The Beat Generation
In the 1950s there were a group of writers who were known as writers of the Beat Generation. They were ‘hippies” who rejected mainstream America and often experimented with drugs and eastern religion and spirituality. Many of these writers include Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, William S. Burrroughs, and Neal Cassidy. Many of these writers were considered the founders of the movement and met in uptown Manhattan in the mid-40.s (Asher,1994) they eventually migrated to San Francisco where they met Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who was the founder and City Lights Bookstore. Much of the beat generation was influenced by jazz music, due to its spontaneity, and its musicians such as, John Coltrane and Thelonius Monk. Much of the work created by these writers was controversial due to its non-conformist style and sometimes obscene subject matter. A common theme that linked them all together was a rejection of the prevailing American middle-class values, the purposelessness of modern society and the need for withdrawal and protest.” (Parkins, 2005) More specifically they protested against racial discrimination, capitalism, censorship, anti-military weaponry enhancements, and rallied for legalizing marijuana among other drugs.

The rise of the Beat Movement came at time during upheaval, and expansion of commodities in the United States. In the 1950’s the U.S survived two world wars and the precedent stock market crash of that time. At the height of the Beat Movement, the economy improved and Capitalism was the driving force of most American people. Many commodities and conveniences were invented; such as “the first credit card diners” (1950), the “television.” “The first diet soda,” (1951), the “first non-stick Teflon pan,” and the first McDonalds” to name a few. (http:/investors.about.com/od/timelines/a/modern.html) To the members of the beat movement particularly Allen Ginsberg these creations ate up Americans “brains and imaginations”(21) capitalism was looked at as the poisonous “crossbones” by Allen Ginsberg.(21) He was a prominent author during this period. Some notable work of Ginsberg is “HOWL”, which is a book of unconventional poetry, published by “Lawrence Ferlinghetti” in 1956. For this sensitive era the book was not received well. The book was seized by customs official and Ferlinghetti was arrested and faced fines as well as prison time on “obscenity charges” (http:/www.citylights.com/ferlinghetti). The poems included phrases such as “alcohol cocks and endless balls” which in the 1950s was considered very obscene. The trial of Ferlinghetti drew national attention from many prominent literary figures, and was the landmark first amendment case that set a legal precedent, particularly for publication of controversial social language. The right to freedom of speech was upheld and Ferlinghetti was acquitted of all charges. This acquittal allowed beat generation writers to go into theaters and read aloud their poetry.

There are many sides and perspectives untouched here that would craft an even further in-depth understanding of Ginsberg and the Beat Generation. His arrival pushed another foot forward into modernism, in the sense that he attempted to reach farther into explaining the human condition in newer ways that were considered controversial but realistic of the time period. The Beat Generation influence is still pertinent today in rock and roll influencing major figures such as Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Jim Morrison making Ginsberg and The Beatnik Generation still relevant.
Works Cited
Asher, L. (1994, JULY, 25.) The Beat Generation. Retrieved from Literary Kicks:
http://www.litkicks.com/BeatGen/
Parkins,K (2005, March.) Beat Generation. Retrieved from http://home.clara.net/heureka/art/beat generation.htm
“A Brief Biography of Lawerence Ferlinghetti.” City Lights Books. 2009. City Lights, Web. 16 Oct 2009.