HST 344 Tom Wolfe’s “Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test” Essay for the course “The Automobile and American Life"

This extra credit essay assignment is due at class time on November 30th. 

In Tom Wolfe’s Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, the author accompanies the ‘Merry Pranksters’ as they ride across the country in the bus they named ‘Furthur’. Write a detailed essay of no less than 1,500 words in which you answer each of the following questions, and that includes an introduction and conclusion that tie your answers to each part together into a whole.

1. Who were Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters?  What was the wider historical context in which they came together?

2. In 1964 the group embarked on a journey across the country in a refitted school bus.  Where were they going?  What happened along the route? 

3. What were the Prankster’s trying to do on the journey and as a group?  How did the bus fit into that?

4. How did Wolfe characterize the group?  Consider the way that the journey was classically American? 

5. Discuss the impact you think the group and their journey had on American culture?

The essay must have a cover page, be typed in Times Roman 12pt font, double spaced, with one-inch margins, use single spaced indented blocks whenever quoting passages of over 3 lines. It must also include references, page numbers, and list the essay word count in backets, like this [1,821], following the last period of the essay. Failure to follow these instructions will negatively impact your grade. 

You will be graded on: A) STYLE & FORM: How well you follow instructions. The degree to which you answer each of the questions. The effectiveness of your writing style and organization. B) ARGUMENT:  How well you create an overarching argument. This includes clearly stating the argument in the introduction and explain your findings implications in the conclusion. C) USE OF HISTORY: The degree of detail and historical facts you muster during your essay. D) THOUGHTFULLNESS:  The quality of the insight you display in your thesis and argument.

 

Some Notes to Help

In 1964 there were 15 members of the ‘Merry Band of Pranksters’ that traveled on the bus across the country. 

1. Ken Kesey (The Chief, Captain Flag, or Swashbuckler), author (1935-2001)
2. Neal Cassady (Sir Speed Limit), driver (eastbound), author (1926-1968)
3. Cathy Casamo (Stark Naked), actress, girlfriend of Larry Hankin
4. Ron Bevirt (Hassler), photographer (1939-)
5. Ken Babbs (Intrepid Traveler), author, boyfriend of Paula Sundsten (1939-)
6. John Babbs (Sometimes Missing), Ken Babbs' older brother (1937-2012)
7. Jane Burton (Generally Famished), Stanford philosophy professor, pregnant at the time
8. Sandy Lehmann-Haupt (Dis-Mount), sound engineer (1942-2001)
9. Paula Sundsten (Gretchen Fetchin or Slime Queen), girlfriend of Ken Babbs
10. Mike Hagen (Mal Function), cameraman
11. George Walker (Hardly Visible)
12. Steve Lambrecht (Zonker), businessman (1942-1998)
13. Chuck Kesey (Brother Charlie), Ken's brother
14. Dale Kesey (Highly Charged), Ken's cousin, “bus chaplain”
15. Linda Breen (Anonymous), a 14 year old runaway who hopped on in Canada during the original trip

Others joined that journey at various points, and in later trips taken by the group.  They also visited lots of people.