VIVA LAS VEGAS

First off, Las Vegas is crazy enough. I can't imagine thinking about being in a trip while walking down the strip. Anyways, this book was insane. The movie was insane but it seems to be a cult classic so I was interested to see how it would fit with our curriculum. So let's talk about this American Dream, shall we? Personally, I'm quite tired about hearing and talking around the American Dream. Isn't anyone else? Hello, we aren't talking about The Great Gatsby!! I honestly don't know what Thompson was saying about the American dream but here's my guess... The biggest criticism is consumerism and over indulgence. What a better setting than LAS VEGAS. If this was set in, I don't know, Oklahoma, it would not have the same effect. The version of the America Dream that we know is hard work pays in the end, be moral, and a better future for your children (common for immigrant first generations). In Vegas, you can be a damn millionaire if you play your cards right, pun very much intended. It doesn't matter if you're a lowlife, a terrible mother or father, an orphan, a janitor, or an executive. You can win big and you can win big fast! I've been to Vegas and have seen people win. It gets pretty crazy but it's possible!!! I think Thompson stressed the fact on how important money is. We need money to buy what we need and if we are given more money we buy s*** that we don't need. This then overshadows the whole moral undertone that is often accompanied with the American Dream perceptions. We see this in celebrities too. I'm talking more specifically like "normal" people who make it big and change who they are to fit into that world.

Again, this is what I took out of Fear and Loathing. Anyone else agree with me?