The Hep Truth

The central tenant for the truth has remained obscured by our news-sources. Our recent histories best literature has been conjured from the depths of Newsprint. Media has boosted the careers of many well known authors. From the days of Mark Twain on a printing press to the pages of Rolling Stone, where both Hunter S. Thompson and Matt Taibbi were first shown off to the world, newspapers have always held the common man’s view. For a self education in the foundation and current evaluation of our subversive culture trough the eyes of the common man, we offer these three suggestions for your own Hip Bookshelf.

Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

More than a drug induced trip through American city of Capitalism, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” is a social review of the 70’s in the city that would come to define the time. Las Vegas is a much different place today, than in Hunter’s wild romp, but road maps still lead to the same location. More than social rant, the conversion of sport and authority in the city of sin reflected the madness of the mundane times. War raged on the other side of the world and here stood one wild reporter in the depths of the death of the American dream, on a self loathing, self indulgent trip. American changed the track of industry in the 70’s and, in a strange way, Hunter was there to witness the failure of the 60’s revolution in Moe Green’s desert.  Forget the hyper bolt, forget the exaggerated chemical imbalance, look for fragments of the truth and  remember the one who tends the light at the end of the tunnel is the same force to allow this tomb to be presented upon the world stage.

Spanking The Donkey

Spanking The Donkey

Matt Tiabbi is often proclaimed the “Modern day Hunter S. Thompson” and given the same beat by Rolling Stone did little to detour the title. Decades after Hunter’s “Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail” Matt Tiabbi took to the 2004 political election beat and produced “Spanking the Donkey” a autobiographical recount of his time. In the swell of the political campaign, Matt finds a rather dull environment. On the television screen, both parties call for all out war on each other but, on on the political circuit, nothing happens. Every day becomes the same speaking events that only change food spreads. Bullet points remain the same and the most honest politician has his character killed by the network news. Matt recounts the highlights and he leaves the reader to wonder where our pacified political system will leave us on the road to come.

The Truth

The Truth

Mark Twain was fond of the claim “I’ve read more fact in Fiction.”, I paraphrase here but have found his intent to be true. Terry Pratchett’s “The Truth” proves Twain’s notion. In a story of media and the subversion it brings, “The Truth” tells the tale of William de Worde, an aspiring newspaper man. William’s choice is looked down upon by his upper crust family and nefarious agents who would both like to see William out of business. Together, with a trusty assistant, a vampire photographer, and a faithful dog, William must discover the truth and set it free in Ankh-Morpork. “The Truth” is Terry Pratchett’s 25 Discworld novel but a knowledge of the entire body is not needed. Terry Pratchett write his tombs with a painter brush and comedians wit. And for someone who is known for a dislike of medieval fantasy, Terry Pratchett is a breath of fresh air. He is a poignant social commentator and a masterful story teller. Pick up a copy of “The Truth” and find out how much trouble the truth can bring.

In our three suggestions, we see a recount of the road that got us here from a man who saw the point where the great wave receded back to the coast. We hear of the current state of our media infused society and the gentrification it brings.  And we look into the fictional world to gleam a glimpse into how it all went wrong. If Pop Culture is History, then our newspapers print Pop Culture. For the future, we will need an understanding of the instruments to help save our society.