Beat Movement
Purpose of the Beat Movement
Group of writers whose literature explored and influenced American culture after WW11.
- Writers in the Beat Movement used informal and interesting forms of writing
- Pushed boundaries of acceptance in the 1950's.
- Emphasized a spiritual yearning
Jack Kerouac
Beat Movement
- Subculture: A cultural group of people within a larger cultural group that often has different believes and interests from the larger group.
Lifestyle of Beatniks
Where did they live?
Beatnik: Young person in the 1950's-1960's that belonged to the subculture related to the Beat Generation
- Pioneer of the Beat Generation
- Became an underground celebrity
- Covered topics such as Catholic spirituality, jazz, poverty, promiscuity, and drugs
- Died at age 47 from internal bleeding due to long-term alcohol abuse
- Influenced by Eastern Philosophy and religion
- Rejected normal social values
- Expressed individual freedom
- Reject modern trends and goes for a rebellious look.
- counterculture attitude
- goal is to improve oneself spiritually and intellectual
- People experimented with psychedelic drugs and sexual liberation
- Fashion and literature was more bold, expressive and straightforward.
- Free form Jazz
- "Everyone beats to a different drum"
- There were a couple main spots around the country
- Mostly on the West Coast
- Very underground places or "up and coming" towns
Places
- Columbia University
- Time Square "Underworld"
- San Francisco
- Washington
- Portland, Oregon
- Jack Kerouac
- Neal Cassady
- Gregory Corso
- Lew Welch
- Gary Snyder