Beat Generation

The Beat Generation : 

Four Important Writers The Beat Generation

What does “beat generation” mean? : 

This term was first coined by Jack Kerouac as he described the hipsters of Times Square as “watchful, cat like, inquisitive, close to the buildings, in the street, but not of it . . . having a kind of beatness.” Later he defined it as “members of the generation that came of age after WWII, who, supposedly as a result of disillusionment stemming from the Cold War, espouse mystical detachment and relaxation of social and sexual tensions.” What does “beat generation” mean?

Other Definitions: : 

“Beat” describes the mood of a whole generation of Americans which a fringe of writers, artists, and thinkers reacted to and expressed in outrageous and controversial forms. “Beat” conveys spiritual exhaustion following the war The “beat” image became assimilated into popular culture, later replaced by the image of the “hippie” in the 1960’s. The term “beatnik” was originally meant as a derogatory term – associated with the Russians’ Sputnik Other Definitions:

Allen GinsbergWilliam S. BurroughsJack Kerouac : 

Ginsberg and Kerouac met in New York City in 1944 while attending Columbia University Ginsberg was expelled for hiding Kerouac in his room and for writing offensive words in the dust on his dorm room window They met William S. Burroughs through a mutual friend Allen GinsbergWilliam S. BurroughsJack Kerouac The original members of the Beat Generation:

Allen Ginsberg (June 3, 1926 – April 5, 1997) : 

Allen Ginsberg (June 3, 1926 – April 5, 1997) “Poetry . . . is the outlet for people to say in public what is known in private.” -A.Ginsberg The first print run of Howl and Other Poems was only 1,000 copies. It was published by Lawrence Ferlinghetti of the City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco in 1956. Its publication resulted in an obscenity trial in 1957. The judge ruled that “Howl” couldn’t be obscene if it had “redeeming social significance” and that the poem could not be suppressed by the local authorities.

Slide 6: 

“I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked, dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix…” -opening line of HOWL by Allen Ginsberg

What’s noteworthy about Ginsberg’s poem? : 

Many of his followers consider the poem prophetic He revolutionized American verse because he experimented with rhythm and form, much like Walt Whitman (use of free verse) In “Howl,” Ginsberg champions individual freedom against any type of social constraint Ginsberg voices the inner doubts of a generation in bitter confusion over its own values and desires. What’s noteworthy about Ginsberg’s poem?

Jack Kerouac (March 12, 1922 – October 21, 1969) : 

Jack Kerouac (March 12, 1922 – October 21, 1969) Some of the material for On the Road came from road trips made with Ginsberg, Burroughs, and Neal Cassady. There is a rumor that he wrote the novel in three weeks on a roll of teletype paper On the Road was actually published 9 years later in 1957 and became a best-seller

Slide 9: 

“But yet, woe, woe unto those who think that the Beat Generation means crime, delinquency, immorality, amorality . . . Woe unto those who attack it on the grounds that they simply don’t understand history and the yearning of human souls.” - Jack Keroauc

Why was On the Road a best seller? : 

Why was On the Road a best seller? It was largely autobiographical, a “tale of passionate friendship and the search for revelation” It is considered a defining work of the Beat Generation, inspired by jazz, poetry, and experimentation with drugs

On The Road : 

In order not to break his train of thought, Kerouac typed the novel on a scroll of telegraph paper In 2001, the scroll sold for 2.4 million dollars Kerouac’s work is said to have influenced Bob Dylan (a friend of Ginsberg) and Jim Morrison of The Doors Publication of the novel provided an instant spotlight for the Beat writers Neal Cassady, the inspiration for the lead character, became a pop culture icon On The Road

William S. Burroughs (February 5, 1914 – August 2, 1997) : 

William S. Burroughs (February 5, 1914 – August 2, 1997)

Naked Lunch by W.S. Burroughs : 

Naked Lunch by W.S. Burroughs Considered to be a landmark in American literature “Controversial in the extreme, the novel broke virtually every literary taboo, and was banned in many parts of the world.” One of the last American books to be put on trial for obscenity (1963) Written as a series of loosely connected episodes, featuring a cast of bizarre characters centered on Burroughs’ alter ego, Bill Lee Known as a piece of “modern-day satire,” known for its shock value

Quotes from William S. Burroughs : 

Quotes from William S. Burroughs “There is no line between the ‘real world’ and the ‘world of myth and symbol’ .” “I am getting so far out one day I won’t come back at all.”

Connections between “Beat” and “Hippie” : 

The Beat influenced subculture form the early 60’s provided a template for the “hippie” counterculture. Connections between “Beat” and “Hippie”

“I was too young to be a beatnik, and too old to be a hippie.” – Ken Kesey : 

“I was too young to be a beatnik, and too old to be a hippie.” – Ken Kesey The link between the “Beat” and “Hippie” lifestyles was demonstrated in June 1964: Ken Kesey began an “odyssey” across America with Neal Cassady

Ken Kesey (1935 – 2001) : 

Pivotal figure between Beats and Hippies Profoundly influenced by Beats in life and work After publication of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, he lived with a group of friends that called themselves the Merry Pranksters and travelled on a bus named “Further” A feature on the journey was the “acid test,” in which the group experimented with how much LSD they could withstand For an account of life with the Merry Pranksters, read The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test (1968) by Tom Wolfe. Ken Kesey (1935 – 2001)

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest : 

This novel was a great success when published in February 1962. Kesey wrote the novel after working as a night attendant on the psychiatric ward of a VA Hospital He observed the experimental drug treatments and spoke often with the patients The novel explores individuality and rebellion against conformity as McMurphy (a patient) and Nurse Ratched clash. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest : 

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Ken Kesey: On The Bus : 

Ken Kesey: On The Bus

The Beat Generation: : 

Challenged the narrow mindedness of society Questioned political attitudes Advocated use of drugs as an aid in the creative process Believed in liberal attitudes to sex outside marriage, homosexuality, and promiscuity Spanned from mid 1950’s to early 1960’s Major works of the Beat Generation Writers have become accepted as classics. Heavily influenced other artists, writers, musicians The Beat Generation:

Works Cited : 

“Banner of Beat Generation.” Retrieved July 28, 2009 from http://library.williams.edu/assets/images/beat-generation.jpg Charters, Ann, ed. “The Beats: Literary Bohemians in Postwar America.” Dictionary of Literary Biography. Vol. 16. Detroit: Bruccoli Clark, 1983. “City Lights Bookstore.” Retrieved July 29, 2009 from http://image50.webshots.com/150/2/64/43/417426443bFNROh fs.jpg “Cover jacket of On the Road.” Retrieved July 29, 2009 from http://envible.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/otr_usa_penguin_1991.jpg Evans, Mike. The Beats: From Kerouac to Kesey, an Illustrated Journey Though the Beat Generation. London: Running Press, 2007. Gitlin, Todd. The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage. Toronto: Bantam Books, 1987. Works Cited

Slide 23: 

“Hippie Guitar.” Retrieved July 29, 2009 from http://www.guitarsite.com/news/acoustic_guitar/martin_hippie_guitar/ “Hippie with Flowers and Gun.” Retrieved July 29, 2009 from http://www.english.uiuc.edu/-people-/faculty/debaron/wolimages/flowerpower.jpg Holmes, John Clellon. “Four Essay on the Beat Generation.” In Dictionary of Literary Biography. Vol. 16. Detroit: Bruccoli Clark, 1983. “Jack Keroauc.” Retrieved July 29, 2009 from www.unsv.com/.../scripts/2007/09/14/0045/   “Jack Keroauc Reading, Slide 9.” Retrieved July 28, 2009 from http://recollectionbooks.com/siml/library/JoansTed/fwm-kerouacreading.jpg “Ken Kesey and Further.” Retrieved July 29, 2009 from http://www.miraclemountainimages.com/images/category229/KEN_KESEY_72dpi.jpg “Naked Lunch Book Cover, Slide 13.” Retrieved July 29, 2009 from http://realitystudio.org/images/bibliographic_bunker/naked_lunch_olympia/naked_lunch.olympia.wrapper.jpg “William S. Burroughs.” Retrieved July 29, 2009 from http://www.meanjin.com.au/static/files/assets/bd05dbba/william_burroughs_372x495.jpg