Philippine E-Journals

BONFlRE, THE NEW JOURNALISM, AND BIG BAD TOM WOLFE

John Mcniff | Nancy Lurie

Discipline: Journalism

 

Abstract:

American writers have long been associated with suffering for their art. They are presumed to 'ache, burn, hunger, punish, brood, and rail.' The days of the ideal American writer of the likes of Fitzgerald and Hemingway are over; Tom Wolfe does not suffer for his work but instead 'watches, chuckles, cavorts, rebels, and pisses people off.' (Grunwald 149) It is this attitude of rebellion that has enabled Tom Wolfe to remain a literally and critical success for more than a quarter of a century.   Tom Wolfe's work, writing style and personal style is the manifestation of the American rebel. The uniqueness of his style can be seen in the titles of his works alone: The Kondy-Kolond Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby, Radical Chic & Mau·Mauing the Flak-Catchers, 'The Me Decade and the Third Great Awakening,' and The Right Stuff.