Gonzo Autoethnography: The Story of Monkey

Abstract

The present study explores the norms of community that are re/produced in the liminal leisure space of a formerly fan-organized music festival. Guided by the concept of communitas, we examined the manner in which fans attempted to exercise their agency in the construction of the weekend against the structure imposed by the promoters. To do this, we developed a creative analytic practice we call gonzo autoethnography, which draws inspiration from Hunter S. Thompson’s gonzo journalism and sheds any claim to objectivity to blend social critique and satire to tell the story of the phenomenon of interest. To do this, we rely on a totem from the music scene to embody the connections, concerns, and frustrations of the devoted fanbase. As such, this particular case offers leisure scholars an opportunity to explore the limitations of fans’ agency in affecting participation in meaningful leisure activities through a nontraditional lens.

Keywords:

• creative analytic practices
• leisure
• gonzo
• music

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1 If you are uncomfortable “smashing the box,” this story is not for you.

2 The pronouns “I” and “me” refer to the first author throughout.