Tag: gonzo

April: Languages, Libraries, and Podcasts

Some of Alex J. Coyne’s bylines for April, 2025.

April was a month for writing about languages, libraries, and podcasts. Here’s what you might’ve missed—and thanks for stopping by!

The Evolution of Libraries

Voertaal

“How are libraries coping in the age of instant information access, and what is there still to discover at your nearest library? Libraries are far from following the same path as Blockbuster.”

Are Podcasters Resurrecting the Satanic Panic?

The Wild Hunt

“Podcasts contain interesting and useful, sometimes first-hand information about various topics. Podcasts can also contain inaccuracies and falsehoods, or outright false news that gets picked up and widely syndicated.”

The Crossroads in South Africa’s Language Gap

Voertaal

“Whichever language you choose to learn, you’ll find similar teachers and programmes for all 12 languages. If learning from shows and movies is your choice instead, head to a streaming platform for local series, or download subtitles for movies from websites like OpenSubtitles.com.”

February: Maskandi, Mescaline, and Cape Town

Maskandi, Digital Mescaline, and Cape Town—read three recently published articles for Voertaal.

Maskandi, Digital Mescaline, and Cape Town aren’t things you’d imagine reading about in the same paragraph—but all three are recently published article topics for Voertaal.

Is Maskandi South Africa’s answer to the Delta blues?

Can AI be fed weird prompts like digital mescaline for hallucinations, inaccuracies, or lies?

How large is the divide between the world’s famous number one cities like Cape Town and everywhere else?

Follow the links to find out where the rabbit hole goes.

Maskandi: Southern Africa’s Delta Blues

Voertaal

“Maskandi has been around since the 1920s and 1930s, arising during a time when southern Africa was just as affected by the Great Depression as the rest of the world.”

Digital Mescaline: Exploring AI Hallucinations

Voertaal

“AI does not yet seem to have the ability to flag possible inaccuracies. Humans using AI without checking the answers generated by it, may end up spreading more falsehoods, allowing AI to create even more false answers.”

Number One Cities and Everywhere Else

Voertaal

“How large is the divide between cities? What all is being swept under the carpet while famous world cities are grabbing most of the attention?”

2024 in Writing

Here are some of last year’s headlines, including gonzo journalism, gothic South African films, and freelancing advice.

Welcome to 2025—a new year for writing, co-writing, and more developing projects! Here are some of last year’s headlines, including gonzo journalism, gothic South African films, and freelancing advice.

Gonzo Journalism in Southern Africa

Voertaal

“Gonzo journalism is the immersive, often chaotic writing style made famous by Hunter S Thompson. However, this type of writing isn’t restricted to fit only Kentucky and Las Vegas.”

From New Journalism to Modern Gonzo

Literary Ladies Guide

“Gonzo journalism is a writing style strongly associated with Tom Wolfe and Hunter S. Thompson. However, others have contributed their voice to immersive journalism since the genre’s earliest roots in New Journalism.”

(Southern) African Gothic: Exploring the Horror Film Genre

LitNet

“Horror has long been an underappreciated genre in southern Africa, perhaps owing some of its early obscurity to apartheid’s strict censorship laws.”

How Persistence Pays Off as a Freelancer

Funds for Writers

“Asking, pitching, and adapting is key to being a career writer. Here’s how to turn negatives into positives as you turn rejections into successful article sales.”

The Untold Stories of Township Animals

Voertaal

“The dogs have taken me on many impromptu walks with their tails wagging. They have also shown me with incredible enthusiasm how to uncover rat nests and anthills.”

On the Sharp Corroded Edge of Township Living

Voertaal

“There are good and bad sides to every neighbourhood, and a tale of two cities isn’t as simple as it seems. Here’s a look behind the curtain of living in a rural South African township.”