[(left to right) Sean Penn, Kate del Castillo, and Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán]
On January 16th on 60 Minutes, Sean Penn defended the October 2015 secret interview he and actress Kate del Castillo conducted with Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, later published on January 8th in Rolling Stone the day after Mexican officials announced the capture of El Chapo.
In the 60 Minutes interview, Charlie Rose questioned Penn’s motivation for offering the story of an outlaw fugitive with blood on his hands, suggesting Penn was more interested in self-aggrandizement than furthering a meaningful discussion on drug and addiction policies:
Rose: What about those who say, “This is his [Penn’s] ego. He likes being in the center of this. He– he’s an adventurer. He thinks of himself as a writer in the tradition of Hunter Thompson with a kind of experiential quality to him.” Do you accept any of that? . . .
Penn: No, they’re not right.
Not wanting to be characterized as a modern day Hunter Thompsonesque Gonzo journalist, Penn describes his approach instead as “experiential journalism.” In the case of El Chapo, Penn says his purpose was simply to experience in depth Guzman as another human being. Penn added that he has ‘terrible regret’ that he himself may have became the story rather than the debate on “policy of the war on drugs.”
While the whir on the internet as to whether Penn successfully wore Hunter’s mantle was fascinating, the real point — if you got this far — is explain to those who wonder: what is Talker about and would I want to participate?
While drawing attention to important community issues in which accuracy is paramount, the magazine is actually, in a way, gonzo for everyone.
A very good definition of gonzo journalism is:
An energetic first-person participatory writing style in which the author is a protagonist, drawing its power from a combination of social critique and self-satire.
(see examples below) In a less dramatic form, the latest related journalism buzzword term is In Real Life engagement
Gonzo (or experiential or In Real Life) for everyone means people create and contribute their own Rochester stories — in which you can play a starring role (or not). And by doing so, build another community space for conversations digital that can lead to conversations virtual.
So far we have a fair amount of readers. But not really enough writers to be sustainable long term. So maybe that writer is you. Or someone you know.
BELOW ARE SOME GONZO OR IRL ARTICLES. THE FIRST ONES ARE THE MOST RECENT
Guys, dolls and apples at the Writers and Books Scavenger Hunt for Rochester Reads
Stalker of the Town plays Jack the Ripper at the Rochester Candlelight Ghost Walk
MY OWN ADVENTURE IN THE JUNGLES OF PERU IN LAND THREATENED BY DRUG PIN KINGS
