Writing assignment: Gonzo Journalism

He was outside wokingham train station at about midday. He had a firm handshake and a relatively trusting voice as he said his greetings. He was dressed in a greay suit with a stripey gray tie. It looked a little cheap. He was also carrying a black case with a silver handle that looked rather old. He led me from the station down the road. While passing, the 12:31 to Reading had just pulled in. An idiot decided it would be a good idea to psuedo-heroically get across the level crossing while a train was at the station. Luckily for him it went the other way.

Walking from the station i asked mark about the current day. He had not been up to alot. He mentioned he had just released his manifesto on his website. Lots of people had apparently commented on it. "Some comments were good and some were bad" said Mark. "However, as a new politician that is expected." Another train went the other direction. It was the 12:36 to London Waterloo. The train had excessive graffiti on it. One drawing stated "cunt". It dictated a feel of anger and oppression. Mark commented that it was "disgusting".

Upon walking into town, he was harrassed by passers by. They were mainly women in their middle thirties. They said that his attempt at politics was futile. MArk ignored them but looked at the with a degree of sinicism and hate. He walked proud with his head held high. His steps were jagged, as if stumbling. The stony road was not the most even of things. It looked more like a crevis than a pathway. He crossed the road infront of a blue ford fiesta. It was one of those boy-racer types that cost about five pence to make. It had loud drum and base projecting out of the window.

He waved me into Cafe Nero. Lots of people recognised him. Some of the people were young kids that did not know who he was. He waved at them, and they nervously waved back. They seemed friendly. There was an old couple sat in the corner who also waved. Their wave included a happy smile which Mark reciprocated. He approached the counter. They employee asked what he would like. He was obviously a fan. They discussed the current political standings and asked what Mark thought the election outcome would be. Mark was certain it would be a hung parliament. The employee looked confused. He must not have had enough political intelligence to understand what was happening. MArk ordered a black coffee like it was all that he drunk in there. Lo and behold, it was his first ever visit to Cafe Nero. He said "it is important for a politician to be comfortable in all situations and surroundings". Another customer overheard and snarlled. Mark sat down in the middle of the room. Mark seemed to sink into the soft leather sofa as he gently sipped his coffee. He spoke of his current standings and his excitement for the election. He was sure he would not win a majority in wokingham, but he was confident in gaining some votes. His hand gestures were just as he spoke, conveying a positive and confident attitude towards anyone who took interest in his views.

About half way through his coffee, he was approached by another human. A tall man also dressed in a suit, but alot more groomed than Mark was. They spoke professionally about current affairs. However, there was a sense of tention between the two. The smartly dressed man turned out to be John Redwood. Wokinghams conservative representative. They continued to speak between themselves until Redwood departed with a sompetative handshake. Mark continued to sip at his coffee still discussing wokinghams future. He spoke of the development of a shopping centre and how he thought it would destroy the towns pub-managed economy. He said that getting rid of a pub in wokingham is like taking away steering from a car. It will go all over the place.

MArk finished his coffee with a refreshing breath. He left the premises and strolled into the heart of town. Outside the town hall he spoke to the mayor. The MAyor wished him good luck in his future endevour and parted with a firm handshake. He walked around the back of Iceland. He spoke of the day and said he had buisness to attend to. He enetered his car. It was quite a nice car for a politician, however he also owns a large company known as Trademark Windows. He drove a jet black Lexus which was highly polished.

He drove off with vigilance around the corner and left view. Walking home there were people talking about Mark.Mainly elderly ladies that mentionned that they saw him. When asked, they said that they wont vote for him because it would be a waste. He is not one of the main parties so it would be a waste. MArk was pleasant but lacked reality in what he was doing. He was not convinced that he wouldnt succeed. Still, His courage has led him to become a well known figure in Wokingham's society. It is a local town therefore everyone knows everyone. He was a pleasant man.

New journalism

In brief, New journalism was the introduction of literary techniques in reporting. Punny headlines we are so used to now are a result of Tom Wolfe's journalism. It brings flare and with certain linguistic techniques can also influence you.

Using onomatopoeia, like in Wolfe's book "The electric kool-aid acid test", can become catchy to a reader, cause imagery and make readers imagine things that they might not wish to, subconciously giving them ideas and views.

Headlines are not the only thing. Even in the reports themselves tom wolfe would use linguistic techniques such as alliteration, to grab the readers and make them read on. Readers subconciously submit to linguistic techniques without knowing which allows journalists to subliminally influence people, hence the great success of the Journalistic media nowadays.

Background of the Sexual Revolution

The sexual revolution was profoundly involved with the hippie culture of "free love" in the 60's - 70's. They believed that sex was a biological phenomenon and thus, lots of stonned orgies occured. Its background can go as far back as The Enlightenment (marquis de sade) and can even be traced back to the victorian era. You could look at it with the jacobean period also with the uprise of the Radical, diggers and levellers.

It is definately not a "holy thing" seeing as it the sexual revolution was at the time of the disregarding of christian power.

The mass media helped a great deal. Most americans now had television and decent radio, so the popularity of the "free love" culture was broadcasted world wide so people all over the world could be influenced by what they see and hear. The fact that few people owned these media outlets, meant that their views could be put into place (similar to the political swings of newspapers noweadays).

The introduction of the pill made contraception easy, so people were increasingly able to have free unprotected sex without the consequences of bastard children. Condoms were also mass produced.

And here comes frued!! Hearts for phycoanalysis. The whole oedipus complex arrose with children apparently wanting to shag their parents. The oedipus complex describes this. Oedipus's father gained a prophecy that his son would eventually kill him and marry his mother. After Oedipus was left in the forest to die, he returned, killed his father (which he didnt know) and married his mother. O dear.

William riech was also important to this. Mysteries of the organism was a revolutionary film and invoked the breaking down of "body armor" to cause "orgasm reflex" which linking to frued, braught back happy childhood memories, maybe causing desire for their parents.

All is prevalent to the sexual revolution as sex was seen as a way to break away from the boundries of society and power and was a leading factor for the 60's and 70's "free love"