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The Beat Generation “ The History of the world is the history not of individuals, but of groups. ” W.E.B. Du Bois. Who are the Beatniks? The Lost Generation – 50 ’ s style. ~ Small group of friends, later a movement ~ Came of age after WWII
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The Beat Generation“The History of the world is the history not of individuals, but of groups.”W.E.B. Du Bois
Who are the Beatniks?The Lost Generation – 50’s style ~ Small group of friends, later a movement ~ Came of age after WWII ~ Disillusioned by the Cold War & unraveling of American Culture
From the 50’s to the 60’s 1950s 1960s • Civil right’s unrest • Sexual Revolution • Vietnam War Protests • Assassinations • Cold War • Loss of Faith • Rise of the suburbs • Television explosion • McCarthy Red Scare • Age of Conformity • Faith in nuclear family: BABY BOOM
Who are the Beatniks?The Lost Generation – 50’s style • Wore black berets & sported goatees • Played the “bongo drums” • Drank cheap Chianti & smoked marijuana • Hung out in coffee houses • Jargon: “dig”“cool”“crazy!” • Small group of adult writers • Espoused mystical detachment & relaxation of social and sexualtensions.
Key Figures • Jack Kerouac • William S. Burroughs • Tom Wolfe • Allen Ginsberg • Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Introduction to the Public • New York Magazine:“This is the Beat Generation” – 1952 • Kerouac’s On the Road - 1957
From Beat to Beatnik • Herb Cain coins: “beatnick” • “Beat”ific: angelic revelation of self • “Beat” down • Beat (rhythm) of Jazz
Beats vs.Tradition • Rejected traditional poets of the era • New language to express personal visions • Drew upon the everyday: concrete image and specific event • Unconscious creation of forms • Great difficulty getting their work into print
Allen Ginsberg • Born 6/3/26 in Paterson, N.J. • Attended Columbia • 1948 – mystical visions; insane asylum • 1953 – Moves to San Francisco • 1956 - Howl • Died 4/5/ 97
Lawrence Ferlinghetti • Born in Yonkers on 3/24/19 • Joined Navy • Studied at Sorbonne, Paris • Opened City Lights Bookstore • Published “Howl”; arrested with Ginsberg • Currently runs City Lights