The Stanislavski Method is rarely used in Journalism. It clashes too much with ideals and constructions like Objectivity and Truth. But on this grim morning, at this ungodly hour, it is the only path to academic completion that harbours any sanctuary for the lowlife task I still have to complete.
In 14 days, or by the 19th of November, I have to start, finish and edit a thesis concerning the life and works of Hunter S. Thompson.
Writing any extended piece of academic writing is a prolonged and arduous task. Just look at the poor fools from the Baby Boomer generation who are now completing doctorates. They suffer for four or five years, putting up with endless re-writes, so they can chortle on campaign and proclaim themselves as “the REAL Dr. so-and-so”, giggling with bubbly delight at the distain of those who “only call themselves Dr. because they’ve got a medical degree.”
These midlife-warriors have fought their way through the academic sewer and come out smelling like roses in an effort to solidify their self worth and gain the begrudging respect of their workmates. The academic world is a cut-throat business, but no one can argue once you call yourself “Dr.”
The point of this blog is to act as a safety net for the dismal abomination of writing that I have laid out before me. In writing the study of Dr Hunter S. Thomson, it serves as an imperative to get as truly Gonzo as I can. I will be writing with fear, under pressure and with my back pinned firmly to the wall. So should my academic discourse fall flatly into madness - at leat I’ll have documented proof of the whole, bloody disaster. In an era where any grant with the words “New Media” in the title gets more money thrown at it than state education I figure the time is right to get funky and weird. There’ll be spelling/grammatical/moral mistakes but is you stick with this it should at least be interesting.
As HST said, “When the going gets Weird, the Weird turn Pro.” But I’m turning to Blogging because I’ve got nowhere else to go.
-H-
