman series of films. Ben Dover brought it to Europe, where Handyman sex introduced it in The Netherlands.

Florida-based consultant Brian Smith, dubbed "The Guro of Gonzo" by his clients, coined the phrase "Gonzo Management" to describe a style of management which pushes the envelope and challenges conventional wisdom.