How far can a Gonzo walk?
lately I have more about Gonzo journalism and read more Gonzo styled works to be able to wrap my head around what Gonzo journalism is. So far I think I’m starting to understand the essence of the style and able to sum it up in a very short paragraph.
From what I’ve read I understand Gonzo journalism to be not about the topic about the story, but what happened during your time researching and what you experienced at that time. In other words, if I’m to write about the latest and hippest tea room in town I don’t directly write about the tea room itself and the tea; I write about what happens to me during my trip to the tea room, what I do and see at the tea room and maybe what happens when I leave.
I’ve had a few tries at adding the Gonzo style to my writing, and I hope I’m heading in the right direction; but I’m still not pleased with my latest article attempts. I might be adding the missing exaggeration, but I feel I’m coming off a bit angry. Of course, I can’t deny that as of late fellow vegans are starting to piss me off; but enough about that.
Is there a limit though when it comes to Gonzo writing? How far can and should you go? Again, from what I understand so far, there is no limit. You do whatever it takes to get the story. As long as you have a story, that is what matters.
In general writing there is always some type of limit you have to keep an eye on. For a while now I have kind of advertised that my blogging is based on my own personal observations. So how far can you go when telling about people what you observe and your opinion about what you observed? Personally I feel you really don’t have a limit. The limit is probably when it crosses over to defamation, but even then the line is clear as mud.
I’ve mentioned a few times I advocate privacy; but if I do that, how can I find it acceptable to post things I see? Personally I feel that line is clear as mud too. I do whatever I can to protect my privacy and educate people who we might not have any privacy anymore. Sill, I understand that what you put forth publicly, you can’t really complain about a breach of privacy of whatever. I’m aware that posting this article and posting things in Twitter is accessible by everyone in the world.
It’s very simple, what you don’t want to be public you keep for yourself.
Peace…
