ABSTRACT
Hunter S. Thompson remains a cult figure, though his brand of toxic masculinity might not guarantee the survival of that status for long. The homage he receives in Alex Gibney's documentary Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (2008) is unlikely to be repeated in decades to come, at least without a more critical stance. In contrast, James Baldwin's essays on race have been attracting a new readership for him in the 21st century because of the urgent, wide-ranging debate on race issues in America. Raoul Peck's Oscar-nominated portrayal of James Baldwin in I Am Not Your Negro (2016) celebrates the author from this perspective, but shows little interest in his queer sexuality and approach to gender. The chapter discusses thus how whereas Gibney's documentary subtly undermines Thompson's gonzo persona by siding with the less positive judgments, Peck endorsed a traditional model of heterosexual black heroism by subordinating and silencing Baldwin's queer sexuality. Neither portrait is, then, fully satisfactory.
